Understanding Anxiety Disorders: 10 Signs and Symptoms, and When to Seek Support

Stefan Dalton
Jan 20, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Jan 15

Key Takeaways:

Anxiety disorders involve persistent, disproportionate worry that goes beyond everyday stress.
They appear in different forms like generalised anxiety, panic, social anxiety, phobias, OCD, and PTSD.
Symptoms can be physical, emotional, and behavioural, from restlessness and shortness of breath, to avoidance and sleep disturbances.
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, and effective support is widely available.

A smiling couple, barefoot, walks along a sandy beach. The woman wears a white dress, the man a black shirt. Green foliage in the background. — Even thought anxiety disorders can be debilitating, they are highly treatable.

We all Experience Feelings of Anxiousness

Anxiety is a universal human experience. We feel it before important conversations, during periods of uncertainty, or when life throws something unexpected our way. But for some people, anxiety becomes more than an occasional feeling. Anxiety disorders can feel overwhelming, persistent, and intrusive, shaping daily life in ways that extend far beyond regular responses. The encouraging news is that these conditions are highly treatable, and many people recover with the right support.

Understanding Anxiety Disorders: What is Anxiety?

Anxiety disorders go well beyond everyday worry. They involve a persistent state of heightened alertness, like an internal alarm system that fires too often or too intensely. At their core, anxiety disorders involve an exaggerated sense of threat or uncertainty. This can trigger powerful physical sensations such as a racing heart, muscle tension, restlessness, or shortness of breath, affecting how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.

Mentally, anxiety can narrow attention like a spot light fixed on one detail while ignoring the larger world. Anxiety also fuels intrusive “what if” thoughts, making it difficult to concentrate or make decisions. For many people, anxiety also leads to avoidance of situations, conversations, responsibilities, or even internal experiences that feel too uncomfortable to face. Over time, this avoidance can shrink daily life, disrupt sleep, and erode confidence.

Anxiety is not a sign of weakness. It is a real but manageable mental health condition that benefits from understanding, compassion, and evidence-based support. The more we learn about its psychological and neurological foundations, the more effectively we can treat anxiety.

The causes are complex. Research points to an interplay of brain chemistry, genetics, and life experiences. Neurotransmitters (brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine) involved in emotion regulation can contribute to anxious symptoms when their functioning is disrupted. Chronic stress, trauma, and habitual patterns of worry or catastrophising can also intensify anxiety.

Two lionesses near a tree in a savanna setting, with one lioness standing and the other looking toward her; the mood is alert and watchful. — Fight-or-flight responses are essential for survival

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions worldwide. In the UK as many as 1 in 10 have a diagnosed anxiety condition. Unlike everyday stress, they can interfere with work, relationships, and overall well being. They involve persistent, excessive worry, or fear that often feels entirely justified in the moment - even when it’s out of proportion to the situation.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety doesn’t show up in just one way. It can take many forms, each shaped by different patterns of fear, worry, and physical sensations. While all anxiety disorders share a core experience of heightened threat and difficulty regulating uncertainty, they differ in how they manifest. Whether through persistent worry, sudden surges of panic, intense social fear, or specific triggers. Understanding these distinctions helps people recognise their own experiences more clearly and opens the door to more targeted, effective support.

Although anxiety disorders differ in form, they share a common thread: fear or worry that becomes disproportionate, persistent, and difficult to control.

Some common types of anxiety disorders include:

Generalised Anxiety Disorder – Ongoing, excessive worry about many aspects of life, often accompanied by restlessness or muscle tension.
Panic Disorder – Recurrent episodes of intense fear or panic attacks, with symptoms such as a racing heart, dizziness, shortness of breath, or feelings of depersonalisation (not feeling real).
Social Anxiety Disorder – A persistent fear of social situations or being negatively judged by others.
Specific Phobias – Intense fear of a particular object or situation, such as flying, heights, or animals.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Anxiety and heightened emotional responses following traumatic experiences.

Although OCD and PTSD are now classified separately in diagnostic manuals, both involve significant anxiety symptoms.

Group of diverse people sitting in a circle, engaging in a lively discussion. Bright room with brick walls and large window, cheerful mood. — There are many types of therapy available to help work through anxiety

Common Symptoms of Anxiety

While the symptoms of anxiety can vary across individuals and diagnoses, there are common signs and symptoms which many people experience. Symptoms of anxiety disorders include:

Excessive worry or overthinking – Constant thoughts of worst-case scenarios, even when there’s little actual danger (...although it can be very difficult to discern subjective danger from objective danger during heightened anxiety).
Physical symptoms – Physical symptoms often accompany intense anxiety episodes. Rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, weak legs, a tight chest, among many more, are common symptoms of anxiety.
Restlessness or feeling 'on edge' – An inability to relax, often accompanied by nervous energy.
Difficulty concentrating – Difficulty focusing on tasks or conversations as we are so consumed by our worries and anxieties.
Racing thoughts – Our thoughts can feel as if they are racing through our mind, jumping from one to another. This can sometimes feel as if we are not in control of our own thoughts.
Avoidance of anxiety-triggering situations – Steering clear of situations or people that trigger anxious feelings.
Sleep disturbances – Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restless nights.

Irritability – Heightened sensitivity to stress or frustration.
Muscle tension – Tightness in the shoulders, jaw, or stomach due to prolonged worry.
Fatigue – Anxiety can be mentally and physically exhausting, with common feelings of tiredness and fatigue.
Gastrointestinal issues – Nausea, stomach discomfort, or digestive problems are commonly linked to anxiety.

Back view of a person with hands resting on their neck. Skin is tanned against a white background, suggesting relaxation or tension relief. — Anxiety can show itself in many ways

10 Signs you may be Struggling with an Anxiety Disorder

If anxiety feels overwhelming or persistent, or is interfering with your ability to go about daily life, it may be time to seek support. These ten signs may indicate an anxiety disorder:

You constantly worry about things, even if they’re minor.
You experience sudden episodes of panic or dread.
Your heart races or you feel breathless.
You struggle with sleep, either falling asleep or staying asleep.
You avoid situations or people due to discomfort or fear.
Your muscles feel tense, especially in your neck, shoulders, or jaw.
You often feel restless, unable to fully relax.
You experience digestive issues linked to stress or anxiety.
Your fear or worry interferes with work, relationships, or daily activities.
You excessively worry or anticipate future problems.

NOTE: It’s important to mention that experiencing any of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have an anxiety disorder. These can also be natural responses to stressful events. If you are unsure, seeking professional support is encouraged.

When to Seek Support

Occasional anxiety is part of being human. But when it becomes persistent, distressing, or begins to limit your life, seeking support can make a meaningful difference. If anxiety is affecting your ability to function, causing physical symptoms, or leading to avoidance, such as skipping work or withdrawing from social situations, professional help can provide effective strategies for relief.

If you’re considering private therapy, it’s important to check the therapist’s training, credentials, specialist areas, and experience to ensure you receive appropriate care. You deserve to feel safe, informed, and supported by the person you’re entrusting with your story and a professional will always be happy to make you feel secure and supported.

A group of five people sit in a circle discussing in a bright room with large windows and plants, creating a relaxed and open atmosphere. — Seeking support can change your life

Therapeutic Approaches for Anxiety

Several evidence-based therapies are available to help individuals with anxiety (evidence-based means there's a lot of research to support their effectiveness). Some examples of therapies include:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – Helps individuals explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and provides tools to decrease anxiety.
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) – Focuses on identifying irrational beliefs and replacing them with rational, more constructive thinking.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Supports individuals in accepting difficult emotions while taking meaningful action.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) – Encourages present-moment awareness and acceptance, reducing rumination and stress.
Exposure Therapy – Gradually introduces feared situations to reduce avoidance and build confidence.

These approaches offer practical skills and insights that can help people regain a sense of control and move toward a more fulfilling life.

UK Mental Health Services and Helplines

If you recognise any of these signs in yourself or someone close to you, reaching out for support can be an important first step. In the UK, several well‑established mental health organisations offer information, emotional support, and pathways to professional care. These include national charities that provide listening services, crisis support, and mental health resources, as well as NHS services that can connect you with urgent or ongoing care. Contacting your GP is often the first step to seek therapy but if you need more immediate mental health support, the following professional services can help:

Mind – Offers mental health support, including talking therapies and crisis helplines. Visit Mind or call 0300 102 1234.
Samaritans – Provides 24/7 emotional support. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
Shout – Confidential 24/7 text service. Text SHOUT to 85258.
NHS 111 – For urgent mental health support, call 111 and select the mental health option. Visit NHS Mental Health Services.

Final Thoughts

Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, and support is available. Whether your experience involves occasional worry or more persistent anxiety, understanding what’s happening and learning practical tools to manage it can be profoundly empowering. Taking steps toward support isn’t just an act of coping, it’s an act of self‑care, that can open the door to meaningful change. And in time, your progress may become the encouragement someone else needs to seek help too.

Stefan Dalton is a researcher in psychology and clinical neuroscience at Brunel University of London and a CBT therapist. He has authored peer-reviewed publications in internationally recognised journals, and his work focuses on brain functions and developing new CBT techniques.