Anxiety is a normal and healthy part of life. But, sometimes, normal anxiety can overwhelm us and cause dread, panic, and fear. These feelings can make life difficult and, in some cases, become disabling. There are five types of anxiety disorders:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
People who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have chronic anxiety and feel very worried and tense, even when there is little or nothing to worry about. Nevertheless, their anxiety just won’t go away. Physical symptoms include fatigue, muscle tension and aches, shaking and twitching, irritability, sweating, hot flashes, and difficulty swallowing.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
To be diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a person has to have recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). A person will repeat behaviors like hand washing, counting, or cleaning in order to prevent or stop obsessive and unwelcome thoughts. Without these rituals, a person with OCD may experience great anxiety.

Panic Disorder
Having a panic disorder means that a person has unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear, along with physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress. Feelings of terror strike suddenly and repeatedly. During an actual attack, a person’s heart pounds and he or she feels sweaty, weak, faint, or dizzy. Nausea, chest pain, and a sense of unreality, impending doom, or loss of control may occur.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
People can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing a terrifying event or ordeal in which very serious physical harm happened or could have happened. Examples include violent personal attacks, natural disasters, accidents, or military combat. People suffering from PTSD can’t stop the thoughts and memories of that event, and they may begin to lose emotional contact with people they were once close to. They may also experience sleep problems, feel detached or numb, and be easily startled.

Social Anxiety Disorder
People with social anxiety disorder feel overwhelmingly anxious and extremely self-conscious being in everyday social situations. They feel as if everyone is watching and judging them all the time, and they are embarrassed and humiliated by their own actions. This fear can become so intense and problematic that it interferes with work or school. Physical symptoms often accompany social anxiety disorder, including blushing, profuse sweating, shaking, nausea, and difficulty talking. If you feel that you or someone you love is struggling with an anxiety disorder, you should call your doctor right away.