Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects 3.1% of the population in the United States. GAD is characterized by intrusive worries that are uncontrollable and cause irritability, muscle tension, difficulties focusing, and difficulties sleeping at night. The impact on daily functioning is significant and occurs in different settings. Perfectionism is often associated with GAD.
Social Anxiety Disorder/Social Phobia
Social Anxiety Disorder/Social Phobia is the most common anxiety disorder that affects adolescents. The average age of onset is 13 years old. Social Phobia impacts 6.8% of the population in the United States. Symptoms consist of avoidance of and/or experiencing great distress when engaging in social situations; namely fears of negative judgment and/or embarrassment. Social perfectionism is often associated with Social Phobia.
Specific Phobias
Specific Phobias (fears) commonly develop in childhood, with an average age of onset at 7 years old. Specific phobias affect 8.7% of the population in the United States. Common phobias include fear of animals, blood/injections/injuries, medical procedures, heights, driving, and elevators. A phobia is characterized by avoidance of or engaging in these situations with extreme distress.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation Anxiety Disorder affects about 4% of children and commonly occurs between the ages of 7-9 years old. It is common for children to become anxious when separating from their parents between the ages of 18 months and 3 years old and when separating from their parents for the first time at daycare or pre-school. However, if your child experiences great distress in or avoids separating from you at other times throughout childhood and adolescence and in familiar settings, these may be a sign of Separation Anxiety Disorder.
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder is characterized as experiencing sudden symptoms of anxiety (heart racing, shortness of breath, sweating, shakiness, impending sense of doom, sense of losing control) that are distressing and lead to fears of these episodes occurring in the future. Individuals also often avoid situations in which these symptoms have happened previously or might happen in the future. Panic Disorder affects 2.7% of the United States population.
