Most people experience some form of anxiety from time to time, but their fears do not affect their daily lives. Not so with people who have anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are disorders in which real or imagined fears prevent a person from enjoying life. People with anxiety disorders often arrange their lives so as to avoid that which makes them anxious or fearful. Four types of anxiety disorders are phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, general anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders.

Phobia- When a person goes to extreme measures to avoid a fear and reacts in a way that limits normal functioning, it is called a phobia. A person with a phobia may be unable to carry out daily activities. Some mental health professionals believe that a phobia is related to some past experience that was upsetting to the individual. Although there is no longer a true threat or danger, the fear is still very real to the individual. Claustrophobia, the fear of closed spaces, and Arachnophobia, fear of spiders, are two examples of phobias.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder- A person who has an unreasonable need to think and act in a certain way has an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessions are persistent thoughts or ideas that keep people from thinking about other things. Compulsions are urgent, repeated behaviors. For example, an individual with this disorder may feel the need to wash his or her hands 20 or 30 times a day, or to avoid stepping on cracks in the sidewalk. When these activities interfere with other daily functions and cause the person to overlook other commitments, such as time with family and friends, they are considered a problem.

General Anxiety Disorder- A person with a general anxiety disorder feels anxious, fearful, and upset most of the time, but for no specific reason. This constant state of anxiety may lead to a panic disorder, a sudden attack of fear and terror often characterized by trembling, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of loss of control. A person with a panic disorder can be anywhere when the attack begins, although the attack is usually connected with certain situations.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition in which a person who has experienced a traumatic event feels severe and long-lasting aftereffects. This disorder is common among veterans of military combat, rape survivors, and survivors of a natural disaster, such as a flood, or an unnatural disaster, such as a plane crash. Typical symptoms include dreams about the event, insomnia, feelings of guilt, or an extreme reaction to an image or sound that reminds the person of the event. Symptoms may appear six months or even years after the event.