Defining Anxiety Disorders

Psychologist Douglas Mennin, PhD, talks about when you should become concerned that you might have an anxiety disorder, which refers to a group of conditions that includes panicking, obsessions and compulsions, posttraumatic stress, social anxiety, and phobias. If you experience anxiety that is persistent, seemingly uncontrollable, and overwhelming, or if you have an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations that interferes with daily activities, you may have an anxiety disorder.