Anxiety is your body’s response to anticipated danger. It is typically associated with worry or fear and is often accompanied by cognitive issues such as difficulty concentrating and physical symptoms like nausea, shaking, and muscle tenseness. Anxiety can be a normal response to certain situations, but sometimes anxiety is part of an anxiety disorder.

There are multiple types of anxiety disorders, and they involve similar symptoms, with some differences in their symptoms.

It might feel like your anxiety symptoms control your life, whether that means fear of a panic attack, avoiding people due to social anxiety, or just a constant feeling of worry and agitation. Understanding the symptoms of your specific type of anxiety can help you seek the most appropriate treatment and improve your quality of life.

Symptoms

The effects of anxiety usually include a combination of physical, psychological, and social symptoms. Your exact symptom profile will differ based on your individual circumstances, specific type of anxiety disorder, and personal triggers.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is described by the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5) as anticipation of a future threat. Everyone feels anxious at one point or another, but not everyone experiences an anxiety disorder.

Some common symptoms of anxiety disorders include:

  • Excessive fear and worry
  • Dry mouth
  • Muscle tension
  • Nausea
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Cautious, avoidant behavior
  • Panic attacks

Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of symptoms, because each type of anxiety disorder has its own symptom profile and diagnostic criteria based on guidelines of the DSM-5.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience excessive and persistent worry, fear, and anxiety that is hard to control, and is disproportionate to the situation. GAD can be diagnosed when these symptoms occur for the majority of days over at least six months.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Social anxiety disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Panic disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (a type of trauma and stressor-related disorder)
  • Other anxiety disorders (separation anxiety, specific phobias, agoraphobia, selective mutism)

Symptoms of GAD include:

  • RestlessnessIrritabilityFatigueConcentration difficultiesMuscle tension, soreness, and acheDifficulty sleeping

Adults must experience a minimum of three of the above symptoms, in addition to anxiety or worry, to be diagnosed with GAD. Children only need one of the above symptoms, in addition to anxiety or worry, for a diagnosis.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder, which was previously called social phobia, is characterized by excessive fear of social and performance situations. It is more than just shyness. People with social anxiety disorder feel intense anxiety that may lead to avoidant behaviors around meeting new people, maintaining relationships, speaking in front of others, eating in public, and more.

Symptoms of social anxiety disorder include:

  • Disproportionate fear and anxiety in one or more social situationsBlushingSweatingTremblingRapid heart rateThe feeling of “mind going blank”Self-judgment and self-consciousnessNauseaAvoiding social situations, or experiencing intense fear during themImpairment in social, occupational, and other areas of functioning

Social anxiety disorder can look different in children. Notably, for children the anxiety must occur in peer situations, and not just with adults. Symptoms can manifest as tantrums, freezing, crying, clinging, and refusal to speak.

People can either experience general social anxiety disorder, or performance-specific social anxiety disorder (such as when speaking or performing in front of an audience).

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves recurring, unwanted thoughts that lead to specific and repeatable actions, which interfere with daily life. OCD is no longer classed as an anxiety disorder in DSM-5, but its symptoms cause anxiety. For that reason, professionals associate OCD with anxiety disorders.

Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder include:

  • Obsessions: Thoughts and worries that are recognized as excessive but won’t stop. Obsessions commonly include a fear of germs, fear of losing something, aggressive or taboo thoughts, desire for symmetry or order, and more.Compulsions: Repeatable behaviors performed to relieve anxiety and typically related to the obsessions. Compulsions commonly include counting, excessive cleaning or hand washing, overly precise ordering and arranging, repeated checking, and more.Minimum one hour per day spent on obsessions and compulsions, and they cause significant distress or impairment in important areas of your life.

OCD typically emerges either in childhood or young adulthood and will occur earlier in boys than girls.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is a mental health condition that involves recurrent and unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is an episode of extreme fear and discomfort accompanied by a variety of physical sensations, which some people describe as feeling like a heart attack.

Symptoms of a panic attack include:

  • Sweating
  • Chills
  • Trembling
  • Shortness of breath
  • Heart palpitations and rapid heart rate
  • Feeling smothered or choked
  • Feelings of impending doom or death
  • Chest pain

Someone who has panic disorder will experience repeated panic attacks, intense anxiety around future panic attacks, and avoidant behaviors around situations that could induce a panic attack.

Panic attacks by themselves do not constitute a mental health diagnosis. They occur in many mental health conditions, including panic disorder.

To be diagnosed with panic disorder, at least one panic attack must be followed by a month-long period of persistent worry about additional attacks or avoidant behaviors. For example, this could mean not going to the grocery store for months because you experienced a panic attack there.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that emerges after a person either directly experiences or witnesses a traumatic event such as serious injury, combat, sexual violence, natural disaster, or actual or threatened death. Military personnel, first responders, and police officers are at increased risk of PTSD, but anyone can have PTSD.

Symptoms of PTSD include:

  • Detachment from othersIrritabilityHypervigilanceDifficulty concentratingDifficulty sleepingExaggerated startle responseDifficulty remembering the traumatic eventNegative beliefs about oneself or the worldPersistent negative emotions such as fear, horror, and guiltPersistent inability to feel positive emotions such as happiness and satisfactionSelf-destructive behaviorsAvoidance of triggers associated with the traumatic eventIntrusive symptoms, such as recurrent and involuntary memories, distressing dreams, dissociative reactions or flashbacks, psychological distress when exposed to triggers.

Children can experience PTSD differently from adults, due to developmental differences. The DSM-5 categorizes children age 6 and younger as having PTSD with certain symptoms that are unique to the way children may manifest the disorder. Some studies have shown that instead of acting distressed by the traumatic event or intrusive symptoms, some children may appear excitable or “over-bright.”

Other Anxiety Disorders

There are additional anxiety disorders besides those listed above. Each of these anxiety disorders has a unique symptom and diagnostic profile that is detailed in the DSM-5.

  • Separation anxiety disorderSpecific phobiaSelective mutism in childrenAgoraphobiaSubstance/medication-induced anxiety disorderAnxiety disorder due to another medical condition

Complications

Anxiety symptoms can change and worsen over time if left untreated. Due to fear of symptoms or anxiety attacks, you may start avoiding situations that were previously meaningful or brought you joy. This can lead to social isolation.

People who have an anxiety disorder also may develop depression, substance-use disorder, and digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Worry is a normal part of life, but when your worry becomes ongoing and disproportionate to the situation, it may be time to see a healthcare provider.

What Is an Anxiety Attack?

“Anxiety attack” is not an official medical term, but it is often used to describe a panic attack. A panic attack is a period of intense, uncontrollable anxiety that may result in shortness of breath, shaking, chest pain, and feelings of doom.

Anxiety attacks are all-consuming and frightening, and sometimes mistaken for heart attacks. They are a primary symptom of panic disorder, but may occur in any anxiety disorder as well as other psychiatric disorders.

People with anxiety disorders experience fear and anxiety that impairs daily functioning. This might manifest with fear of going out in public, not returning phone calls, or avoiding meeting up with friends, canceling performances or presentations, persistent nausea, changes in sleep, and more.

If you feel that your anxiety is preventing you from living a full life, speak to your healthcare provider.

A Word From Verywell

Anxiety can be a disabling condition that affects all areas of your life, from how you think about yourself, to your relationships, to physical changes. Know that there is help available for anxiety.

If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

Anxiety is treatable, and many people are able to work through their anxiety symptoms through personalized treatment plans that might involve medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, and healthy coping mechanisms.