Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Over time, people with anxiety disorders develop physical and emotional symptoms, depending on the severity of their apprehension and fear. These symptoms may include:

• Chest pain
• Chills or hot flushes
• Choking sensations
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness or faintness
• Emotional numbness
• Fatigue
• Irritability, edginess, or impatience
• Muscle tension
• Nausea or upset stomach
• Numbness or tingling
• Rapid heartbeat
• Restlessness
• Shortness of breath
• Sleep problems
• Sweating
• Trembling

Specific anxiety disorder symptoms

Each type of anxiety disorder has its own unique symptoms. These defining symptoms include:

Generalized anxiety disorder

• Excessive worry all the time for little or no reason
• The worry often interferes with everyday activities.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Upsetting repetitive thoughts or images about obsessions (such as contamination or intruders)
• Feeling driven to perform repetitive rituals (such as repetitive cleaning or checking)
• Avoidance of situations related to obsessions
• Aggressive or frightening impulses (such as becoming violent and hurting others)
• Requiring reassurances from others
• Skin problems due to repetitive washing
• Hair loss due to hair pulling

Panic disorder

• Sudden attacks of fear
• Fear of impending doom or death
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• Sense of unreality

Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Avoiding people, places, and situations that are reminiscent of the traumatic incident
• Repeated memories, reliving (flashbacks), or nightmares of the traumatic event
• Easily startled or agitated
• Personality changes (aggressive, irritable, occasionally violent)
• Feelings of guilt ("survivor guilt")
• Alcohol or drug abuse

Social phobia

• Intense fear of situations in which a person might be judged
• Worry about being embarrassed or humiliated
  
• Hypersensitivity to criticism
• Difficulty talking or performing in public
• Difficulty becoming assertive
• Poor social skills
• Low self-esteem due to phobia

Specific phobia

• Intense fear when exposed to a specific object or situation
• Avoidance of the object or situation that is feared

Health issues

Extreme feelings of apprehension and fear can affect a person's health. If left untreated, people with anxiety disorders may develop the following medical conditions:

• Another anxiety disorder
• Depressive disorder
• Digestive or intestinal problems
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Substance abuse
• Suicide
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)