Practicing clinicians, regardless of their field, are very familiar with anxiety. Doctors frequently induce anxiety in people, as evidenced by increased pulse rate and blood pressure.
Occasional, situation-based anxiety is normal and can even be helpful. Low-grade manageable anxiety can help you stay focused and engaged.
However, people with anxiety disorders have excessive and persistent anxiety that is pervasive and interferes with their daily life. These uncomfortable feelings typically begin in childhood or adolescence and continue into adulthood.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, almost 3% of U.S. adults experienced generalized anxiety disorders in the past year, and almost 6% have experienced it at some point in their lifetime. The prevalence of anxiety is twice as high (3.4%) in women than in men (1.9%).1
Almost any aspect of life can cause temporary anxiety for someone. Anxiety-producing events can even vary in the same person on a day-to-day basis. A missed bus or an unexpected phone call can be handled with ease on a day that is going according to schedule, and you have had adequate sleep and stable blood sugar. Poor sleep quality and missed meals may be the tipping point that causes everyday stressors to provoke significant anxiety.
Common temporary causes of anxiety include:
The main types of anxiety disorders, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), include:
Risk factors that may make you more likely to experience anxiety include:2,
Generalized anxiety can cause a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms. You may experience some or all of the following:
Untreated anxiety can increase your risk of physical, social, and mental conditions, such as:
See your doctor, psychologist, or counselor if you are experiencing chronic anxiety or anxiety that affects your day-to-day life. Seeking professional guidance will help ensure you get an accurate diagnosis and the opportunity to learn about all potential treatment options. Some potential medical treatment options include:
For situational anxiety, here are 7 tips to reduce anxiety and manage stress:
Comorbid disorders are two or more conditions occurring simultaneously in an individual. Examples of disorders that commonly cooccur with anxiety include:
Disclaimer
While we strive to always provide accurate, current, and safe advice in all of our articles and guides, it’s important to stress that they are no substitute for medical advice from a doctor or healthcare provider. You should always consult a practicing professional who can diagnose your specific case. The content we’ve included in this guide is merely meant to be informational and does not constitute medical advice.
1. Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Merikangas KR, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.617. Erratum in: Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005 Jul;62(7):709. Merikangas, Kathleen R [added]. PMID: 15939839; PMCID: PMC2847357.
2. Gottschalk MG, Domschke K. Genetics of generalized anxiety disorder and related traits. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):159-168. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/kdomschke
3. Siegmann E-M. Association of Depression and Anxiety Disorders With Autoimmune Thyroiditis A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018;75(6):577-584. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0190