Panic disorder is the re-occurrence of panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden feelings of fear and lack of control that arise without reason or warning. They may occur a few times a year or several times a day. What are the symptoms of panic disorder? Symptoms of panic disorder are largely physical. These include chest pains, increased heart rate and difficulty breathing, dizziness, and a feeling of losing control. Some individuals also experience sweating, shaking, a choking sensation, nausea, chills, a pins and needles sensation, or feelings of depersonalization. What causes panic disorder? The cause of panic disorder is not well-defined. There is some evidence that it is linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain or genetic factors. Specifically, it is believed to occur in patients that do not have the proper mechanisms in place to prevent increases in serotonin, and those with a low level of endogenous opioids. Who is typically affected? Most individuals with panic disorder are women in their 20s. How long does panic disorder last? Like with some other anxiety disorders, they will most likely have it for their entire lives. What other conditions commonly occur with panic disorder? The presence of this disorder also increases the risk for several medical conditions including cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal issues.

Social anxiety disorder , or social phobia , is a fear of acting in a way or showing anxiety symptoms that will cause the sufferer to be humiliated or rejected by others. This fear or anxiety is often disproportionately greater than the actual likelihood of rejection or humiliation. Individuals with this condition underestimate their social skills, which lead to avoidance of social situations and suppression of emotional expression in order to reduce the chance of feeling rejected. What are the symptoms of social phobia? Social anxiety significantly impacts daily life. Individuals with social anxiety typically have fewer friends and are less likely to get married or have children. They may also avoid or quit jobs that require them to give presentations. These individuals typically make 10% less than the rest of the population. Children may perform worse in school. What causes social phobia? The cause of this disorder is likely to be a combination of biological and environmental factors, with biological factors only increasing the likelihood of developing the condition rather than the condition itself. Who is typically affected by social anxiety disorder? Social anxiety is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders . Some studies have found it can occur in more than 1 of every 10 people.

Specific Phobia (SP) is the irrational, intense fear of a specific object or situation. There were five types of SPs: blood, injection, injury (B-I-I), animal, natural environment, situational, and other. What are the symptoms of specific phobia? Common responses to triggers of SP include:        increased heart rate        fainting        chest pains        sweating        shaking SP can significantly impact daily life, especially for those with a fear of injection or blood injury. These patients may go as far as to avoid medical treatment or drop out of medical school. Children with natural environment phobia are less satisfied with life, while adults find that they interfere with social functioning. What causes specific phobia? While there are no clear genetic risk factors for SP, it is noted that individuals with SP typically have close relatives with the same SP. Some individuals with SP have also had a traumatic experience related to their fear. Who is more likely to be affected? The prevalence of B-I-I is approximately 3 to 5%. The most common SPs are natural environment 8.9-11.6% such as a fear of heights, or storms.  Animal phobia ranges between 3 and 7%. Situational phobia ranges from 5 to 8%. These types include flying, enclosed areas and driving.

Selective mutism is when an individual does not speak in situations in which he or she would be expected to speak, such as among friends; despite no hearing, speaking, physical or mental impairments. Speech is normal around family members and in the home. What causes selective mutism? While the cause of selective mutism is unknown, there are several theories – one of which is that it is potentially a means of punishing one’s parents. Selective mutism is an extreme form of social anxiety ; a distrust of the outside world resulting from a strong attachment to parents, a response to trauma, or a way to prevent the sharing of past traumas with others. Who is more likely to be affected? It is more likely to occur in girls than in boys. When does selective mutism develop? Selective mutism typically develops between the ages of three and six but is not diagnosed until the child attends school. What other conditions commonly occur with selective mutism? Nearly 40% of children with this disorder also have language and speech disorders. A majority of individuals (68%) will also experience developmental delays, and over 70% will also experience anxiety disorders. Despite the low incidence of Asperger’s in the general population, nearly 7% of individuals with selective mutism also have Asperger’s disease.

Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is the feeling of extreme anxiety in response to or in anticipation of separation from someone with whom there is a strong attachment, such as a parent or guardian. While some anxiety related to separating from a major figure in a child’s life is expected, in the case of SAD the anxiety is excessive, lasts for extended periods of time (over 1 month) and may interfere with daily life. What are the symptoms of separation anxiety? The anxiety is accompanied by worries of being abandoned, becoming ill or being kidnapped. Some individuals with SAD may even experience physical effects such as nausea, vomiting, headaches and stomach aches. Children with SAD attempt to avoid situations in which they would be separated from the significant figure, such as avoiding going to school, sleeping alone or visiting a friend’s home. They may also respond in hostile ways, such as throwing a tantrum, screaming, begging and making threats. What causes separation anxiety? Symptoms of SAD can develop in response to a traumatic event, a fear of being harmed, or gradually develops over time. Guardians may exacerbate the condition by placating to children when situations arise that trigger the symptoms, such as having a nightmare or wanting to avoid being around unfamiliar people.