It is normal for people to experience a certain level of anxiety from time to time.  Anxiety only becomes problematic when it is either inappropriate to a situation or out of proportion and when it starts to interfere with family, social life or work.   The first step in overcoming anxiety is to understand what anxiety is and how it can become a problem. 

There are a number of different illnesses that fall under the heading of 'anxiety disorders'. The main types of anxiety disorders, a brief explanation and their associated symptoms are:

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Constant worry about harm affecting themselves or loved ones and irrational worries that is accompanied by feelings of constant apprehension.

Panic Disorder
Extreme panic attacks with physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea and dizziness with the fear that the attack will lead to total loss of control or even death.

Specific Phobia
Irrational fears about a situation, object or place such as spiders, heights, bridges, water, dogs, snakes, closed spaces or fainting, vomiting etc...

Social Phobia
Irrational fears that others are judging them in a negative way which leads to social isolation.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Constant unwanted thoughts that often result in the performance of elaborate rituals in an attempt to banish the persistent thoughts and anxiety.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Extreme anxiety and/or panic attacks related to a trauma with symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares.