Skip to main content

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are on the rise. From social phobias to full-on panic attacks, anxiety affects nearly 1 in 5 Americans. Seeking help through a range of therapies can help reduce its grip on you.

All articles in Anxiety

Several therapies, such as herbal supplements and aromatherapy, may help ease a mild case of anxiety. But there’s less evidence that shows they’re effective compared to prescription anxiety medication, and they need to be used with caution.

See Anxiety treatments

If you are overwhelmed by worry and feel anxious more often than not, you may have a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It interferes with daily activities. You may have difficulty concentrating, poor sleep, fatigue, and irritability.

See Generalized Anxiety Disorder treatments

Social anxiety disorder is an intense fear or anxiety about social situations. People tend to isolate themselves and socializing can cause panic. It can cause emotional and physical symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help treat it.

See Social Anxiety Disorder treatments

Anxiety attacks are the manifestation of a fight-or-flight response gone awry, which may rise up seemingly at random or in response to an emotional stimulus.

See Anxiety Attack treatments

Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but it can get in the way of your life and relationships, especially if you have panic attacks.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a syndrome that often develops after exposure to a traumatic experience. People with PTSD often feel uncontrollably angry, irritable, and on high alert. They have nightmares and intrusive memories about the traumatic event. Therapy and medications can help you recover.

See PTSD treatments

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where you have repeated bouts of intense anxiety, called panic attacks. You become so worried about having a panic attack that it is all you think about. It can be treated with talk therapy and medications.

See Panic Disorder treatments

A nervous breakdown, while not an official diagnosis, describes severe stress that makes it hard to participate in everyday life. Symptoms vary but may include anger, fear, anxiety, and uncontrollable crying.

See Nervous Breakdown treatments

Stress is a physical and emotional reaction to challenges and difficulties in life. But chronic stress can be emotionally and physically harmful to you. Here, the symptoms and types of stress and how to cope.

See Stress treatments

Acute stress disorder may be experienced after sustaining a trauma or witnessing a traumatic event. These symptoms last for about a month and can lead to PTSD.

See Acute Stress Disorder treatments