Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).

Symptoms

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if:

Causes

As with many mental health conditions, the exact cause of anxiety disorders isn’t fully understood. Life experiences such as traumatic events appear to trigger anxiety disorders in people who are already prone to becoming anxious. Inherited traits also can be a factor.

Medical causes

Examples of medical problems that can be linked to anxiety include:

Sometimes anxiety can be a side effect of certain medications.

It’s more likely that your anxiety may be due to an underlying medical condition if:

Complications

Tests and diagnosis

To help diagnose an anxiety disorder and rule out other conditions, your doctor or mental health provider may have you fill out a psychological questionnaire. Your doctor will probably do a physical exam to look for signs that your anxiety might be linked to a medical condition.

Treatments and drugs

The two main treatments for anxiety disorders are psychotherapy and medications. You may benefit most from a combination of the two.

Psychotherapy

Also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, psychotherapy involves working with a therapist to reduce your anxiety symptoms. It can be an effective treatment for anxiety.

Medications

Several types of medications are used to treat anxiety disorders, including those below.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Prevention

There’s no way to predict for certain what will cause someone to develop an anxiety disorder, but you can take steps to reduce the impact of symptoms if you’re anxious:

 

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