What's the Difference Between Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders?

Everybody feels anxious from time to time. Sometimes, anxiety can feel overwhelming, especially when confronted with a situation that makes you feel unsettled, endangered, or insecure.

But as bad as anxiety may feel at the time, in most instances, the feelings pass when the situation is resolved. For people with anxiety disorders, though, anxiety is a near-constant feeling. Without treatment, it can take a severe toll on a person’s wellness and enjoyment of life.

At Conduit Behavioral Health, Temika Heyward, PhD, FNP, CRNP, PMH, and her team help patients manage anxiety disorders with custom therapy focused on relieving their symptoms and improving their quality of life. Knowing the symptoms of anxiety disorders—and how they differ from “regular” anxiety—is the first step in knowing when to seek treatment. Here’s what to look for.

The biology of anxiety

Anxiety can feel uncomfortable, but as unpleasant as it may seem, it has a biological purpose. During stress or anxiety, your body prepares its “fight-or-flight” response that determines how to react — and protect itself — in times of danger.

When we’re anxious, our bodies release stress hormones like adrenaline or cortisol. These chemicals can cause symptoms like stomach upset, perspiration, trembling, rapid heartbeat, or dry mouth.

Many of us feel anxious if we make a mistake at work or in school, need to do something unpleasant when we’re lost or in unfamiliar circumstances or face physical danger. Making a speech is a common cause of anxiety that many of us have experienced.

Anxiety disorders: A different problem

Although the causes of anxiety can vary, these anxious feelings have one thing in common: They tend to clear up quickly once the perceived threat is overcome or resolved. 

Anxiety disorders are different. People with anxiety disorders tend to feel anxiety that’s out of proportion to any threat or obstacle in their lives. Anxious feelings tend to be extreme. Pervasive and persistent symptoms can take a toll on your quality of life and your overall wellness.

Types of anxiety disorders

Just as “regular” anxiety can have different causes, anxiety disorders can vary, depending on the underlying trigger and other factors. For instance, people with social anxiety disorder feel fear and nervousness when confronted with a social situation, like a party or work event. 

Someone with a separation anxiety disorder feels anxious when they need to be separated from a secure and familiar setting, like their own home, or when separated from a loved one.

People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have anxiety about a wide array of issues, including current events, relationships, school, work, and social interactions. Sometimes, they feel anxious without being able to identify a specific cause. 

Extreme anxiety can trigger panic attacks and severe instances of anxiety that can lead to physical symptoms like vomiting, heart palpitations, and a sense of danger or loss of control.

Treating anxiety disorders

Regardless of the cause, anxiety disorders don’t “go away” like regular anxiety. The good news is they benefit from treatment — and the sooner treatment begins, the sooner you’ll feel better.

Most people benefit from a combination of medication to balance chemical neurotransmitters involved in anxiety responses, along with “talk” therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). During treatment sessions, you’ll learn new coping methods while replacing negative thought patterns with more grounded, positive ones.

Like any medical treatment, anxiety disorder treatment is completely customizable, so we can tailor and adjust your treatment over time as your needs change and your symptoms get better.

Learn how to manage your anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorders aren’t something you can “just get over.” They’re mental health issues that require a medical treatment plan for long-term, successful management. To learn how we can help, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Heyward and the team at Conduit Behavioral Health in Baltimore, Maryland, today.