Anxiety disorder

Symptoms

Some of the physical symptoms that you can often recognise in an anxiety disorder include:

• increased heart beat
• sweating
• dizziness
• tingling
• shortness of breath, dry mouth
• tense muscles, shaking
• dilated pupils

Possible causes

An anxiety disorder can have several possible causes:

• Physical cause, e.g. Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease or multiple sclerosis, hormonal disorders (thyroid disease or vitamin B12 deficiency), heart disease, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Abuse of or withdrawal from alcohol or drugs as well as benzodiazepines and antidepressants
• Environmental factors and life events also play a role

Various treatments are possible, for example: proper education about the disorder, cognitive behavioural therapy or exposure therapy, relaxation exercises, etcetera...

Latest publication date: 28/12/2023
Supervising author: Dr Claeys Isabel