What are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are more serious than anxiety and lasts longer. Sufferers of Anxiety Disorders experience reoccurring, repetitive and intrusive thoughts, concerns of worries. Thoughts often seem uncontrollable and sufferers feel overwhelmed and alone.  When a person suffers from an Anxiety Disorder, it causes disruption to their daily functioning e.g school, work, daily routines. Anxiety Disorder sufferers overestimate the likelihood of threat and underestimate their ability to cope (CBT MODEL of Anxiety)

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Panic Disorder – Recurrent panic attacks which seem out of the blue, persistent worry about the next panic attack and the intense physiological symptoms.

Agoraphobia – Avoiding places or situations in fear that a panic attack will occur.

Social Anxiety Disorder: Extreme fear of being judged by others in social situations not to be confused with shyness

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Recurring flashbacks, nightmares or intrusive thoughts after a stressful event such as a death of a loved one.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder-  Persistent, excessive and unrealistic worry about everyday things.

Specific Phobia – Excessive anxiety about a specific object, place or situation i.e., aeroplanes, spiders.

The table below illustrates the differences between Every day Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders. This table is taken from Anxiety and Depression Association of America.