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Anxiety disorders are very common in the community. Anxiety disorders tend to be
chronic and may become quite disabling. Fortunately, they are among the most successfully
treated emotional disorders in medical practice.
There are several types of anxiety disorders each with its own distinct
features:
 | Panic Disorder is
characterized by repeated panic or anxiety attacks. Panic attacks can occur out of the
blue for no apparent reason and usually last for just a few minutes. They are described as
a sudden onset of intense apprehension, fearfulness or terror, often with feelings of
impending doom. During most panic attacks, associated symptoms may include: shortness of
breath, dizziness, unsteady feelings, heart palpitations, trembling or shaking, sweating,
chest pain, choking, feelings of unreality, and a fear of dying or going crazy. A common
effect of recurring panic attacks is that the person begins to avoid the situations they
associate with past attacks.
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| Agoraphobia is characterized by persistent avoidance of
places or situations in which one feels trapped or fears having a panic attack and/or
being unable to escape from the situation. The fear and anxiety can become so debilitating
that some individuals become completely housebound. Agoraphobic avoidance can include
avoiding elevators, crowds, busy streets, travelling, using public transportation,
driving, or being alone. |
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| Social Phobia is
characterized by the experience of significant anxiety in certain types of social or
performance situations. Social phobics often fear the evaluation or judgement of others,
or fear behaving in a way that will lead to ridicule or embarrassment. Situations avoided
by social phobics include: public speaking, eating in restaurants, writing in public,
using public washrooms, completing tasks in front of people and socializing. Panic or
anxiety attacks frequently occur in these situations, and may lead to avoidance of the
specific social situation. |
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| Specific Phobia
is characterized by excessive anxiety brought on by exposure to a specific
feared object or situation, often leading to avoidance behaviour. It involves a sense of
dread so intense that the individual will do everything to avoid the source of their fear.
Even thinking about facing the feared object or situation can bring on a panic attack.
Commonly feared specific objects or situations include blood and needles, hospitals,
closed-in places, dogs, insects, bridges or highways, heights, driving and flying. |
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| Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by recurrent, intrusive, and unpleasant thoughts,
images or impulses, which are referred to as obsessions. The anxiety caused by
these obsessions becomes so distressing that strategies are developed to try to feel
better. These strategies are referred to as compulsions or rituals and are attempts
to relieve the anxiety caused by the intrusive and obsessive thoughts. Compulsions are
usually performed repetitively. The person spends excessive amounts of time preoccupied
with the obsessive thoughts and rituals, which interfere significantly with their normal
daily functioning. The most common obsessions include: dirt or germ contamination, disease
or illness, doubt, and thoughts of violence or hostility. Common compulsions include: hand
washing, counting rituals, repeating certain movements over and over, checking and
re-checking, collecting or hoarding items, and straightening or lining things up. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition that occurs when an individual has
survived the experience of a terrifying, often life-threatening event, such as a serious
car accident or a violent attack. Persons who have survived a traumatic event may become
so preoccupied with the experience that they are not able to live a normal life. They
frequently relive the event in vivid detail through frightening memories and nightmares
which may increase their fears and avoidance or they may become emotionally numb. They may
also experience sleep problems, depression, irritability, more aggressive behaviour,
violent outbursts, or panic attacks. |
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| Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about a
number of ordinary events or activities such as work or school performance, their health
or safety, or simply just the thought of making it through the day. The worry must occur
daily for at least six months. The person often finds it difficult to control the anxiety
and worry and becomes unable to carry out even the most ordinary daily activity. The
worries are often associated with three or more of the following symptoms; restlessness,
feeling keyed up or on edge, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle
tension, headache and sleep disturbance. |
OTHER RELATED DISORDERS
| Body Dysmorphic Disorder - The preoccupation
with an imagined defect in one’s appearance.
|
| Hypochondriasis - The
fear of having a serious illness in the absence of an identified medical condition.
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| Selective Mutism - A severe form of
social phobia, Selective Mutism is a psychiatric disorder that is characterized by
consistent failure to speak in select social settings in which there is an expectation to
speak; such as school.
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| Skin Picking - Repetitive
picking of one’s skin resulting in damage to one’s skin.
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| Trichotillomania - Recurrent
pulling out of one’s hair resulting in noticeable hair loss. |
If you would like further information on the Anxiety Disorders Clinic
You can E-mail us at: infomac@macanxiety.com
McMaster University Medical Centre, HHS
Box 2000, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5
All rights reserved.
Revised:
March 16, 2006
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