Anxiety is your body’s response to anticipated danger.
It is typically associated with worry or fear.
There are different types of anxiety disorders.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
While some symptoms are similar, there are also some key differences.
What Is Anxiety?
There are different types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and others.
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell
These conditions are not the same as day-to-day worry.
However, if worrying gets out of control, it can become an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders are diagnosable mental health conditions.
Theresa Chiechi / Verywell
Anxiety Symptoms
The symptoms of anxiety can be physical, psychological, and social.
Each involves symptoms that include anxiety.
Children only need one of the above symptoms, in addition to anxiety or worry, for a diagnosis.
Theresa Chiechi / Verywell
The avoidant behavior often makes it hard for them to maintain relationships.
Social anxiety disorder can look different in children.
For that reason, professionals associate OCD with anxiety disorders.
Theresa Chiechi / Verywell
OCD typically starts in childhood or young adulthood.
Symptoms may start earlier in boys than girls.
A person having a panic attack may even feel like theyre having a heart attack.
Other symptoms of a panic attack include:
What Is an Anxiety Attack?
An “anxiety attack” is not an official medical term but is often used to describe apanic attack.
Panic attacks alone are not enough to make a mental health diagnosis.
The effects that anxiety can have on someones life can be severe.
You dont have to face these challenges alone.
Panic attacks can also be exhausting for people with anxiety.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed.
Washington D.C.
National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.
APA.What are anxiety disorders?.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder: when unwanted thoughts or repetitive behaviors take over.
National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD.PTSD basics.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD.PTSD for children 6 years and younger.
