Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in the US, affecting 40 million adults. Everyone feels anxious sometimes, but an anxiety disorder means the anxiety is persistent, excessive, and interferes with daily life.
When to See a Doctor
⚠️ See doctor soonSee a doctor or mental health professional if anxiety is disrupting your work, relationships, or sleep for more than 2 weeks. Seek emergency care for a first-time panic attack, or if you're having thoughts of self-harm.
Early Warning Signs
1 symptomMuscle tension and aches
Chronic anxiety keeps muscles in a state of low-level tension, leading to neck stiffness, jaw clenching, and general achiness.
Common Symptoms
5 symptomsExcessive, uncontrollable worry
A hallmark of generalized anxiety disorder — persistent worry about everyday events that is disproportionate and hard to control.
Racing heart (palpitations)
The "fight-or-flight" response triggered by anxiety floods the body with adrenaline, causing the heart to race.
Shortness of breath
Anxiety can make breathing feel shallow or insufficient, sometimes triggering hyperventilation.
Difficulty concentrating
Constant worry uses cognitive bandwidth, making it hard to focus on tasks or remember information.
Insomnia and sleep disturbances
Racing thoughts at night prevent falling asleep or cause early waking — worsening anxiety in a vicious cycle.
Advanced Symptoms
2 symptomsAvoidance of triggering situations
As anxiety worsens, people often avoid places, people, or activities they associate with anxiety attacks, shrinking their world.
Panic attacks
Sudden, intense surges of fear with physical symptoms (chest pain, dizziness, numbness). Though not dangerous, they are terrifying and require professional evaluation.
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