Almost a quarter of all people will have an anxiety disorder at some point in their life. So it’s a common disorder. Most anxiety disorders are more common in women than men, without knowing exactly the reason.
Anxiety disorders are about fears of things or situations that other people are not normally afraid of, or about fears that are exaggerated.
For example, someone can be afraid of spiders, mice, elevators or other things – all these things are objectively not dangerous.
Anxiety disorders can be accompanied by physical signs of anxiety such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, tremors, shortness of breath, nausea, chest tightness and dizziness.
Some people have:
- Sudden, unexpected panic attacks (“panic disorder”)
- Fear, for example, of narrow or overcrowded rooms or of wide spaces (“agoraphobia”)
- Persistent fear, constant nervousness and worry without really knowing what from (“Generalized Anxiety Disorder”)
- Fear of negative judgment from other people (“social phobia”)
- Fear of individual things, such as syringes, dogs, forces of nature (thunderstorms, deep water), blood, injuries or heights (“specific or simple phobias”)
In some cases, anxiety disorders can cause the withdrawal of people who are affected by these disorders. Stress disorders can also lead to an inability to work.