Types of Anxiety Disorders: A Simple Guide for Families

Feeling anxious now and then is a normal part of life. An anxiety disorder is different, because the fear or worry is stronger, lasts longer and gets in the way of life. This guide uses information from the World Health Organization (WHO), the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the NHS.

Anxiety or an anxiety disorder?

NIMH says anxiety disorders involve more than occasional worry or fear. The anxiety persists, appears in many situations and can get worse over time. In severe cases, a person may feel intense fear in everyday situations, avoid social contact or refuse to leave home. The WHO says symptoms typically last at least several months, and often begin in childhood or adolescence and can continue into adulthood.

The main types

The WHO lists seven types:

• Generalised anxiety disorder: long-lasting worry about many different things.
• Panic disorder: repeated sudden attacks of intense fear.
• Social anxiety disorder: strong fear of social situations.
• Agoraphobia: fear of certain places or situations.
• Separation anxiety disorder: distress about being apart from a loved one.
• Specific phobias: intense fear of a particular object or situation.
• Selective mutism: being unable to speak in some social settings.

The WHO adds that a person can have more than one anxiety disorder at the same time. The NHS describes phobias as usually triggered by a particular object or situation, such as animals, flying or heights, and says treatment can help.

How common are they?

According to the WHO, around 5.8% of the world's population had an anxiety disorder, and in 2023 an estimated 470 million people had one, making it the most common mental disorder. Women and girls are more likely than men and boys to experience an anxiety disorder. NIMH reports that about a third of US adolescents and adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.

What causes them?

The WHO says anxiety disorders result from social, psychological and biological factors. People who have experienced abuse, severe losses or other adverse experiences are more likely to develop one. NIMH says researchers study environmental and genetic factors and brain development, and that family and other environmental influences may affect risk across a lifetime.

Treatment

The WHO says highly effective treatments exist. Psychological treatments based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) have the most evidence across a range of anxiety disorders. Some medicines, such as SSRIs, can be useful for adults, while benzodiazepines are generally not recommended because of their high potential for dependence and limited long-term benefit. The treatment gap is wide: the WHO says only about 27.6% of people with anxiety disorders, roughly 1 in 4, receive any treatment.

A doctor or mental health professional decides which approach suits each person.

Looking after yourself

The WHO suggests regular exercise, even a short walk, and practising mindfulness meditation, even for a few minutes a day. It also says exercise programmes can help prevent anxiety disorders in adults. These are general wellbeing steps and do not replace professional care.

When to see a doctor

Please talk to a doctor if worry or fear is hard to control, lasts for months, or stops you from working, studying, seeing people or leaving home. If you feel unable to cope or are thinking about harming yourself, seek urgent help right away. Crisis help lines exist in India and the United States, and a doctor or local health service can tell you which are available.

Do not stop or change prescribed treatment without talking to your doctor.

In an emergency, call your local emergency number (112 in India, 911 in the United States).