Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
The information provided below is not comprehensive, but rather provides a general overview of the most common associated features.
The Diagnostic Statistical Manual V (DSM-V) is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the United States. The DSM-V outlines the following criterion for each diagnosis.
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD): a diagnosis must include...
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): a diagnosis must include...
Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both:
Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2):
The obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming (e.g. - take more than 1 hour per day) or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a diagnosis must include...
Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in at least 1 of the following ways:
Panic Attacks
Recurrent unexpected panic attacks. An abrupt surge of intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, and during which time at least 4 of the following symptoms occur (Note: The abrupt surge can occur from a calm state or an anxious state):
To receive a diagnosis of anxiety, these symptoms must cause the individual clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The symptoms must also not be a result of substance abuse or another medical condition.
It is important to remember that anxiety/stress plays an important role in our lives. It protects us from dangers and is the incentive that drives motivation (i.e., you pay your rent because you are worried about being evicted). Attempting to eliminate all anxiety and stress from your life is neither feasible or productive.
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD): a diagnosis must include...
- Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
- The individual finds it difficult to control the worry
- Blanking out or difficulty concentrating
- Easily fatigued
- Sleep changes (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep)
- Keyed up, on edge, or restless
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): a diagnosis must include...
Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both:
Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2):
- Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress
- The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action (i.e. - by performing a compulsion)
- Repetitive behaviors (e.g. - hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g. - praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
- The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent, or are clearly excessive
The obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming (e.g. - take more than 1 hour per day) or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a diagnosis must include...
Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in at least 1 of the following ways:
- Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s).
- Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others.
- Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or accidental.
- Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) (e.g. - first responders collecting human remains or police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse).
- Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s). In children older than 6 years, repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the traumatic event(s) are expressed.
- Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or effect of the dream are related to the traumatic event(s). In children, there may be frightening dreams without recognizable content.
- Dissociative reactions (flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring. (Such reactions may occur on a continuum, with the most extreme expression being a complete loss of awareness of present surroundings.) In children, trauma-specific reenactment may occur in play.
- Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
- Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
- Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
- Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
- Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (typically due to dissociative amnesia and not to other factors such as head injury, alcohol, or drugs).
- Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs/expectations about oneself, others, or the world (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted,” ‘The world is completely dangerous,” “My whole nervous system is permanently ruined”).
- Persistent, distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the traumatic event(s) that lead the individual to blame himself/herself or others.
- Persistent negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame).
- Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities.
- Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.
- Persistent inability to experience positive emotions (e.g., inability to experience happiness, satisfaction, or loving feelings)
- Irritable behavior and angry outbursts (with little or no provocation) typically expressed as verbal or physical aggression toward people or objects.
- Reckless or self-destructive behavior
- Hypervigilance
- Exaggerated startle response
- Problems with concentration
- Sleep disturbance (e.g., difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless sleep)
Panic Attacks
Recurrent unexpected panic attacks. An abrupt surge of intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, and during which time at least 4 of the following symptoms occur (Note: The abrupt surge can occur from a calm state or an anxious state):
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Unsteady, dizziness, light-headed, or faint
- Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from one self)
- Excessive/accelerated heart rate, palpitations, or pounding heart
- Nausea or abdominal distress
- Tingling, numbness, parathesesias
- Shortness of breath
- Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
- Fear of dying
- Choking feelings
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Chills or heat sensations
To receive a diagnosis of anxiety, these symptoms must cause the individual clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The symptoms must also not be a result of substance abuse or another medical condition.
It is important to remember that anxiety/stress plays an important role in our lives. It protects us from dangers and is the incentive that drives motivation (i.e., you pay your rent because you are worried about being evicted). Attempting to eliminate all anxiety and stress from your life is neither feasible or productive.
If you would like to be evaluated for an Anxiety Disorder or seek pharmacological treatment.