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  1. Anxiety disorder - Overview

    Verified Expert
    A group of mental illnesses that cause constant fear and worry. Characterized by sudden feeling of worry, fear and restlesness.
    Condition Highlight
    Urgent medical attention is usually recommended in severe cases by healthcare providers
    How common is condition?
    Very common (More than 3 million cases per year in US)
    Is condition treatable?
    Treatable by a medical professional
    Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
    Doesn't require lab test or imaging
    Time taken for recovery
    Can last several years or be lifelong
    Condition Highlight
    More common in females
    Condition Highlight
    Family history may increase likelihood
    See more

    Causes

    Verified Expert

    The exact cause is not known. It could be the result of a combination of factors including:

    • Changes in brain chemicals and its functioning
    • Environmental stress
    • Family history
    • Traumatic life events such as an accident, divorce, death of a loved one, etc
    • Other medical conditions including heart problems, diabetes, thyroid problems, etc
    • Drug or alcohol abuse

    See more

    Symptoms

    Verified Expert
    Contact your provider if experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms.

    Every person experience anxiety at some point of time in life, for example, during an examination or an interview. This lasts for a limited period. It is classified as an anxiety disorder when the symptoms are reoccurrent and last for longer time. Symptoms such as

    • Restlessness
    • A sudden feeling of panic and fear
    • Uneasiness, nausea, or cramps
    • Sleep-related problems – excessive Sleep or sleeplessness
    • Cold or sweaty hands or feet
    • Numbness in the hands or feet
    • Shortness of breath
    • Increased heart rate
    • Chest pain
    • Dry mouth
    • Hot flashes or chills
    • Sudden trembling
    • Dizziness
    • Avoidance of situations that may cause fear
    • Obsessions and compulsions

    See more
    What are anxiety disorders?
    Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that are marked by disabling fear and uncertainty.
    wexnermedical.osu.edu

    Treatment

    Verified Expert

    Medications aim to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Relaxation techniques and behavioral therapy is also helpful in most cases.

    Medication

    Benzodiazepines: Have a calming effect due to their sedative properties.

    Alprazolam . Clonazepam . Etizolam

    Antidepressants: Relieve the symptoms by affecting neurotransmitters.

    Escitalopram . Fluoxetine . Sertraline

    See more
    anxiety disorder_en
    Microsoft Start Health

    Diagnosis

    Verified Expert
    A group of mental illnesses that cause constant fear and worry. Characterized by sudden feeling of worry, fear and restlesness.
    Condition Highlight
    Urgent medical attention is usually recommended in severe cases by healthcare providers
    Is condition treatable?
    Treatable by a medical professional
    Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
    Doesn't require lab test or imaging
    Time taken for recovery
    Can last several years or be lifelong
    Condition Highlight
    More common in females
    Condition Highlight
    Family history may increase likelihood
    See more
    Source: Focus Medica. For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice. | Disclaimer: Opinions are from external health professionals and should not be considered as Microsoft's opinion or a substitute for professional help. Consult a health professional for medical advice.
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    Table of Contents
    Overview
    Causes
    Symptoms
    What are anxiety disorders?
    Treatment
    Health guide
    Diagnosis
     
  1. Anxiety disorders are common mental health conditions12. They can cause feelings of worry, nervousness, and fear, as well as physical symptoms like a racing heartbeat. Some common anxiety disorders include:
    Learn more:

    Overview of anxiety

    • Anxiety can make you feel worried, nervous or scared.
    • It can also cause physical symptoms such as a racing heartbeat.

    Anxiety Disorders - Mental Health UK

    mentalhealth-uk.org/help-and-information/condition…

    Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health conditions:

    • Specific phobias affect up to 12% of the U.S. population.
    • Social anxiety disorder affects about 7% of the U.S. population.

    More items

    Anxiety Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, Tr…

    my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9536-anxiet…
  2. People also ask
    Which mental health conditions are associated with anxiety disorders?
    It usually affects young children, but it can also affect adolescents and adults. Other mental health conditions share features with anxiety disorders. These include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

    Anxiety Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Types - Cleveland Cl…

    my.clevelandclinic.org
    What are the symptoms of mental health issues?

    Dr. ANUVITHA KAMATH

    MBBS · 3 years of exp

    Mental health issue risks are, a history of anxiety or depression in the family, lack of emotional support from family and friends, long history of intense mental trauma, and history of child abuse in a workplace which increases the exposure to trauma such as abuse, sexual harassment. People with these mental health issues develop symptoms like suicidal tendencies, repeated nightmares, anxiety, and depression disorders, substance abuse, avoiding social life, sleeplessness, and negative thoughts about themselves and the world. In such cases, strong emotional support and good counseling will help them recover from it.
    Q&A: Mental Health
    bing.com
    What are anxiety disorders?
    Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that are marked by disabling fear and uncertainty.

    Anxiety Disorder Treatment | Ohio State Medical Center

    wexnermedical.osu.edu
    Is anxiety a symptom of a mental illness?
    Illness anxiety disorder. This is anxiety about your health (formerly called hypochondria). In addition, a number of mental health and medical conditions may feature anxiety as a symptom. These include: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is anxiety following a traumatic event. Major depressive disorders.

    Anxiety Disorders: Causes, Types, Symptoms, & Treatments - Healthline

    healthline.com
    What is health anxiety?
    Health anxiety – this means you experience obsessions and compulsions relating to illness, including researching symptoms or checking to see if you have them. It is related to OCD. You can find out more about health anxiety on the Anxiety UK website.

    What are anxiety disorders? - Mind

    mind.org.uk
    What are the symptoms of anxiety disorders?
    The main symptom of anxiety disorders is excessive fear or worry. Anxiety disorders can also make it hard to breathe, sleep, stay still, and concentrate. Your specific symptoms depend on the type of anxiety disorder you have. Common symptoms are: There isn't a complete understanding of where anxiety disorders come from.

    Anxiety Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment | We…

    webmd.com
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  3. NIMH
    https://www.nimh.nih.gov › health › topics › anxiety-disorders

    Anxiety Disorders - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  4. Mayo Clinic
    https://www.mayoclinic.org › diseases-conditions › ...

    Anxiety disorders - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

  5. WHO
    https://www.who.int › ... › detail › anxiet…

    Anxiety disorders - World Health Organization (WHO)

    Anxiety disorders are the world’s most common mental disorders, affecting 301 million people in 2019. More women are affected by anxiety disorders than men. Symptoms of anxiety often have onset during childhood or adolescence. …

  6. NAMI
    https://www.nami.org › About-Mental-Illness › Mental...

    Anxiety Disorders - NAMI

  7. Psychiatry.org
    https://www.psychiatry.org › patients-families › ...

    What are Anxiety Disorders? - Psychiatry.org

  8. Healthline
    https://www.healthline.com › health › a…

    Anxiety Disorders: Causes, Types, Symptoms,

    Jan 2, 2023 · Learn how to tell the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder.

  9. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
    https://wexnermedical.osu.edu › mental …

    Anxiety Disorder Treatment | Ohio State Medical Center

    Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that are marked by disabling fear and uncertainty.

  10. WebMD
    https://www.webmd.com › anxiety-panic › anxiety-disorders

    Anxiety Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment …

  11. Mind
    https://www.mind.org.uk › ... › anxiety-di…

    What are anxiety disorders? - Mind

    Learn about different anxiety disorder diagnoses. We explain generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, health anxiety, panic disorder and more.