DEFINITION

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive worry and irrational fear about everyday situations. These feelings interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control and can last a long time. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.

Examples of anxiety disorders include social anxiety disorder (social phobia), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder.

Treatment may include a type of psychotherapy that teaches you to view and respond to challenging situations in a more effective way (cognitive behavioral therapy), lifestyle changes and, if needed, medications. Sometimes, anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment.

Whatever form of anxiety you have, treatment can help.

As with many mental health conditions, the exact cause of anxiety disorders isn’t fully understood. Life experiences such as traumatic events appear to trigger anxiety disorders in people who are already prone to becoming anxious. Inherited traits also are a factor.

MEDICAL CAUSES

For some people, anxiety is linked to an underlying health issue. In some cases, anxiety signs and symptoms are the first indicators that you have a medical illness. If your doctor suspects your anxiety may have a medical cause, he or she may order lab tests and other tests to look for signs of a problem.

Physical problems that can be linked to anxiety include:
•Heart disease
•Diabetes
•Thyroid problems (such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism)
•Asthma
•Drug abuse
•Alcohol withdrawal
•Withdrawal from anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines)
•Rare tumors that produce certain “fight-or-flight” hormones
•Muscle cramps or spasms
•Tingling, burning or prickling sensations that may have no apparent cause

It’s more likely that your anxiety may be due to an underlying medical condition if:
•Your anxiety symptoms started after age 35
•You don’t have any blood relatives (such as a parent or sibling) with an anxiety disorder
•You didn’t have an anxiety disorder as a child
•You don’t avoid certain things or situations because of anxiety
•No events have occurred in your life that were triggered by significant anxiety
•Medications used to treat feelings of panic (such as benzodiazepines) don’t ease your anxiety symptoms