Anxiety Disorders
Generalised Anxiety Disorder · Social Anxiety Disorder · Panic Disorder
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What is it?
Anxiety disorders go beyond everyday worry or nervousness before a big event. They involve persistent, often disproportionate fear or worry that doesn’t settle down, shows up even when there’s no clear threat, and starts interfering with daily life — work, relationships, sleep, or basic routines.
“Anxiety disorder” is actually an umbrella term covering several conditions: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (constant worry across many areas of life), Social Anxiety Disorder (intense fear of judgment in social situations), and Panic Disorder (sudden, intense episodes of physical fear — racing heart, breathlessness — called panic attacks).
Common signs & symptoms
- Persistent restlessness, an on-edge feeling, or a sense of impending doom
- Racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, mind “going blank”
- Physical symptoms: rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, nausea, tightness in the chest
- Avoidance of situations, people, or places that trigger worry
- Sleep disturbance and fatigue despite feeling “wired”
- Irritability or a short fuse
What it is not
Anxiety is a normal, useful emotion — the nervousness before an exam or interview isn’t a disorder. It becomes a concern when the worry is disproportionate to the situation, hard to control, and persists for six months or more, or when panic attacks recur and lead to avoiding everyday activities out of fear of another one.
When to seek help
If anxiety is interfering with work, relationships, sleep, or daily functioning most days for several weeks — or if panic attacks are recurring — it’s worth speaking to a professional.
Screening tools clinicians use
Clinicians often use standardised instruments such as the GAD-7 for generalised anxiety as a starting point in assessment. These are administered and interpreted by a professional and are not meant for self-diagnosis.
How to get help
This page is for general awareness and is not a diagnostic tool. Only a qualified professional can diagnose an anxiety disorder. This platform does not provide emergency or diagnostic services — see our full Disclaimer.