What are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder. More about Anxiety Disorders »
Five major types of anxiety disorders are:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)
Treatment
Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. More about Treatment »
Getting Help: Locate Services
Locate mental health services in your area, affordable healthcare, NIMH clinical trials, and listings of professionals and organizations. More about Locating Services »
Related Information
- Information on coping with traumatic events
- Information about medications
- Anxiety Disorders Information and Organizations from NLM's MedlinePlus (en Español)
- Some mental illnesses also carry an increased risk for suicide.
Science News about Anxiety Disorders
Featured Publications about Anxiety Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
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A detailed booklet that describes the symptoms, causes, and treatments of the major anxiety disorders, with information on getting help and coping En Español - Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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An easy-to-read booklet on generalized anxiety disorder that explains what it is, when it starts, how long it lasts, and how to get help. En Español - When Fear Overwhelms: Panic Disorder
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An easy-to-read booklet on Panic Disorder that explains what it is, when it starts, how long it lasts, and how to get help. En Español - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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A booklet on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that explains what it is, treatment options, and how to get help. - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Easy-to-Read)
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An easy-to-read booklet on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that explains what it is, when it starts, how long it lasts, and how to get help. En Español - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Research Fact Sheet
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A fact sheet with a brief description of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its treatment. - Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)
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An easy-to-read booklet on Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) that explains what it is, when it starts, how long it lasts, and how to get help.
En Español - When Unwanted Thoughts Take Over: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
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An easy-to-read booklet on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that explains what it is, when it starts, how long it lasts, and how to get help. En Español
