key term - Anxiety Disorders

Definition

These are types of mental health disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities. Examples include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Related terms

Panic Attacks:

Sudden periods of intense fear that may include palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath or feelings of impending doom.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

A chronic condition where people have uncontrollable thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) they feel the urge to repeat over and over.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

A disorder characterized by failure to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.