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Anxiety


Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at times. You may feel anxious, or nervous, when faced with a problem at work, or before taking a test or when making an important decision.

Anxiety disorders, however, are different. They are a serious mental illness and can cause such distress that it interferes with your ability to lead a normal life. If you have an anxiety disorder, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be crippling. There many types of anxiety disorders, which include:

  • Panic disorder: Feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning.
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder:  Constant thoughts or fears that cause you to perform certain rituals or routines.
  • Social anxiety disorder:  Overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):  Can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event; often causes individuals to have lasting and frightening thoughts and memories of the event. Learn more about PTSD.
  • Specific phobias:  An intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as snakes, heights or flying.
  • Generalized anxiety disorder:  Excessive, unrealistic worry and tension, even if there is little or nothing to provoke the anxiety.

Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder
Symptoms will vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder, but generally, symptoms include:

  • Feelings of panic, fear and uneasiness
  • Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts
  • Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences
  • Nightmares
  • Ritualistic behaviors, such as repeated hand washing
  • Problems sleeping
  • Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet
  • Shortness of breath
  • Palpitations
  • An inability to be still and calm
  • Dry mouth
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
  • Nausea
  • Muscle tension
  • Dizziness

Getting Care
Your rules for obtaining care may differ depending on who you are and which health plan option you are using. Learn more about getting mental/behavioral health care. 

Last Modified:June 20, 2012