Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the five anxiety disorders and can be disabling at its worst. Extreme worry and fear can often prevent people from doing everyday tasks and often worsens during stressful situations. Individuals with this condition often cannot control their anxiety, cannot relax, and often cannot concentrate. They can have trouble sleeping, can be easily startled, and can develop unexplained pain. They can also be irritable, feel breathless, and constantly go to the bathroom. Generalized anxiety disorder usually develops during young adulthood and can be associated with trauma. Its cause is unknown but it sometimes is hereditary. Treatments can be psychotherapy, medications, or a combination.

Panic disorder is a close cousin of generalized anxiety disorder, but can be accompanied by a racing heartbeat, sweating, weakness, faintness, or dizziness. Individuals may feel like they are floating or having a heart attack. Some people and experience nausea and chest pain. Constant fear usually brings on a panic attack; although, there are personal triggers. Attacks can be so disabling that people begin avoiding certain situations and places and develop agoraphobia, which usually means that they will not go out of the house. The biggest fear that people feel when they panic is one of doom that cannot be pinpointed. Free-floating fears can also peak and cause an attack, which can also happen during sleep. The tendency to develop panic attacks appears to be inherited. Other conditions can cause panic disorder such as drug abuse or alcoholism. Often depression can accompany panic disorder.

Other anxiety disorders are obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder consists of persistent, unwelcome thoughts or images, or by the urgent need to engage in certain rituals. Many times, this disorder is caused by trauma or stress. Engaging in rituals can be a person's attempt to put order into their lives such as hand-washing, counting, checking, or cleaning. Rituals are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away, which usually provides only temporary relief. Not performing them can greatly increase anxiety. Rituals are also an attempt to get rid of unwanted, obsessive thoughts that can be guilt-driven, free-floating, or phrases from a person's childhood.

Post-traumatic stress disorder causes three types of symptoms called re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyper-arousal. Re-experiencing symptoms consist of flashbacks that often interrupt a person's life. Avoidance consists of avoiding places, events, or reminder a person of a traumatic experience or event, feeling guilt, depression, or amnesia. Hyper-arousal means being easily startled, feeling edgy, sleep difficulties, and possible short temper. Acute stress disorder lasts a few weeks, while chronic post-traumatic stress disorder can be ongoing. Symptoms in children can include bed-wetting, acting out, and clinging to a caregiver of parent.

Social anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming, intense anxiety and self-consciousness. It can be limited to only one type of situation or anytime they are reminded of a traumatic event, and can be so severe that it interferes with daily life and the ability to socialize. Physical symptoms can include sweating, shaking, and nausea. Social phobics can realize that their fears are excessive, but be unable to overcome them.

People with emotional disorders can join support groups either in person or on the Internet. They can find support in a friend or clergy member. Stress management techniques in addition to exercise can be extremely helpful.