Panic disorders - Separate and intense periods of fear or feelings of doom developing over a very short time frame -- 10 minutes -- and associated with at least 4 of the following:
- Palpitations
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Shortness of breath
- Sense of choking
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- A feeling of being detached from the world (derealization)
- Fear of dying
- Numbness or tingling
- Chills or hot flushes
Generalized anxiety disorder - Excessive and unrealistic worry over a period of at least 6 months associated with 3 of the following:
- Restlessness
- Easy fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability or explosive anger
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbances
- Personality changes such as becoming less social
Phobic disorders - Intense, persistent, and recurrent fear of certain objects (such as snakes, spiders, blood) or situations (such as heights, speaking in front of a group, public places). These exposures may trigger a panic attack.
Stress disorders - Anxiety (also known as post-traumatic stress disorder) caused by the exposure to either death or near-death circumstances such as fires, floods, earthquakes, shootings, automobile accidents, or wars, for example. The traumatic event is re-experienced in thoughts and dreams. Common behaviors include the following:
- Avoiding activities, places, or people associated with the triggering event
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Being hypervigilant (you closely watch your surroundings)
- Feeling a general sense of doom and gloom with diminished emotions such as loving feelings or aspirations for the future
Symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, fainting, and weakness generally should not be attributed to anxiety and require evaluation by a doctor.