A comprehensive support network for anxiety
Feeling anxious is a normal part of life. Anxiety disorders involve more than occasional worry or fear: the anxiety does not go away, is felt in many situations, and can get worse over time. With the right treatment and support, people with anxiety disorders can manage their symptoms. This atlas gathers warning signs, appointment help, treatments, and family support, with a public source behind every claim.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health · Anxiety disorders
What an anxiety disorder is
More than everyday worry
Many people worry about health, money, school, work, or family. With an anxiety disorder, symptoms can interfere with job performance, schoolwork, and relationships. In severe cases, a person might feel intense fear in common situations, avoid social encounters, or refuse to leave home.
An estimated 19.1% of U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder in the past year, and an estimated 31.1% experience one at some time in their lives.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health · Any anxiety disorder statistics
Know the signs
Constant worry, panic attacks, fear of being judged, avoidance, and how anxiety can look different in children and teens.
Get checked
A primary care provider is a good place to start, and can check that another health problem is not the cause.
Treatment helps
Talk therapy, medicines, or both. Therapy that gently faces fears is a first choice for many people.
Support someone
Practical ways to help, how to support facing fears instead of avoiding them, and how to look after yourself too.
Types of anxiety disorders
Anxiety takes different forms
Names help match care to the person. They do not replace an evaluation by a health care provider.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Worry or nervousness about everyday things such as health, money, work, or family that is hard to control and out of proportion to the situation. A diagnosis needs worry on most days for at least 6 months, plus at least three signs such as restlessness, tiredness, trouble concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, or sleep problems.
Panic disorder
Repeated, unexpected panic attacks: sudden waves of fear with physical symptoms such as a pounding heart, sweating, trembling, or trouble breathing, plus at least 1 month of worry about more attacks or changing behavior to avoid them.
Social anxiety disorder
Strong fear of situations where a person may be watched or judged, such as speaking in public, meeting new people, or eating in front of others. To be diagnosed, the fear must last at least 6 months and get in the way of work, school, or relationships.
Specific phobias
An ongoing, intense fear of a certain object, animal, activity, or setting that poses little or no real danger, such as flying, heights, enclosed spaces, insects, or blood and injections. Being near it, or even thinking about it, sets off anxiety.
Agoraphobia
Intense fear of places or situations where escape might be hard, leading a person to avoid things like being outside the home alone, traveling by car, bus, or plane, or being in a crowd.
Separation anxiety disorder
Fear of being apart from a parent or other attachment figure that goes well beyond a child's normal stage of separation anxiety, which usually ends around age 2. Signs include intense distress at separation, nightmares, refusing school or sleep away from the caregiver, repeated physical complaints, and worry that harm will come to the caregiver.
· Types with sources · Treatments
Each type links to its source on the types page
For families
You can help, and you do not have to do it alone
Encourage a visit to a provider, be kind and patient, gently support facing fears instead of avoiding them, and learn the warning signs of suicide. With the right treatment and support, anxiety can be managed.
If someone may be in danger
Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24/7. You can contact 988 for yourself or for someone you are worried about. In a life-threatening situation, call 911.