What is anxiety?
Anxiety is the body's natural response to perceived threats — a feeling of unease, worry, or fear. In moderation, it's adaptive and helps us respond to genuine danger. It becomes a disorder when it persists, intensifies without cause, or interferes with daily functioning.
Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive fear or worry that is difficult to control and causes significant distress. Unlike ordinary nervousness, these conditions don't simply resolve when a stressor passes. They require clinical attention and, fortunately, respond well to treatment.
Types of anxiety disorders
The DSM-5 recognizes several distinct anxiety disorders, each with specific diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Persistent, excessive worry about multiple areas of life — work, health, family, finances — occurring more days than not for at least six months.
Panic Disorder
Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks accompanied by persistent concern about future attacks or behavioral changes to avoid them.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Marked fear of social situations where one may be scrutinized by others, leading to avoidance or intense distress during social interactions.
Specific Phobias
Intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation — such as flying, heights, or animals — that is out of proportion to actual risk.
Evidence-based approaches
Multiple effective treatments exist for anxiety disorders. The choice depends on disorder type, severity, patient preference, and treatment availability.
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First-line
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT helps patients identify and modify maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors. Meta-analyses consistently show large effect sizes. Most patients see improvement within 12-16 sessions.
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First-line
Pharmacotherapy
SSRIs and SNRIs are first-line medications with established efficacy. Benzodiazepines may be used short-term but carry dependence risk. All medication decisions should involve a prescribing physician.
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Specialized
Exposure Therapy
Systematic, gradual confrontation with feared stimuli under controlled conditions. Particularly effective for phobias, social anxiety, and panic disorder with agoraphobia.
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Adjunctive
Lifestyle Modifications
Regular aerobic exercise, sleep hygiene, caffeine reduction, and mindfulness practices show modest but consistent benefits as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
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If anxiety is affecting your quality of life, professional support can help. Most people improve significantly with appropriate treatment.
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