Understanding Anxiety Types

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Normal Anxiety

Natural Response

A natural emotional response to stress or uncertainty that everyone experiences from time to time.

Common Signs:

Temporary worry, nervousness before events, manageable stress responses

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Persistent Worry

Excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday situations that persists for months.

Key Symptoms:

Restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension

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Panic Disorder

Intense Episodes

Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks with intense fear and physical symptoms.

Panic Symptoms:

Heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath

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Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Fear

Intense fear of social situations and being judged or embarrassed by others.

Social Signs:

Blushing, excessive sweating, avoiding social events, fear of speaking

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Specific Phobias

Object/Situation Fear

Excessive and irrational fear of specific objects, animals, or situations.

Common Phobias:

Heights, spiders, flying, blood, enclosed spaces, animals

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Agoraphobia

Space/Escape Fear

Fear of places or situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable.

Avoided Places:

Crowds, public transport, open spaces, being alone outside home

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Separation Anxiety Disorder

Attachment Fear

Excessive fear of being separated from important people or places of security.

Signs Include:

Clinginess, nightmares, refusal to leave home, physical complaints

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Selective Mutism

Communication Anxiety

Inability to speak in specific social situations despite speaking normally elsewhere.

Characteristics:

Silence in school/public, normal speech at home, social withdrawal

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Repetitive Patterns

Unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

Common Patterns:

Hand washing, checking, counting, arranging, intrusive thoughts

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Trauma Response

Anxiety disorder that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Core Symptoms:

Flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, emotional numbing, hypervigilance

Understanding Anxiety