FOR many people anxiety is nothing but a few nervous thoughts before a big meeting or an uneasy feeling in the face of potential danger. Unfortunately for many others, anxiety is a bit more extreme.

It is the constant feeling of worry and fear, the ever-present need to be on high alert, and in many instances, a moment of physical and psychological discomfort. This is anxiety disorder… if left untreated it can significantly impact our lives.

Most people are familiar with the term anxiety but aren’t aware that it has different categories. It’s like anxiety is the leader and the others are the henchmen.

These are their stories.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

Point of information, it is perfectly normal to feel nervous in social situations. Until recently, if I was asked to speak in front of a large (or small) gathering, my bladder would come knocking.

People who experience social anxiety are triggered by any and every social situation. Just walking into a crowded room may lead to feelings of being judged, criticised, laughed at, or humiliated.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Stressful situations often result in feelings of anxiety. The good kind. The kind that helps us get things done.

People who suffer from GAD, however, feel anxious and worried even when there isn’t a specific stressful situation. They experience intense and persistent anxiety symptoms that tend to interrupt their regular lives.

Phobias

Some people are afraid of spiders, some people are afraid of heights; I personally am terrified of flying. The truth is, fear is a normal response to dangerous situations.

Many people, however, feel anxious when they come in contact with a situation, activity, or even object that they are afraid of. They react to these with wild and frightening thoughts, for example, the plane I’m on will plummet from the sky and I’ll perish in a fiery grave. This irrational reaction indicates a phobia, which often results in panic attacks.

Panic Disorder

Panic attacks are more common than you think and are experienced by many. They come with the sudden and overwhelming sense of panic or fear, thoughts of dying, the feeling of choking, an increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, and thoughts of losing control.

Other symptoms may include:

• excessive sweating

• light-headedness or dizziness

• chest pains

Panic disorder, on the other hand, is what happens when your brain is fearful of having a panic attack following one you had before.

People who suffer from panic disorder tend to believe that the panic attacks they are experiencing are symptoms of an undiagnosed medical condition, like a brain tumour or another sinister disease.

We all experience anxiety in different ways. Some of us have general anxiety that we’re able to manage, some of us suffer from social anxiety, and some of us experience serious and frequent panic attacks due to our panic disorder.

Identifying the exact type of anxiety you might be struggling with will help you get one step closer to managing and coping with it. Consider speaking with a mental health professional who will be able to help you on this journey. All the best!

Sereta Thompson is a public relations professional and mental health advocate. She can be contacted at seretaathompson@gmail.com Follow her on Instagram: @ShadesOfSerri