The Most Common Types Of Anxiety: From Social Anxiety To OCD

Anxiety is one of the greatest evils of our time. In fact, several types of anxiety have now been identified and new classifications are constantly being made. It’s no wonder, really, if you think about how demanding and fast our world is today. That balance, both with yourself and others, is dynamic.

Anxiety is one of the many faces of fear. But unlike the fear itself, in this case there are no special stimuli that trigger it. Fear is normal when you face a particular threat and perceive that you are in danger. But anxiety is a form of fear that often does not have a specific cause. It is therefore not easy to find the origin or what makes it return.

You know it’s anxiety because you feel anxious, insecure or worried about “something”, but it’s not clear what. You may feel like you are on a plane, falling freely, when in fact you are just sitting in the living room at home. Maybe you feel an inner tingling that will not leave you alone. Then it makes you agitated and annoyed. However, you can not identify the cause.

There are many different types of common anxiety disorders. Some prefer to just call it “stress” or “worries”. However, if you take a detailed look at it, it can be one of the more serious types of anxiety. The good thing is that each of these types of anxiety can be treated. To begin with, let’s learn more about them.

Two of the common types of anxiety: generalized anxiety and social anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder is defined as a state of constant worry, for no apparent reason. It must have a duration of at least 6 months. And in general it is accompanied by difficulty sleeping, irritability, difficulty concentrating and general fatigue.

Social anxiety is in turn a condition in which the person experiences fear or gets upset when they have to interact with others. Essentially, people with this type of anxiety are afraid of being in contact with other people. Interestingly, a large proportion of these types of anxiety are pre-existing. That is, it happens before the dreaded social contact takes place.

Both conditions have a significant impact on the person’s quality of life. In addition, they do not just get better on their own over time. These types of anxiety tend to be nurtured by avoidant behaviors as well. And let’s remember, you’re not just going through a difficult time; You have a condition that needs treatment.

In most cases, therapy for a short period of time is all that is needed to gain control over one’s emotions. Other times, more time is needed. In any case, the probability of overcoming these conditions is very high.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder

OCD is characterized by having persistent and intrusive thoughts that trigger fear and anxiety. No matter how much the person tries to get the idea out of their head, they fail. The obsessions can invade the individual’s personality and greatly affect their lives.

PTSD, on the other hand, occurs after undergoing a traumatic experience. It manifests itself as restlessness, difficulty sleeping, and above all, the recurring fantasy of the trauma happens again. Therefore, the person is always on guard. They feed their insecurity and isolation.

In both cases, depending on the severity of the symptoms, there are different ways to deal with the problem. Using relaxation techniques can significantly reduce a person’s anxiety. It can also improve one’s ability to concentrate. If these methods fail, professional therapy is an excellent choice and often very successful.

Agoraphobia and hypochondria

Agoraphobia is now one of the most common types of anxiety. It is a vague, insecure fear of any situation that does not seem to have a way out. In other words, they fear situations that will catch them and prevent them from getting help if they have a panic attack.

In a way, it’s like being afraid of fear in itself. Every day there are people who seek help for agoraphobia, and the number is growing. People with agoraphobia really suffer and have trouble living a normal life.

Something similar happens with hypochondria, which interpret every sign their body gives them as the worst possible. They worry that they have a serious illness and their condition can worsen at any time. They also feel that they can do nothing about it.

In both cases, relaxation techniques are recommended. They help reduce or disable anxiety and prevent it from escalating. They also teach a person how to read the signs the body sends and make them feel that they have more self-control. Regular exercise is also helpful. And as always, for all types of anxiety, it is a good idea to see a therapist.