Not all anxiety is the same. Identifying your type is very important because the more you understand what's happening in your mind, the better your chances of maintaining control over it.
Let's now look at the types of anxiety and their specific characteristics.
Agoraphobia
People who have agoraphobia fear certain places or situations that make them feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed. These feelings lead to panic attacks. It usually develops after one or more panic attacks in public, causing these individuals to start avoiding those places and situations to prevent further attacks.
It is estimated that in Brazil there are more than 150,000 cases per year.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
People with GAD experience constant anxiety/worry about activities or events, even those that are common or part of their routine. The worry is greater than it should be given the reality of the situation and is commonly associated with physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach pain, rapid heartbeat, and/or sleep problems.
It is estimated that more than 2 million Brazilians suffer from this type of anxiety.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is the ongoing experience of unwanted or intrusive thoughts and worries that cause anxiety. A person may know that these thoughts are trivial but will try to relieve their anxiety by performing certain rituals or repetitive behaviors. This may include washing hands, counting things around them, or constantly checking things like whether the front door was locked before leaving, for example.
There are more than 150,000 cases per year here in Brazil.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder causes sudden and unexpected attacks of terrifying anxiety or fear that peak within minutes—this is what we call a panic attack. Those who experience a panic attack may feel:
- A sense of impending danger
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Rapid or irregular heartbeats that feel like palpitations
Panic attacks can cause the person to worry about them happening again or try to avoid situations where they occurred previously, as happens with agoraphobia.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD occurs after a person experiences a very traumatic event, such as:
- War
- Assault
- Natural disaster
- Accident
Symptoms include difficulty relaxing, disturbing dreams, or flashbacks of the event or traumatic situation in question. People with PTSD also tend to avoid things related to the trauma.
Selective Mutism
This type of anxiety is more common in children aged 3 to 6 years and involves an ongoing inability of the child to speak in specific situations or places. For example, they may refuse to speak at school, even though they can speak in other situations or places, such as at home. Selective mutism can interfere with daily life and activities, such as school, work, and social life.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
This is also a childhood condition and is marked by anxiety when a child is separated from their parents or guardians. Separation anxiety is a normal part of child development, and most children outgrow it by around 18 months. However, in some children, this disorder presents more severely, disrupting their daily activities.
Specific Phobias
In this type of phobia, the person feels a terrifying fear of something very specific, such as an object, event, or situation that triggers a panic attack when the person is exposed to that trigger. Naturally, the person will do everything to avoid this exposure. Here are some examples:
- Arachnophobia – Fear of spiders
- Claustrophobia – Fear of small spaces, such as an elevator
- Astraphobia – Fear of thunder and lightning
- Demophobia – Fear of crowds
- Acrophobia – Fear of heights