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Children who endured abuse or trauma or witnessed traumatic events are at higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder at some point in life. These factors may increase your risk of developing an anxiety disorder: You have a sudden occurrence of anxiety that seems unrelated to life events and you didn't have a previous history of anxiety.You don't avoid certain things or situations because of anxiety.You didn't have an anxiety disorder as a child.You don't have any blood relatives (such as a parent or sibling) with an anxiety disorder.It's possible that your anxiety may be due to an underlying medical condition if: Sometimes anxiety can be a side effect of certain medications. Rare tumors that produce certain fight-or-flight hormones.Chronic pain or irritable bowel syndrome.Withdrawal from alcohol, anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines) or other medications.Respiratory disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism.If your doctor suspects your anxiety may have a medical cause, he or she may order tests to look for signs of a problem.Įxamples of medical problems that can be linked to anxiety include: In some cases, anxiety signs and symptoms are the first indicators of a medical illness. Medical causesįor some people, anxiety may be linked to an underlying health issue. Life experiences such as traumatic events appear to trigger anxiety disorders in people who are already prone to anxiety. The causes of anxiety disorders aren't fully understood. It's easier to treat if you get help early. See your doctor or a mental health provider before your anxiety gets worse. Your worries may not go away on their own, and they may get worse over time if you don't seek help. You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors - if this is the case, seek emergency treatment immediately.You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical health problem.You feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health concerns along with anxiety.Your fear, worry or anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult to control.You feel like you're worrying too much and it's interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life.Other specified anxiety disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are terms for anxiety or phobias that don't meet the exact criteria for any other anxiety disorders but are significant enough to be distressing and disruptive.Substance-induced anxiety disorder is characterized by symptoms of intense anxiety or panic that are a direct result of misusing drugs, taking medications, being exposed to a toxic substance or withdrawal from drugs.Phobias provoke panic attacks in some people. Specific phobias are characterized by major anxiety when you're exposed to a specific object or situation and a desire to avoid it.Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) involves high levels of anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness and concern about being judged or viewed negatively by others.Separation anxiety disorder is a childhood disorder characterized by anxiety that's excessive for the child's developmental level and related to separation from parents or others who have parental roles.This can interfere with school, work and social functioning. Selective mutism is a consistent failure of children to speak in certain situations, such as school, even when they can speak in other situations, such as at home with close family members.These panic attacks may lead to worrying about them happening again or avoiding situations in which they've occurred. You may have feelings of impending doom, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a rapid, fluttering or pounding heart (heart palpitations). Panic disorder involves repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).
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It often occurs along with other anxiety disorders or depression. The worry is out of proportion to the actual circumstance, is difficult to control and affects how you feel physically. Generalized anxiety disorder includes persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about activities or events - even ordinary, routine issues.Anxiety disorder due to a medical condition includes symptoms of intense anxiety or panic that are directly caused by a physical health problem.Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and often avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.Several types of anxiety disorders exist: Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety.Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems.Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry.Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom.Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:
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