Mental Wellness in Virginia

Anxiety is a normal and natural emotional response to stress or perceived threats. It is a feeling of unease, apprehension, or fear that can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, or restlessness. While anxiety can be a normal part of life, an anxiety disorder occurs when anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, and interferes with daily functioning.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry or fear. Some common types of anxiety disorders include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): People with GAD experience excessive worry and anxiety about various aspects of their life, such as work, relationships, health, or everyday situations. This worry is often difficult to control and lasts for an extended period.

Panic Disorder: Panic disorder involves recurring panic attacks, which are sudden and intense episodes of fear or discomfort that reach their peak within minutes. Panic attacks can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a feeling of losing control.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): Social anxiety disorder is characterized by an intense fear of social or performance situations, leading to avoidance of such situations. It involves a fear of being embarrassed, judged, or humiliated in social interactions.

Specific Phobias: Specific phobias involve an excessive and irrational fear of specific objects, situations, or activities. Common examples include fear of heights, spiders, flying, or certain animals.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD involves recurring intrusive thoughts or obsessions that lead to anxiety, as well as repetitive behaviors or compulsions aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by the obsessions.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It involves symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, and heightened arousal.

What symptoms does anxiety cause?

An anxiety disorder causes symptoms like:

• Constant nervousness or uneasiness
• Increased heart rate
• Muscle tension
• Headaches
• Sweating and trembling
• Difficulty concentrating
• Low energy levels
• Physical weakness
• Difficulties sleeping
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea

These symptoms sometimes get much worse, triggering a panic attack. You might have chest pain and difficulty breathing during a panic attack.