When looking at all the various types of phobias and anxiety disorders, they can all be grouped together in four main types or categories.  Doctors typically divide anxiety into these four categories to help them develop guidelines for their treatment.

Take a look at the four main categories that all phobias and anxieties can be grouped in, as this will give you a better understanding of where yours fits in.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder tends to affect about 4% of the population every year; however, I would assume that percentage is much higher as worries associated with GAD tend to be about normal things such as money, work, chores, etc., but to an exaggerated degree.

The reason why it is called “generalized” is because there is no particular reason or source for the fear.   You will typically see GAD in childhood  or adolescence, this is when I first experienced it myself.

The cause of GAD is unknown, but because it deals with normal things such as money, work, and chores I’m pressed to believe that it is a learned fear developed from ones environmental surroundings.  This can be confirmed by research that has suggested that children of people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder are more likely to develop anxiety problems. Which was my case, as my mother suffered from depression and anxiety related issues.

Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
Panic attacks are very common and typically affect 10-20% of the population each year.  People who have phobias may experience a panic attack when confronting such phobia.  For example, someone who may have a fear of public places and who decides to go to the mall, may develop the symptoms associated with heightened anxiety, thus  triggering a potential panic attack.

Panic attacks can be recognized by recurring feelings of terror and fear, which often come about with no clear triggers.  Although it usually is through heightened anxiety and a negative thought process that develops the symptoms which fuels itself into a full blown panic attack.

Most panic attack last typically for a minute or two, but it is not uncommon for them to continue for up to 10 minutes or more.   I have had panic attacks thatlasted for nearly 20 minutes, this was mainly because one panic attack would roll into another, extending the symptoms that much longer.  I still rememeber the time I woke up with difficulty breathing, rushed downstairs to get help from my mother and my father thought I was on drugs or something.  It really is that seriouse, but it doesn’t have to be — it’s an illusion and evil trick your mind likes to play on you.

Some people may even develop a fear of panicking which in turn becomes a form of phobia itself, as the person may try to avoid situations that might provoke one, such as refreaining from going to the movie theater for fear of not being able to breath and developing a panic attack and being publicly embarrassed.

Panic attacks can begin at any age, but most often it begin is young adults.

Phobia Disorders
Phobia disorders are irrational, intense fears about a particular object or situation.  There are well over 500 different types of phobias.  A great list of phobias can be found at The Phobia List.

Phobias aare very common and affect on average 10% of the population.  Some phobias begin in early childhood such as being afraid of animals, the dark, and strangers.  These tend to disappear as the child grows up, but can still be present if the fear has reoccured freqently in the childs early life.  Adults may also develop phobias such as the fear of weather, water, heights, flying, or enclosed spaces.

The inconvenience of a phobia really depends on how often you are likely to come into contact which the object or situation that you fear.

The most exhausting types of phobias are agoraphobia and social phobia.  Agoraphobia when translated from its Greek origin literally means “fear of the marketplace”, it is an anxiety in which one fears having a panic attack in a public situation with no perceived way to escape such as in a locked classroom writing a test or in a public movie theater.  Such a  phobia can sometimes develop after an embarrassing public panic attack or situation.

Social phobia is a general shyness or fear of a particular situation, like public speaking.  But unlike regular shyness which is normal, social phobia is an extreme type fo shyness where you would litterally avoid any such social situation in order to avoid the fear, rather than using that fear to productively to overcome what it is you fear, thus eliminating the fear.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
People who suffer from OCD are typically bothered by recurring images or ideas that are unpleasent (obssessions), or they develop repetitive habits or rituals (compulsions).  The images or ideas can be connected to the repetive habits or compulsion for instance people who fear germs may wash their hands constantly or people who fear that their home may be broken into, may excessvely check that the doors are locked. Sometimes though there is no connection between the thoughts and rituals.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) and acute stress disorder
These type of anxieties seem to be the only types with a clear cause.  Extreme symptoms of anxiety tend to appear after a frightening or horrible experiment, particularly if injuries or death were witnessed.

Acute stress disorder usually develops quickly after a traumatic event and will typically last less than a month.  Feelings are often complicated with feelings of guilt, unworthiness, or betrayal especially if those who witnessed such events have survived the stressful event but have lost love ones to it.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is a longer-lasting form of acute stress disorder, is particular common in war veterans.  PSTD was once referred to by the government and media  as “shell shock” or “combat neurosis”, and most recently called “battle fatigue”.  These are all candy coated labels given to a disorder that develops within soldiers after being exposed to the ralities of war.