Self-care for anxiety - Mind
Try to get enough sleep. Sleep can give you the energy to cope with difficult feelings and experiences. · Think about your diet. Eating regularly and keeping ...
anxiety disorders
Mindfulness is a way of giving your full attention to the present moment. Some people find mindfulness helpful for coping with certain <anchor>anxiety disorders</anchor>, but other people say it makes them feel worse.
What are anxiety disorders? - Mind
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- Anxiety disorders

# Anxiety and panic attacks

Explains anxiety and panic attacks, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

[Read this page in Welsh (Cymraeg)](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/anxiety-disorders/?lang=cy)

- [About anxiety](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/about-anxiety/)
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- [Panic attacks](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/panic-attacks/)
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Anxiety and panic attacks


- [About anxiety](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/about-anxiety/)
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- [Panic attacks](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/panic-attacks/)
- [Causes](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/causes/)
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## What are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety can be experienced in lots of different ways. If your experiences meet certain criteria your doctor might diagnose you with a specific anxiety disorder.

Some commonly diagnosed anxiety disorders are:

- **Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)** – this means having regular or uncontrollable worries about many different things in your everyday life. Because there are lots of possible [symptoms of anxiety](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/symptoms/ "Anxiety symptoms") this can be quite a broad diagnosis, meaning that the problems you experience with GAD might be quite different from another person's experiences.

- **Social anxiety disorder** – this diagnosis means you experience extreme fear or anxiety triggered by social situations (such as parties, workplaces, or everyday situations where you have to talk to another person). It is also known as social phobia. See our page on [types of phobia](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/phobias/types-of-phobia/#WhatIsSocialPhobia "Types of phobia") for more information.

- **Panic disorder** – this means having regular or frequent panic attacks without a clear cause or trigger. Experiencing panic disorder can mean that you feel constantly afraid of having another panic attack, to the point that this fear itself can trigger your panic attacks. See our page on [panic attacks](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/panic-attacks/ "Panic attacks") for more information.

- **Phobias** – a phobia is an extreme fear or anxiety triggered by a particular situation (such as going outside) or a particular object (such as spiders). See our pages on [phobias](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/phobias/ "Phobias") for more information.

- **Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)** – this is a diagnosis you may be given if you develop anxiety problems after going through something you found traumatic. PTSD can involve experiencing flashbacks or nightmares which can feel like you're re-living all the fear and anxiety you experienced at the time of the traumatic events. See our pages on [PTSD](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-and-complex-ptsd/ "Post traumatic stress disorder  PTSD") and [complex PTSD](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-and-complex-ptsd/complex-ptsd/ "Complex PTSD") for more information.

- **Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)** – you may be given this diagnosis if your anxiety problems involve having repetitive thoughts, behaviours or urges. See our pages on [OCD](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/ "Obsessive compulsive disorder OCD") for more information.

- **Health anxiety** – this means you experience obsessions and compulsions relating to illness, including researching symptoms or checking to see if you have them. It is related to OCD. You can find out more about health anxiety on the [Anxiety UK](https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/anxiety-type/health-anxiety/) website.

- **Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)** – this means you experience obsessions and compulsions relating to your physical appearance. See our pages on [BDD](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd/ "Body dysmorphic disorder BDD") for more information.

- **Perinatal anxiety or perinatal OCD** – some people develop anxiety problems during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. See our pages on [perinatal anxiety](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/postnatal-depression-and-perinatal-mental-health/perinatal-anxiety/ "Perinatal anxiety") and [perinatal OCD](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/postnatal-depression-and-perinatal-mental-health/perinatal-ocd/ "perinatal OCD") for more information.

You might not have, or want, a diagnosis of a particular anxiety disorder – but it might still be useful to learn more about these different diagnoses to help you think about your own experiences of anxiety, and consider options for support.

![](/media/2877/living-with-gad-panic-attacks-after-losing-my-dad.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=500&height=500&rnd=132563117945600000&format=webp&quality=80)

![](/media/2877/living-with-gad-panic-attacks-after-losing-my-dad.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=767&height=384&rnd=132563117945600000&format=webp&quality=80)

### Living with GAD & panic attacks after losing my Dad

I really believe that talking is one of the best therapies you can have.

[Read Zoe's story](/information-support/your-stories/living-with-gad-panic-attacks-after-losing-my-dad/)

It's like a swarm of bees just buzzing buzzing buzzing, not stopping, making it impossible to focus and seemingly impossible to slow down and take a breath.

### Anxiety and other mental health problems

It's very common to experience anxiety alongside [other mental health problems](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/ "Types of mental health problems"), such as [depression](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/depression/ "Depression") or [suicidal feelings](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/suicidal-feelings/ "Suicidal feelings"). If you have symptoms of both anxiety and depression but don't fit one more clearly than the other, you might be given a diagnosis of 'mixed anxiety and depressive disorder'.

![Small brown teddy bear in a white chair facing forwards](/media/2862/i-thought-anxiety-would-be-my-biggest-challenge-i-was-wrong-cross-promo.png?center=0.24590163934426229,0.51851851851851849&mode=crop&width=500&height=500&rnd=132563117941030000&format=webp&quality=80)

![Small brown teddy bear in a white chair facing forwards](/media/2862/i-thought-anxiety-would-be-my-biggest-challenge-i-was-wrong-cross-promo.png?center=0.24590163934426229,0.51851851851851849&mode=crop&width=767&height=384&rnd=132563117941030000&format=webp&quality=80)

### I thought anxiety would be my biggest challenge... I was wrong

I felt fine. I always feel fine when I'm up. That's a part of the problem.

[Read Pete's story](/information-support/your-stories/i-thought-anxiety-would-be-my-biggest-challenge-i-was-wrong/ "I thought anxiety would be my biggest challenge... I was wrong")

I have generalised anxiety disorder and depression which seem to come in cycles. It is the unexpected attacks that I find the hardest.

[< About anxiety](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/about-anxiety/) [Symptoms >](/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/symptoms/)

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