While certain symptoms of anxiety overlap the different types of anxiety, there are five major types of anxiety disorders.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
This is the most common type of anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety and excessive worry or tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviours (compulsions).
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD develops after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which physical harm has occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
Social anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation – such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others – or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people.
Levels of Anxiety
Anxiety, while also having different types, also has different levels to it, with each level having its own severity and number of symptoms. These levels of anxiety usually differ from person to person, depending on many factors.
