Are there different types of Anxiety?

Anxiety is a complex, multifaceted human experience that occurs in a number of different forms. The primary types of anxiety are shown below:

• Panic Anxiety (please see section “what is a panic attack.”)
• Social Anxiety – People who have social anxiety (commonly referred to as social anxiety disorder, or SAD), have an intense fear of being scrutinized by other people in social or performance situations (e.g., dating, public speaking) and of negative evaluation. In brief, they feel that “all eyes are on them” and are literally “afraid of people”.
• Generalized Anxiety – The key feature of generalized anxiety is persistent worry. Often referred to as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), this condition is accompanied by marked or excessive worry, usually about more than one life experience – such as health, finances or career prospects.
• Performance Anxiety – This type of anxiety occurs in achievement-related situations in which people feel they are being evaluated by others. Examples include: public speaking, dating, interviewing, test taking and group presentations.
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – This disorder is characterized by the development of symptoms after exposure to a traumatic event. The most common symptoms include re-experiencing of the event – either in flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of reminders of the event, having difficulty sleeping and having feelings of detachment.
• Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Individuals with OCD are plagued by persistent and recurring thoughts or “obsessions” that they find very disturbing. These thoughts typically reflect exaggerated anxiety or fears that have no basis in reality. Many people with OCD feel compelled to perform some ritual or routine excessively, to help relieve their anxiety. Examples of compulsions include cleaning (e.g., hand washing), checking (e.g., locking the front door) and hoarding (e.g., money).
• Agoraphobia – The defining feature of agoraphobia is a sense of anxiety about being in situations or places where escape might be difficult or embarrassing (e.g., being in a Church, restaurant or other public place). At times, the anxiety associated with agoraphobia is so intense, sufferers may experience being “housebound”, for some period of time.