While anxiety is often looked at as a stand-alone mental health condition, there are several different types of anxiety disorders. Each of these has a unique set of symptoms and required treatment.

It can be difficult for some to differentiate between these types as many symptoms overlap. However, understanding their differences will give you a better chance at treatment. Throughout this article, we’ll look at the types of anxiety disorders, how they manifest, and what the best treatment routes are.

Agoraphobia

As one of the most restrictive forms of anxiety, agoraphobia is a fear of being in public. Your biggest concerns will be unsafe conditions, the number of people you’re surrounded by, or being in a foreign location. ¹

When it comes to agoraphobia, there’s the misconception that it has to do with a fear of wide open spaces or of people in general. However, those are just a few of the many struggles of this condition.

Agoraphobia usually results in episodes that coincide with having to go out and do a major activity. Commonly, an underlying anxiety triggers an agoraphobic episode(s). For example, you may avoid certain places if they remind you of a past trauma. ²

While you may have tendencies of being a shut-in, you’re more likely to have difficulty being out by yourself, traveling alone, or developing an external routine without a loved one. The reason behind these behaviors is you need someone to guide you through anxiety-inducing events. ³

Agoraphobia Symptoms

Symptoms of agoraphobia kick in when you’re in an environment or situation that you aren’t used to or outside your comfort zone. For example, symptoms may trigger when you’re in a crowded area.

Trigger points can jumpstart various symptoms of agoraphobia that usually come in cycles called “agoraphobic episodes” (more commonly known as panic attacks). In these instances, you may develop symptoms that present themselves in the following three different manners: ⁴

1.) Physical

• Difficulty swallowing or speaking
• Discomfort in stomach, chest, and/or head
• Feeling faint, sick, and/or weak
• Heightened or labored breathing
• Increased heart rate
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea

2.) Emotional

• A growing desire or attempt to try and leave a particular situation, environment, or company
• Embarrassment, self-consciousness
• Outbursts of hostility, aggression, frustration, and/or depression that seem sudden and strange in the given situation

3.) Psychological

• Desperation for help, assurance that everything is alright
• Fear of others, surroundings, and/or situations that become overwhelming
• General anxiety or paranoia
• Slowness in thoughts and reactions

Agoraphobia Treatment

Agoraphobia seems like an insurmountable challenge – especially when one fears leaving their own household. However, the condition is very treatable.

Admittedly, there is no standard to treat agoraphobia. However, the most common and effective agoraphobia treatments include: ⁵

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Exposure therapy
• Medications (i.e. antidepressants, antipsychotics)
• Self-help techniques for everyday issues

One of the more controversial treatment options for agoraphobia is exposure therapy. This puts you into uncomfortable situations to help you identify how to cope. While it’s not necessarily recommended (especially when you start treatment), some do benefit from exposure therapy. ⁶

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a continuous track of concerns or worries. When left untreated, these can grow in ferocity and volume. Due to its persistence (usually lasting two weeks to 30 days), GAD is different from normal anxiety patterns. ⁷

This can also make it difficult to distinguish. You know you have GAD if it’s gotten in the way of daily responsibilities (i.e. school, work). To properly differentiate GAD from other anxiety disorders, it’s key to understand the symptoms and underlying causes.

GAD Symptoms

The symptoms of GAD mirror what typical anxiety looks like for everyone. However, the key difference is the cyclical nature of these symptoms and the frequency with which they appear. If you’ve struggled with the following for a long period, you may struggle with GAD: ⁸

• A general feeling of weakness or fatigue
• Heightened feelings of nervousness, agitation, irritability, or hostility (especially in an environment that poses as a trigger)
• Increased heart rate (sometimes hyperventilation)
• Sense of impending doom that coincides with paranoia and panic
• Sleep problems (insomnia or sleeping too much)
• Stomach sensitivity (nausea, vomiting)           

GAD Treatment

GAD’s treatment plan usually involves a mix of psychotherapies (talk therapies) and medications (antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers). While most people benefit from traditional treatment, you’re much more likely to overcome GAD if you also develop self-coping techniques. ⁹

There is no standard “one size fits all” approach for treatment or coping. Anxiety is a complicated condition that requires specific treatment for each person. If you’re currently or about to undergo treatment, be sure to be as detailed with your mental health professional as possible. This will allow them to understand your circumstances and how to put you on the right recovery path.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is marked by obsessive thoughts that are relieved through compulsive behaviors. ¹⁰ The disorder is common among US adults, with an estimated 2% of the general population struggling with the condition. ¹¹

OCD exhibits physical behaviors that come in cycles or patterns. You are prone to act out compulsions to provide you with peace and calmness from intrusive thoughts. However, continuing with such conduct has been found to actually worsen symptoms.

OCD Symptoms

Symptoms of OCD are divided into two subgroups: ¹²

Obsessive-Related Symptoms

• Aggressive thoughts (either towards yourself or others)
• Fear of contamination due to bacteria or germs
• Obtrusive undesired thoughts (usually involving taboo subjects such as sex, violence, or blasphemy)
• Overwhelming desire for perfection, symmetry, and order

Compulsive-Related Symptoms

• Double-checking back on actions, decisions, or conversations
• Necessity to make yourself and the environment clean
• Organizing out of necessity, often to an extreme point

OCD Treatment

To treat OCD, you must first understand what triggers OCD compulsions. Through this knowledge, you’ll be able to identify obsessive thoughts and work on readjusting them. The most effective therapy for this work is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). ¹³

CBT addresses trauma and triggers to change your compulsive actions. CBT has shown long-term success in actively neutralizing OCD thoughts.

Some medications can also assist with OCD. These include antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. ¹⁴

Panic Disorder

A panic disorder causes sudden feelings of danger even when there’s no apparent threat. You may feel like you’re losing control of your thoughts and behaviors. Furthermore, you may struggle with other common areas of life, including professionalism and relationships. ¹⁵

As a result of these struggles, you may end up alienating yourself from potential support groups. While all anxiety disorders have an effect on daily life, panic disorder reveals some of the most severe symptoms.

Panic Disorder Symptoms

Panic disorders result in outward signs of panic that are referred to as panic attacks. If you have a panic attack, it typically can last from a few seconds to several minutes and will involve the following symptoms: ¹⁶

• Abdominal cramping
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, and/or faintness
• Fear of loss of control and/or death
• Feelings of unreality or detachment
• Headache
• Hot flashes
• Nausea
• Numbness or tingling sensation
• Rapid, pounding heart rate
• Sense of impending doom or danger
• Shortness of breath or tightness of the throat
• Sweating
• Trembling or shaking

Unlike other forms of anxiety, a panic disorder is much more likely to be visually seen by others.

Panic Disorder Treatment

Panic disorder treatment involves talk therapy, behavioral therapy, and medication. ¹⁷ However, one of the most effective forms of treatment is creating coping mechanisms. Since a panic attack can appear suddenly, you’ll want to develop grounding techniques to calm you in the moment.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is marked by the development of anxiety symptoms following a traumatic event. You may have a difficult time processing your trauma and symptoms are a result of burying it in the back of your mind. ¹⁸

Certain groups of people are more likely to develop PTSD. These include front-line workers, such as:

• EMS response teams
• Firefighters
• Military members
• Police officers

However, PTSD isn’t limited to these individuals and can happen to anyone who experiences a traumatic experience. For example, a bad car accident or sexual assault can trigger PTSD. ¹⁹

PTSD Symptoms

PTSD symptoms are marked by reliving or repeating a traumatic event, usually through flashbacks or nightmares. ²⁰ This can be just as stressful as the event itself and this is why it’s important to process the emotions that come from trauma.

Other common symptoms include: ²¹

• Avoidance behaviors
• Changes in daily behaviors and/or personal and work performance
• Difficulties in working and/or personal relationships
• Foggy memory and numb mind (especially right after traumatic events)
• Issues with mood, concentration, and processing thoughts and emotions
• Poor coping skills (i.e. being unable to discuss or move on, substance abuse, etc.)
• Sleep disturbances (usually through nightmares) or a lack of sleep
• Sudden alertness, flashes of anger, frustration, and/or intense bouts of extreme paranoia

PTSD Treatment

To address PTSD, you must first address the underlying trauma. This means you’ll not only have to process the trauma but also find ways to cope with its effects.

Treating PTSD is something that takes a multi-focused approach to create the correct and fairly balanced treatment plan that works best for you. However, that being said, most clinicians outline the basic treatment of PTSD as the following:

• Talk Therapy – On top of traditional talk therapy with a licensed mental health provider, other sorts of treatments are often prescribed to help with the underlying trauma. These can include specific targeted therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or exposure therapies. ²²

• Medication Regimen – Medication can help you through the stages of treatment by relieving symptoms. Most clinicians use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The most common are antidepressants. ²³

• Self-Care Techniques – With PTSD, it’s often encouraged that patients develop their own self-coping techniques that can establish healthy and supportive ways to deal with triggers. ²⁴

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder is marked by fears and paranoia over being separated from a caregiver, a loved one, or a trusted person who serves as a support. ²⁵ This condition usually develops in early childhood, when children are prone to having separation anxiety from their parents. However, it can also develop in adults.

More specifically, adults who’ve experienced violent or stressful situations are more likely to have separation anxiety from someone who makes them feel comfortable or supported. ²⁶ This can result in various symptoms that can be difficult for both parties.

Separation Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Symptoms of a separation anxiety disorder include: ²⁷

• Consistent nightmares, flashbacks, or reoccurrences of stressful events
• Feelings of distress or worry over losing a loved one (or, that something awful is going to happen)
• Inability to be alone either inside or outside the home
• Issue with sleep or inability to fall asleep
• Physiological responses, including headaches, stomachaches, nausea, or increased fatigue

Separation Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Treatment of separation anxiety disorder is tricky because it requires you and the person you’re attached to to make adjustments. Still, it involves classical treatment options, from specialized therapies to medication (in extreme cases). ²⁸

In children with separation anxiety disorder, family therapies are the best option. These will inform parents of how to handle a child when they need to be away from them for long periods. It will also teach children how to socialize with others to help ease separation anxiety symptoms. ²⁹

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a fear of social situations involving large crowds or social interaction with other people. This anxiety usually develops from an underlying fear of being judged or humiliated by others. ³⁰

Sometimes, SAD is confused with agoraphobia. However, there are distinct differences between these conditions: ³¹

• If you struggle with agoraphobia, you fear the development of an anxiety attack in certain environments.

• If you struggle with a social anxiety disorder, your fear in public situations is from the false belief that others will mock and judge you.

SAD Symptoms

SAD’s symptoms appear in three categories: ³²

Emotional Symptoms

• Emotional outbursts, often involving frustration and agitation while in public
• Fear of others, being watched, or noticed
• Relying on the safety and security of others to get through normal social situations

Physical Symptoms

• Dizziness, weakness, or fainting
• Increased heart rate
• Sweating

Mental Symptoms

• Avoidance behaviors to limit the chances of embarrassment
• Increased paranoia of actions and reactions to other’s opinions
• Self-consciousness and self-shame
• Worrying about how others see you

SAD Treatment

When it comes to treating SAD, the most effective option for most patients is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). ³³ If symptoms are severe, you may also be offered medication.

SSRIs are the most common. However, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are also prevalent. SNRIs replace serotonin levels and provide norepinephrine to the brain. ³⁴

Specific Phobia

Specific phobias are defined as an irrational fear of something that poses little to no threat. There are different types of specific phobias. These include: ³⁵

• Aerophobia – the fear of flying (i.e. as a passenger in an airplane or helicopter)
• Arachnophobia – the fear of spiders
• Claustrophobia – the fear of being confined in a constricted space
• Driving Phobia – the fear of operating a motor vehicle
• Emetophobia – the fear of vomiting
• Hypochondria – the fear of falling ill

There are a multitude of other specific phobias that each have their own set of symptoms. If you believe you struggle with a specific phobia, we suggest you do some more research into it. This will help you identify the symptoms and discover the proper treatment path.

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