Anxiety
Worry and anxiety are normal emotions that everyone experiences at times. You may feel anxious when you take a test, give a big presentation, get lost, or are faced with making an important decision. In these circumstances, anxiety can be very useful — it makes you more alert or careful. It usually goes away soon after you are out of the situation that caused it.
But for more than 25 million people in the United States, anxiety can cause such distress that it interferes with their ability to lead a normal life. For this group, worry and fear can become constant and overwhelming, and even crippling. There are several recognized anxiety disorders that cause these feelings, including:
Panic disorder causes feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. Other symptoms include sweating, chest pain, palpitations (irregular heartbeats) and a feeling of choking.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves constant thoughts or fears that cause a person to perform certain rituals or routines. An example is a person with an overwhelming fear of germs who constantly washes his or her hands.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening thoughts and memories of the event, and tend to be emotionally numb.
Social anxiety disorder involves an overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations, a fear of being judged by others, or a fear of behaving in a way that may cause embarrassment or ridicule.
Specific phobias create an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as snakes, heights, or flying. The level of fear is usually inappropriate to the situation and may cause the person to avoid common, everyday situations.
Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive, unrealistic worry and tension, even if there is little or nothing to provoke the anxiety.
Symptoms
It is estimated that 9% of Americans will experience a severe case of anxiety at some time during their life. When anxious feelings become a burden, it is time to address the situation. Anxiety symptoms vary depending on the type of disorder, any of the following could be signs that you should consider seeking help:
- Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness
- Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts
- Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences
- Nightmares
- Ritualistic behaviors, such as repeated hand washing
- Sleep problems
- Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Inability to be still and calm
- Dry mouth
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Nausea
- Muscle tension
- Dizziness
Treatment
There are many different treatments for anxiety that can involve medication, therapy, or both.
If anxiety is beginning to interfere with your daily functioning, we encourage you to seek help. Here are some ways to get started:
- Explore tools and strategies for self-care tips to help you manage your feelings.
- Read more about anxiety disorders in the mental health conditions section of this website.
- Take a confidential online screening to see if your symptoms indicate an anxiety disorder.
- Talk with a professional for support, advice, and treatment options. Find resources on campus or in the community in the where to go for help section of this website.
