Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by persistent, excessive worry about everyday situations, even when there is little or no clear reason to worry. People with GAD may experience symptoms such as restlessness, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, and trouble sleeping. This constant anxiety can interfere with work, relationships, and daily functioning.

This disorder may take a few different forms. But social anxiety disorder is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where a person may feel judged, embarrassed, or scrutinized by others. Individuals with this condition often avoid gatherings, public speaking, or new interactions because these situations can trigger overwhelming anxiety. They may even experience physical symptoms like sweating and shaking.

This condition emerges after experiencing a traumatic event or events. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. This may include violence, accidents, abuse (including ongoing abuse), or combat situations. People with PTSD may have intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks, along with heightened anxiety and avoidance of reminders of the trauma. These symptoms can disrupt daily life, relationships, and a person’s sense of safety.

While fear is a normal human emotion that can help a person avoid harm, phobias are outside and persistent feelings of fear that often do not correspond to the actual danger posed by the trigger. Common examples of phobias include fears of heights, flying, spiders, or confined spaces, though phobias can develop around almost anything. When exposed to the feared trigger, individuals may experience panic, sweating, rapid heartbeat, or an overwhelming urge to escape.

Panic disorder is a mental health condition marked by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. These are sudden episodes of intense fear that trigger physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, or dizziness. These attacks can occur without warning and often lead individuals to fear having future episodes, which may cause them to avoid certain places or situations.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts or fears (obsessions) that create significant anxiety. To relieve this distress, individuals often engage in repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions), such as checking, cleaning, or counting. These patterns can become time-consuming and interfere with daily life, relationships, and routines.