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The Different Types of Anxiety Disorders (and How Therapy Can Help)

Writer's picture: Samantha FotiSamantha Foti

Anxiety is normal, natural, and necessary for survival; but, for some, anxiety can be experienced very intensely, very frequently, and it can even be disruptive to daily life. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions worldwide. While these disorders share similarities, they can manifest in unique ways depending on the type of anxiety.

In this post, we’ll explore four common types of anxiety disorders—generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and health anxiety—and how therapy can provide relief.


1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Woman in a blue shirt rests her head on her hand, looking pensive. She sits at a desk with papers in a softly lit office space.

What Is GAD?

GAD involves excessive and persistent worry about a wide range of topics, such as work, finances, health, or relationships. Unlike situational anxiety, the worry in GAD often feels uncontrollable and occurs most days for at least six months.

Common Symptoms of GAD:

  • Constant worry or feelings of dread.

  • Restlessness or feeling “on edge.”

  • Fatigue or difficulty sleeping.

  • Muscle tension and physical discomfort.


How Therapy Can Help:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and challenge negative thought patterns fueling worry.

  • Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT): Encourages individuals to acknowledge and accept anxious thoughts and feelings without judgment, reducing the struggle against them.

  • Relaxation Techniques: Mindfulness and deep breathing exercises reduce physical tension and promote calm.

  • Behavioral Strategies: Focuses on developing healthy coping skills and addressing avoidance behaviors.


2. Social Anxiety Disorder


What Is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety disorder is an intense fear of social situations, driven by worries about being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated. This fear often leads to avoidance of social interactions or extreme discomfort during them. Some may even cope with social anxiety through substances (e.g., excessive alcohol consumption during social interactions), which can actually later exacerbate anxiety. 

Common Symptoms of Social Anxiety:

  • Fear of public speaking, meeting new people, or being observed.

  • Avoidance of social situations or enduring them with intense anxiety.

  • Physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, trembling, or a racing heart.

  • Negative self-evaluation or fear of rejection.

How Therapy Can Help:

  • Exposure Therapy: Gradual exposure to feared social situations builds confidence and reduces anxiety.

  • CBT: Helps reframe negative self-talk and shift focus away from self-criticism.

  • ACT:  Helps individuals confront and accept uncomfortable social feelings rather than avoiding them. By learning to separate themselves from their thoughts, individuals can reduce the impact of negative self-evaluations.

  • Social Skills Training: Improves communication and builds self-assurance in social interactions.


3. Panic Disorder


A person sits barefoot on the ground, holding their head in distress. The background is muted gray, enhancing a somber mood.

What Is Panic Disorder?

Panic disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—intense episodes of fear or discomfort that peak within minutes. These attacks are often accompanied by physical symptoms that can mimic a medical emergency, such as a heart attack.

Common Symptoms of Panic Disorder:

  • Sudden episodes of intense fear or terror.

  • Physical symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or sweating.

  • Fear of losing control, “going crazy,” or dying during an attack.

  • Avoidance of places or situations where panic attacks have occurred (or might occur).

How Therapy Can Help:

  • Interoceptive Exposure: Gradual exposure to bodily sensations associated with panic to reduce sensitivity.

  • Breathing and Relaxation Techniques: Helps manage physical symptoms during an attack.

  • ACT: Teaches individuals to accept panic-related bodily sensations with curiosity, as an outside observer, rather than being “overtaken” by the sensations or afraid of the sensations. 

  • CBT: Teaches strategies to challenge catastrophic thoughts and reduce fear of panic attacks.


4. Health Anxiety 


Medical team rushes a patient on a gurney down a bright hospital hallway, creating a sense of urgency and motion.

What Is Health Anxiety?

Health anxiety involves excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness. Even after medical reassurance, individuals with health anxiety often continue to feel distressed, constantly monitoring their bodies for symptoms. Individuals with organic medical concerns may also display health anxiety, wherein there is persistent, excessive worry about an exacerbation of symptoms in the absence of evidence.

Common Symptoms of Health Anxiety:

  • Persistent fears of illness despite medical reassurance.

  • Repeatedly checking for symptoms (e.g., lumps, rashes).

  • Excessive research about illnesses or avoiding information altogether.

  • Frequent visits to doctors or avoiding medical care out of fear.

How Therapy Can Help:

  • CBT: Helps challenge unhelpful thought patterns, such as catastrophic thinking about health.

  • ACT: Encourages acceptance of health-related worries without engaging in compulsive behaviors.

  • Exposure Therapy: Reduces avoidance behaviors and builds tolerance for uncertainty.

  • Mindfulness-Based Techniques: Encourages focusing on the present moment, reducing excessive worry about the future.


How Therapy Can Help Across All Types of Anxiety Disorders

Man in blue sweater deep in thought, hands clasped, sits with a woman writing on a clipboard in a therapy office setting, neutral tones.

Therapy offers a safe, supportive space to explore the root causes of anxiety and develop tools to manage it. Regardless of the specific type of anxiety, therapy can:

  • Help you identify and reframe unhelpful thought patterns.

  • Teach relaxation and grounding techniques to manage physical symptoms.

  • Provide personalized strategies to reduce avoidance behaviors and build confidence.

  • Foster self-awareness and a greater sense of control over your anxiety.


Conclusion: Anxiety Is Treatable

Living with an anxiety disorder can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. With evidence-based therapy approaches like CBT, ACT, exposure therapy, and mindfulness practices, it’s possible to reduce anxiety, regain a sense of calm, and live a more fulfilling life.

If you’re ready to take the first step toward managing your anxiety, schedule a consultation today.


References

  1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

  2. Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research.

  3. Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2016). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change. Guilford Press.

  4. Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. Bantam Books.

  5. Craske, M. G., et al. (2014). Maximizing exposure therapy: An inhibitory learning approach. Behaviour Research and Therapy.

  6. Khoramnia, S., et al. (2021). The effectiveness of ACT for social anxiety disorder. Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.

  7. Burlingame, G. M., et al. (2011). Cohesion in group therapy. Psychotherapy.

  8. Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Guilford Press.

  9. Twohig, J. P., et al. (2017). A review of ACT with anxiety disorders. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy.

  10. Hughes, M., et al. (2017). ACT for health anxiety and chronic conditions. European Journal of Psychiatry.


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© 2022 by Behavioral Health Counseling LLC | Revised 2025

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