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Overview

Anxiety, the most prevalent group of mental health conditions, is characterized by severe fear or angst associated with particular objects or situations. Most people with anxiety try to avoid exposure to any situation that may cause their specific anxiety. A few common anxiety disorders include: 

  • Panic disorder - the sudden onset of paralyzing terror or impending disaster; symptoms can closely resemble a heart attack
  • Phobias - excessive fear of particular objects (simple phobias), situations that expose a person to the possible judgment of others (social phobias), or situations where escape might be difficult (agoraphobia)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder - persistent distressing thoughts (obsessions) that a person attempts to alleviate by performing repetitive, intentional acts (compulsions) such as hand washing
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - a psychological syndrome characterized by specific symptoms that result from exposure to terrifying, life-threatening trauma such as an act of violence, war, or a natural disaster