Anxiety disorders involve persistent, excessive fear or worry that disturbs everyday living. It is more than just the stress that comes from having to cope with the high-pressures that most adults encounter in their daily lives. Symptoms include panic attacks, rapid heart rate, muscle tension, and avoidance behaviors.
It’s also important to distinguish between anxiety and depression, which often go hand-in-hand. The symptoms can overlap, and each aspect has to be treated specifically. For more relevant information about these differences, please read our blogs that go deeper into depression here, and anxiety here.
Distinguishing between anxiety and depression
Depression is a broad term, and the condition has varying degrees of severity but not many features that distinguish between them. Anxiety, in contrast, presents with multiple specific disorders, summarised in the table below:
| Depression | Anxiety | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Experiencing anxiety or depression | |||
| Basic emotion | Sad, hollow, hopeless | Worried, fearful, nervous | |
| Focus of thinking | Past bad experiences, lack of understanding | Future threats, lack of certainty | |
| Activity levels | Slow, lazy | Tense, restless | |
| Sleeping | Mixed insomnia/oversleeping | Mostly insomnia | |
| Clinical differentiation | |||
| Mental state | Emotionally numb, disinterested | Persvasive fear, jittery | |
| Thought patterns | “Things can’t get better” | “Bad things may happen!” | |
| Responses | Dull emotions | Hyperactive, nervous | |
| Response to help | Minimal change in emotions | Temporary response, followed by relapse | |
| Symptomatic developments | Level and pervasive | Reacting to triggers, highly episodic | |
| Treatment focus | Mood regulation | Regulation of nerve signalling | |
| Therapy differentiation | |||
| Response time | Gradual and persistent | Usually fast | |
| Length of treatment | Weeks to months | One to two weeks | |
| Prognosis | Good, as long as there’s adherence to regimen | Fair, with a tendency to drop out after searly success | |
What are the causes and symptoms of Anxiety disorder?
Anxiety disorder can be caused by a combination of genetic factors, brain chemistry, personality, and life experiences (e.g., trauma). An anxiety disorder is something other than feeling unsettled occasionally. It can manifest in different ways at different times resulting in distress, uneasiness, and excessive fright, whereas people without anxiety disorder have feelings that would be similar over time.
Typically, these episodes come and go and usually are limited to specific situations. Only when these symptoms are more frequent and start to govern behavior, it may be diagnosed as a disorder that may affect the person’s ability to work or study, establish relationships, and go about daily activities.
Progression of anxiety disorder
The signs may change as a person matures:
- In children, the typical behavioral signs are:
- Being irritable or over-argumentative
- Withdrawing from social interactions, physically retreating to a hiding place or room
- Displaying intense fears triggered by everyday situations, like being separated from family members, rejecting any interactions with unfamiliar objects or animals
- Worrying excessively about the future, and constantly imagining something bad about to happen.
- In adults, typical symptoms include some of the above, as well as:
- Angry, uncontrollable outbursts
- Road rage
- Responding negatively to friendly criticism
- Sleep disorders
- Extreme restlessness and fidgeting
- Avoiding social interactions, especially with unfamiliar people or in new environments.
Is anxiety a symptom of ADHD?
It’s common for people with ADHD to have feelings of anxiety, because of the challenges that come with ADHD leading to problems at school, at work, and at home. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle with anxiety than other people. As reported in Additude, a leading ADHD website, “anxiety disorder is ADHD’s most common comorbidity – in no small part because the ADHD experience makes for a life characterized by stress and worry. Adults with ADHD lead anxious lives. The nature of ADHD often makes day-to-day life stressful, creating situations and environments fraught with uncertainty – anxiety’s primary fuel.”
The symptoms of ADHD differ in many ways from anxiety. ADHD primarily involves problems with focus and concentration. Anxiety involves nervousness and fear.
Shared symptoms of the two disorders include difficulty concentrating or paying attention, inability to relax, and feelings of restlessness.
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- Symptoms of ADHD not common in anxiety disorder include trouble completing tasks and forgetfulness; difficulty listening to and following instructions, and an inability to focus for long periods of time
- Symptoms of anxiety not associated with ADHD typically include chronic feelings of worry or nervousness, fear without an obvious cause, irritability, trouble sleeping or insomnia, head and stomach aches, excessive fear of trying new activities.
What are the best medications for Anxiety Disorder?
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are antidepressants that are prescribed widely for people with anxiety disorders. They include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft). Antidepressants using SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) have been shown to be effective for treating persistent anxiety disorders. In other anxiety cases, especially for people subject to acute panic attacks, drugs prescribed are benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
Frequently asked questions about anxiety disorder
What is the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder?
Occasional anxiety is a normal human response to uncertainty or stress. Anxiety becomes a disorder when feelings of fear, worry, or uneasiness occur frequently and begin to interfere with daily life. A person may experience ongoing nervousness, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, or avoidance of normal activities.
The key difference is persistence and impact. Ordinary anxiety usually appears in response to a specific situation and fades once the situation passes. An anxiety disorder tends to last longer and may occur even when no obvious threat is present. Healthcare professionals diagnose anxiety disorders based on symptom patterns, duration, and the degree to which symptoms affect work, relationships, or routine responsibilities.
What symptoms commonly appear in anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders often involve both emotional and physical symptoms. Emotional symptoms usually include persistent worry, feelings of fear, irritability, or a sense that something bad may happen. These feelings can occur even in everyday situations that most people consider routine.
Physical symptoms may also appear. These can include restlessness, trouble sleeping, difficulty relaxing, headaches, stomach discomfort, or a racing heartbeat. Some individuals may avoid social situations or activities because they anticipate distress. Symptoms vary between individuals and may change with age, which is why evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional is important when symptoms persist.
Can children develop anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders can appear during childhood as well as adulthood. In children, the condition often shows itself through behavior rather than through clearly expressed worries. A child may become unusually irritable, withdraw from social interaction, or avoid situations that trigger fear.
Common signs may include intense worry about separation from parents, strong fears related to unfamiliar situations, or repeated concerns about future events. Children may also hide, retreat to a quiet place, or react strongly to unexpected experiences. Because childhood behavior changes as development progresses, pediatricians and mental-health professionals usually evaluate symptoms over time before confirming a diagnosis.
Is anxiety disorder related to ADHD?
Anxiety frequently occurs alongside attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Research shows that anxiety disorder is one of the most common conditions that appears together with ADHD. Living with ADHD can create daily challenges that contribute to stress and uncertainty, which may increase anxious feelings.
The two conditions share several symptoms, including difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and trouble relaxing. However, they also differ in important ways. ADHD mainly involves challenges with focus, organization, and task completion. Anxiety is more strongly linked with persistent worry, fear without a clear cause, and physical tension. Healthcare professionals often assess both conditions carefully because their symptoms can overlap.
What medications are commonly used for anxiety disorders?
Several categories of medications are used in the clinical management of anxiety disorders. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most widely prescribed options. Examples include fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, citalopram, and paroxetine.
Another group of medications called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine and venlafaxine, may also be used for persistent anxiety conditions. In some cases involving sudden or severe panic symptoms, benzodiazepines like alprazolam, diazepam, or lorazepam may be prescribed for short-term use. Medication decisions are always made by qualified healthcare professionals who consider an individual’s medical history and overall health.
When should anxiety symptoms be evaluated by a healthcare professional?
Anxiety symptoms should be evaluated when they become persistent, intense, or disruptive to daily activities. Occasional worry is common, but symptoms that interfere with work, education, sleep, or relationships may indicate a more serious condition.
Professional evaluation is particularly important when anxiety leads to avoidance of normal activities, severe sleep disturbance, frequent physical complaints, or emotional distress that does not improve over time. Mental-health specialists use structured interviews and clinical guidelines to determine whether symptoms meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder and to discuss appropriate management approaches. Consulting a qualified healthcare provider ensures that symptoms are properly assessed and understood.
