Different Types of Anxiety

While many people suffer from anxiety, few realize exactly how many different disorders the term anxiety represents. There are plenty of different types of anxiety, including existential anxiety, test anxiety, stranger anxiety, and countless others. In this article, we'll examine some of these types of anxiety so that you will better be able to understand them and be able to identify them should you see them manifesting in yourself or someone that you know.

Existential anxiety is a commonly occurring problem in society. Since our minds wander due to the constant pursuit of money and 'keeping up with the Johnsons', many people feel uncomfortable with their position in the world. Those with existential anxiety often feel as if they don't have a reason for existence, and they fear that their lives will not have an impact on the world around them. For that reason, many people who suffer from existential anxiety manifest symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder in an attempt to bring meaning into an otherwise meaningless existence. Some deal with cases of existential anxiety by putting an overtly large amount of emphasis upon religion within their lives.

Test anxiety is another type of anxiety that is commonly found in the world today. Those with test anxiety are under the constant worry that they will fail an exam, causing them to fret and even experience physical symptoms when encountering a test. Sweating, headaches, a quickened heartbeat and dizziness are all commonly experienced symptoms by those with test anxiety. While it's important to have some apprehension when it comes to performing your best on a test, those with a case of test anxiety worry to a point that is actually detrimental to their success on the test.

Stranger anxiety is a type of anxiety that can actually be helpful under certain circumstances. Stranger anxiety is developed when a child is young and is told by their parental figure or guardian that they should avoid contact with people that they have not already met. In order to maintain a healthy level of stranger anxiety in your child, however, you should ensure that your child is given the opportunity to meet your friends and family members when they are very young. If not, the child may begin to be withdrawn from everybody, and may begin to fear normal social circumstances, leading to a developmental problem that may haunt them for many years to come.

Another type of anxiety that people may experience that is similar to stranger anxiety is social anxiety. Social anxiety is a type of anxiety that occurs when one feels fear and apprehension when they are placed within a social environment. People who have social anxiety are often deathly afraid of circumstances in which the focus of a social situation is placed upon them; they tend to avoid public speaking and perform poorly in job interviews. It's a type of anxiety that can have vast implications on one's quality of life; for that reason, it's important to do all that you can to seek treatment when facing this particularly stressful form of anxiety.