What is an anxiety disorder?
Everybody experiences anxiety at some time – anxiety can be quite useful in helping a person avoid dangerous situations and in motivating them to solve everyday problems. However, anxiety can vary in severity from mild uneasiness through to a terrifying panic attack, and can also vary in how long it lasts, from a few moments to many years.

An anxiety disorder differs from normal anxiety in the following ways:

• it is more severe;
• it is persistent and long lasting;
• it interferes with the person’s ability to work or sustain relationships.

There are many different types of anxiety disorders. Some of the main ones include:

• generalised anxiety disorder;
• panic disorder;
• phobic disorders;
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);
• obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety can produce physical symptoms in the body as changes to how a person thinks and behaves. Some of the common symptoms are outlined below. However, it is important to remember that not everybody will experience all of them.

Body

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Sweating
• Tingling/numbness
• Muscle aches and pains
• Hyperventilation (breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary resulting in dizziness or feeling faint)
• Shortness of breath 
• Palpitations
• Chest pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Flushing (redness of the face)
• Choking
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea

Mind

• Unrealistic and/or excessive fear and worry (about past or future events)
• Mind racing or going blank
• Decreased concentration and memory loss
• Indecision
• Irritability
• Impatience
• Anger 
• Confusion
• Restlessness or feeling ‘on edge’
• Nervousness
• Tiredness
• Sleep disturbances 
• Vivid dreams

Behaviour

• Avoidance of objects, situations or places
• Obsessive or compulsive behaviour
• Distress in social situations
• Increased use of alcohol or other drugs

What causes anxiety disorders?
As with other mental health disorders, anxiety disorders may be the result of a combination of factors. There is some evidence to show that genetics are involved and people who have a parent or sibling with an anxiety disorder are more likely to develop the disorder themselves.

Negative childhood experiences may increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. For example, people who have had an overly critical parent or who have been raised with expectations of excessively high standards or those who have had a difficult childhood (for example, as a result of abuse, neglect or excessive strictness) or been raised in a family where one or both parents have and alcohol problems.

Stress can result from difficulties faced in life for example, relationship or marriage problems, long-term health problems or changes in life such as change of job, having a baby, or moving house. If a number of these events occur over time, this can result in cumulative stress which can affect both physical and mental health.

If you are concerned about anxiety disorders speak to your GP or other health professional.

For further information visit Royal College of Psychiatrists website.