Concerned About Anxiety?—What You Need to Know

 What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal experience of worry or fear about something the body or mind interprets as threatening. Anxiety may show up in your thoughts, emotions, body sensations, or behaviors (like worrying, feeling nervous, sweaty palms, and avoiding certain situations).

What Is the Difference in Anxiety and an Anxiety Disorder?

Everyone feels anxiety at times, which is usually temporary and in response to stress or a threat. For example, most people would feel anxious before giving a speech. For people with an anxiety disorder, anxiety is out of proportion to the situation and persists over time (at least 6 months in most cases). It causes a lot of distress or interferes with day-to-day functioning at home, at work, or in relationships. Anxiety disorders are common; about 1 in 3 adults experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.

What Are the Different Types of Anxiety Disorders?

There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (excessive worrying about many different things), social anxiety disorder (intense fear of social interactions), panic disorder (repeated, unexpected episodes of intense fear or discomfort without a clear trigger), agoraphobia (intense fear of situations that may be hard to escape or get help if something bad happens), and specific phobia (intense fear of a specific thing or situation).

How Are Anxiety Disorders Diagnosed?

Your clinician will ask you to describe the symptoms of your anxiety. They will perform an evaluation that may include a physical examination and laboratory testing. You may complete brief questionnaires about your symptoms.

What Kind of Treatment Is Available?

Self-management, psychotherapy, and medications can be effective, especially combining psychotherapy and medication.

What Is Psychotherapy and What Kinds Help?

Psychotherapy means talk therapy or counseling. CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) is especially effective. In CBT you look for connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This may help identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors.

What Medications Help With Anxiety Disorders?

Daily medications to treat anxiety include venlafaxine, sertraline, and fluoxetine. These work by regulating chemicals like serotonin in your brain. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to see full benefit from these medications—do not stop taking them without consulting your clinician. Side effects, such as upset stomach and sexual side effects, may occur. Side effects usually improve within 2 weeks of continued medication use. Children and young adults (younger than 24 years old) may rarely experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors after starting anxiety medication. Seek out immediate medical attention if this occurs. Short-acting medications, such as benzodiazepines (for example, Ativan or Xanax), can sometimes be helpful for anxiety. However, these medications are usually not recommended due to side effects and the potential to become dependent on them.

What Are Self-Management Coping Techniques I Can Do?

Research shows that mindfulness practice and relaxation training (for example, mindful breathing or progressive muscle relaxation) reduce anxiety. Start with 3 to 5 minutes at a time and work up to 10 to 20 minutes up to once per day. Seek professional help if you are struggling to manage anxiety.