An anxiety disorder is a mental health condition in which anxiety is persistent, out of proportion to the situation, and interferes with everyday life. Anxiety itself is normal, the body's response to threat. It becomes a disorder when it continues without clear reason, lasts months, and limits what a person can do.
Key points
- An anxiety disorder is diagnosed when anxiety is persistent, out of proportion to the situation and disrupts daily life.
- The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2023/4 found that 7.5% of adults in England met the criteria for generalised anxiety disorder.
- Types include generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia and health anxiety.
- Physical symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness and chest tightness often bring people to a GP.
- NICE recommends lower-intensity psychological help before medication, and for generalised anxiety disorder offers a choice between therapy and medication at the same step.
- Adults in England can refer themselves to NHS Talking Therapies without a GP.
Symptoms
- Worry that is hard to control, often about several things at once.
- Feeling tense, restless or irritable, with poor concentration and disturbed sleep.
- Dread, fear of dying or detachment from the body, during a panic attack.
- Avoiding places and activities linked to the anxiety, or seeking reassurance.
- Physical: fast or unusual heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest tightness, sweating, trembling, dizziness, nausea.
Causes and risk factors
- Another anxiety disorder, or depression.
- Close relatives with anxiety, depression or other conditions.
- Stressful or traumatic experiences, including abuse or bullying.
- A painful long-term physical condition, or drug or alcohol misuse.
- Family history raises risk but does not determine it, and calling anxiety a chemical imbalance overstates the evidence.
Treatment
- NICE sets out stepped care: education and active monitoring, then low-intensity psychological help, then a choice between CBT/applied relaxation and medication, then specialist services.
- Where medication is chosen for generalised anxiety disorder, NICE suggests sertraline first, and advises against benzodiazepines except short-term in a crisis.
- For panic disorder, self-help for mild to moderate cases and CBT for moderate to severe cases.
- For social anxiety disorder, individual CBT built for the condition is recommended ahead of self-help and medication.
When to speak to a professional
- You think you may have an anxiety disorder, or treatment is not helping.
- A fear, phobia or health worry is affecting your everyday life.
- You are having panic attacks regularly, or using alcohol or drugs to manage anxiety.
- If you are 18 or over and in England, you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies without a GP.
If you need help now: Samaritans, call 116 123, free, 24/7. Shout, text SHOUT to 85258. NHS 111, then choose the mental health option. Call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger.