According to HelpGuide.org, an anxiety attack may consist of one or more symptoms such as heart palpitations, hyperventilation, panicking, nausea, trembling and hot flashes. They also typically last no more than 30 minutes and peak within 10 minutes. There are six main types of anxiety, and they are all very treatable with a combination of prescription drugs and therapy sessions.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Also known as GAD, this type of anxiety causes the patient to constantly worry and be distracted from daily activities. It also frequently causes the patient to feel a sense of doom, and he may not understand or be able to communicate the reasons for it. Symptoms of this type of anxiety include insomnia, nausea, fatigue and restlessness.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Also known as OCD, this disorder is identified by the obsessive rituals a patient must constantly repeat to deal with fears such as germs or death. This may include actions such as repeatedly washing hands or repeatedly checking the door to ensure it’s locked properly.
Panic Disorder
Repeated panic attacks, accompanied by the fear of experiencing future attacks, are classic symptoms of panic disorder. The patient may also suffer from agoraphobia, meaning the fear of having an attack where escaping from it would be difficult; as a result, these patients frequently avoid going out in public spaces.
Phobia
Having a phobia simply means that a patient experiences an unrealistic fear of a person, place or thing that actually poses no danger at all. It is quite common for patients to exhibit a fear of heights, spiders or flying, for example. HelpGuide.org states that the natural inclination to avoid the things that you have a phobia about actually strengthens the fear.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Also known as PTSD, this anxiety disorder is experienced after a life-altering or traumatic event, such as going to war or being in a car accident. Common symptoms include withdrawing from social and public events, experiencing flashbacks and hallucinations, and having nightmares about the event.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety is defined as the fear of being humiliated in public or looked down upon by others according to HelpGuide.org. This may also be referred to as a social phobia, and may be mistaken for shyness. Some patients who experience social anxiety disorder avoid others completely. The most common type of social anxiety is performance anxiety, also known as stage fright.
About this Author
Jamie Simpson is a researcher and journalist based in Indianapolis with more than 10 years of professional writing experience. She earned her B.S. in animal science from Purdue University, and more recently a Master of Public Affairs-Certificate in public management from Indiana University. Simpson also works as a massage therapist and equine sports massage therapist.
