Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders. They include panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, hypochondriasis, and specific phobias.
Panic disorder is having recurrent panic attacks that interfere with functioning. A panic attack is a spontaneous and intense fear that includes physical symptoms such as an increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, nausea, intense fear of dying or losing control, light headedness, chest pain, chills, sweating, shaking, and shortness of breath. I didn't ask about fainting in the eye doctor's office... but let's just put that in here.
Generalized anxiety disorder is a pattern of uncontrollable anxiety for at least 6 months that is unrelated to a specific person, situation or event. It is associated with sleep disturbance, fatigue, stomach and intestinal disturbance and difficulty concentrating.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is having recurring, intrusive thoughts, feelings or sensations that cause severe distress, but are relieved in part by the performance of repetitive actions.
Hypochondriasis is a preoccupation with and fear of having a serious illness despite medical evaluation and reassurance.
Specific phobias include fear of anything that is excessive or unreasonable and interferes with normal function.
These disorders stem from personality traits that we all have. We are all a little anxious or afraid in certain ways for certain reasons.
I do not have panic disorder. Fainting in the eye doctor's office was because they gave me freaky weird yellow numbing eyedrops that made me feel like I had gigantic alien eyes. :-)
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