Symptoms and Complications
Some symptoms of anxiety are common to all types of anxiety disorders.
Other symptoms are more specific to a certain type of anxiety disorder. A person
may have an anxiety disorder if any of the symptoms listed below interfere with
their daily life in any way. Anyone who suspects they may have an anxiety disorder
should talk to their doctor.
The common symptoms of anxiety disorders can include:
- chest pain or discomfort
- choking
- chronic and exaggerated worry and tension
- dizziness or faintness (actual fainting is extremely rare)
- fear of dying
- fear of going crazy or losing control
- feeling a lump in your throat
- feelings of unreality, strangeness, or detachment from the environment
- feeling tired
- flushes or chills
- inability to relax
- headaches
- hot flashes
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- irritability
- muscle tension
- nausea or diarrhea
- numbness or tingling sensations
- palpitations ("fluttering" in the chest) or accelerated
heart rate
- recurring unpleasant thoughts
- repetitive habits (e.g., washing hands)
- shortness of breath or smothering sensation
- startling easily
- sweating
- trembling
- trouble concentrating
- trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
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Complications of anxiety disorders are mostly linked to feelings of inadequacy
or depression, because people with these conditions know their behavior is
irrational and damaging to their lives. Depression is particularly common with
obsessive-compulsive disorder. People with social phobia often rely on alcohol
to reduce their inhibitions. Unfortunately, this can lead to alcohol dependency.