What Is Chronic Anxiety?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Coping

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Everyone feelsanxiousfrom time to time. Most people occasionally worry about things like work, school, finances, family, friends, or health. However, if you find you often find yourself feeling fearful or anxious, or feel like you are worrying constantly, you may have ananxiety disorder.

“Chronic anxiety is a form of anxiety that persists for a very long time. Treatment can make it better but it may not go away completely,” saysAimee Daramus, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist.

A study done in 2017 explained that anxiety disorders tend to be chronic, long-term conditions, with periods of more and less severe symptoms.Persistent, chronic anxiety can significantly impact your life, affecting your ability to function at home, work, and in social settings.

This article discusses the symptoms,causes, and diagnosis of chronic anxiety, as well as some treatment options and coping strategies that may be helpful.

Types of Chronic Anxiety

Several different types of anxiety disorders can cause chronic anxiety. They include:

Symptoms of Chronic Anxiety

According to Dr. Daramus, symptoms of chronic anxiety can include:

With chronic anxiety, symptoms will likely have been persistent for a long period, often beginning in childhood, says Dr. Daramus.

However, she notes the anxiety symptoms can change over time. For example, at times symptoms may be more physical, whereas at other times they may be more psychological. Symptoms may also vary depending on which type of anxiety disorder you have.

Physical Symptoms of Panic Disorder and Anxiety

Causes of Chronic Anxiety

Chronic anxiety often stems from a combination of factors. These are some of the potential causes, according to Dr. Daramus:

The Characteristics of High-Functioning Anxiety

Diagnosing Chronic Anxiety

According to Dr. Daramus, the diagnostic process for anxiety may involve:

Depending on your symptoms, your healthcare provider will determine whether you have an anxiety disorder or a mental health condition that’s causing you to experience chronic anxiety.

If you suspect you or a loved one have chronic anxiety, you should seek help as soon as possible. A qualified mental healthcare professional such as a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, or licensed counselor or social worker candiagnosechronic anxiety, says Dr. Daramus.

Treating Chronic Anxiety

There are many ways to treat chronic anxiety, Dr. Daramus says. Therapy and medication are some of the most common approaches.

Therapy

Therapycan help you manage anxious thoughts and eliminate or reduce panic. Depending on your unique needs, your healthcare provider may also work with you on social skills, relationship skills, lifestyle changes, negotiation and boundary-setting.

Chronic anxiety can be addressed in many forms of therapy, including:

Online Therapy for Anxiety

Medication

Different types of medication can help treat chronic anxiety, including:

Is Anxiety Medication Safe for Teens?

Coping With Chronic Anxiety

Therapy can help you learn strategies to cope with chronic anxiety, but there are also many you can do on your own. Dr. Erasmus shares some of her favorites:

The Benefits of Anxiety and Nervousness

Recap

Chronic anxiety can be hard to live with. It can cause you to experiencephysicaland emotional symptoms that can make itdifficult for you to function. Seeking treatment for chronic anxiety and developing coping skills can help you reduce the symptoms and manage the condition better.

What to Do If You Feel Anxious Right Now

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelowBystritsky A, Khalsa SS, Cameron ME, Schiffman J.Current diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.P T. 2013;38(1):30-57.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.Hou WK, Lai FT, Ben-Ezra M, Goodwin R.Regularizing daily routines for mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.J Glob Health. 2020;10(2):020315. doi:10.7189/jogh.10.020315Additional ReadingCleveland Clinic.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelowBystritsky A, Khalsa SS, Cameron ME, Schiffman J.Current diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.P T. 2013;38(1):30-57.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.Hou WK, Lai FT, Ben-Ezra M, Goodwin R.Regularizing daily routines for mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.J Glob Health. 2020;10(2):020315. doi:10.7189/jogh.10.020315Additional ReadingCleveland Clinic.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelowBystritsky A, Khalsa SS, Cameron ME, Schiffman J.Current diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.P T. 2013;38(1):30-57.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.Hou WK, Lai FT, Ben-Ezra M, Goodwin R.Regularizing daily routines for mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.J Glob Health. 2020;10(2):020315. doi:10.7189/jogh.10.020315

Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelow

Bystritsky A, Khalsa SS, Cameron ME, Schiffman J.Current diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.P T. 2013;38(1):30-57.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?

National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.

Hou WK, Lai FT, Ben-Ezra M, Goodwin R.Regularizing daily routines for mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.J Glob Health. 2020;10(2):020315. doi:10.7189/jogh.10.020315

Cleveland Clinic.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.

Cleveland Clinic.Anxiety disorders.

National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.

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