This page will give you a bit more information about some of the most common anxiety disorders. Although these are separate diagnoses, in my experience people often experience a mix of symptoms from different ‘disorders’.
Diagnosis is helpful to some people, while others are disinterested in labels. There is no right or wrong, it’s just about your beliefs and your frame of reference (how you see the world).
The only person who is qualified to formally diagnose any mental health condition is a GP or mental health professional. I do not routinely use diagnosis in my work with people, however some health insurance companies require me to do so.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is a long-term condition where you are experiencing anxiety symptoms most of the time. It can be mild or severe. GAD is not usually related to a single event, because if one issue is resolved then the person begins to feel anxious about something else.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is a severe anxiety disorder where you have panic attacks, and are fearful of having a panic attack. You might also avoid places where you would be unable to escape if you had a panic attack.
A panic attack is an intense, frightening experience, where your heart races, you might feel sick and faint, sweat, feel pain in your chest, tremble, feel weak and dizzy and like you can’t get your breath. The experience lasts about 5 – 10 minutes usually, but some panic attacks are longer. The first time it happens people often think they’re having a heart attack, as the symptoms look the same. It is such an extreme physical experience people can think they’re going to die.
Panic attacks are not dangerous, and will not cause you any harm. They are just extremely unpleasant.
Phobias
A phobia is an anxiety disorder where you experience extreme fear of a thing, place, animal, feeling or situation. A phobia is more than just a fear, it is an overwhelming anxiety response to something, a fear so severe that it can cause you to avoid the thing entirely. You may not experience any anxiety unless you come into contact with the thing, or start thinking about it. Some phobias are about one specific thing, like spiders. Other phobias are more complex, as they are about situations or circumstances. The two most common complex phobias are agoraphobia and social phobia.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is commonly thought to be a fear of open spaces (perhaps rooted in the word’s Greek origin: agora, meaning marketplace). This is a misconception. Agoraphobia only occurs within the context of panic disorder. It is fear of not being able to escape if you have a panic attack. A person experiencing agoraphobia will usually avoid crowded places or public transport, or will routinely look for the exit sign in any room.
Social phobia
Sometimes called social anxiety, this is overwhelming fear of social situations. It’s more than feeling shy, it is an intense experience of fear that is often experienced before, during and after a social event. You may worry about what people will think of you, or believe that people are thinking negative things about you. You might also have a fear of behaving in a way that is humiliating or embarrassing, or of looking anxious. The fear causes a lot of worry.
As with most anxiety disorders, this is common in its mildest form. Many people feel anxious about social events. People with social phobia experience a much more intense reaction, and their lives can be significantly affected by this condition. Avoiding people and social situations can cause other problems, such a loneliness or social isolation.