Signs and symptoms of different types of anxiety

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) occurs when we feel intense worry most of the time for a period of more than 6 months.

Signs and symptoms:

1. Experiencing on most days for a period of more than 6 months - severe worry that hinders functioning

2. If the worry makes you feel more than 3 of the following - restlessness, feeling on edge, getting tired easily, problems concentrating, sleep problems, irritability, tense muscles

Occurs when we’re extremely fearful and anxious about situations where we are exposed to unfamiliar people or think we’re being judged by others.

Signs and symptoms:

1. Over the past 6 months on one or more social situations, you felt - intense fear of being judged by others, fear of being judged negatively leading to rejection or offending people

2. Physical symptoms

3. Different situations can trigger symptoms

A panic disorder happens when we have recurring panic attacks. These are unexpected feelings of overwhelming and intense fear and distress. A panic attack can happen when we're in calm or anxious state.

Signs and symptoms:

1. Heart palpitations

2. Trembling, shaking or sweating

3. Chest pain

4. Difficulty breathing

5. Fear of dying

6. Nausea, dizziness

7. Feeling like you're detached from yourself

8. Numbness or tingling

Specific phobias occur when we feel strong fear or anxiety towards a specific object or situation. When we have a specific phobia, we react very strongly and avoid the situation. Even thinking about the phobia can cause extreme anxious reactions. Some common phobias involve extreme fear of needles, blood, germs, insects or spiders, lifts or closed spaces.

Signs and symptoms: One of the most disabling symptoms of a phobia is a panic attack.