What is an anxiety disorder?

Feeling anxious is part of life. It’s an important way your body tells you that something’s not right, that danger is present and you may have to act quickly. But if anxious feelings are overwhelming and persistent to the point of interfering with your daily life, you may have an anxiety disorder.

Who is likely to have an anxiety disorder?

Those who have family members with anxiety disorders are more at risk to develop one themselves. In addition to genetic factors, anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of factors, including brain chemistry, personality traits, and life events.

What kinds of anxiety disorders are there?

Anxiety can be a symptom of many types of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, or social phobias. The symptoms you’re experiencing will help your doctor correctly diagnose what you’re experiencing.