Anxiety Subtypes Explained: GAD, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, and More

Why anxiety labels can be useful, but never the whole picture

Terms such as generalised anxiety, panic, social anxiety, health anxiety, specific phobia and agoraphobia can help clinicians and researchers describe recurring patterns of fear, worry, physical sensations and avoidance. They can also help a person find relevant information. A label alone cannot explain someone’s life, establish a diagnosis or determine which support will be useful. Generalised worry may involve thoughts that move across several areas of life. Panic can involve intense surges of fear and physical sensations. Social fear can involve concern about being judged, embarrassed or noticed. Health anxiety may involve persistent concerns about illness or bodily sensations. Specific fears and avoidance can centre on particular situations, places, objects or experiences. These descriptions can overlap, change over time and sit alongside other concerns. An individual assessment can consider the person’s current experience, safety, health context, circumstances, previous support and priorities. It can also consider whether a diagnostic or medical conversation may be needed elsewhere. An assessment should not treat a webpage taxonomy as a substitute for listening carefully to the person in front of it. CBT informed ideas may be discussed when relevant. This can include looking at patterns of worry, avoidance, checking, reassurance seeking, preparation, withdrawal or attention to physical sensations. Whether a particular method is appropriate depends on individual circumstances and safety considerations. No page can prescribe exposure, behavioural experiments or a fixed treatment plan. Sanah Younis is a BABCP accredited CBT therapist and clinical lead at The Lyceum Clinic. BABCP accreditation reflects professional CBT training and ongoing standards. It does not guarantee a diagnosis, particular approach, session number or outcome. Research and clinical guidance can inform an assessment, but results from groups of people cannot predict the best route for one individual. Face to face arrangements can be discussed in Chiswick, Ealing and the Richmond venue, and online options can be discussed where appropriate. The published fee is £110 for an online session and £140 for a face to face session. Current availability, accessibility, format and suitability should be checked directly. If you use insurance or a cash plan, confirm eligibility, any referral or authorisation requirements, payment route and reimbursement terms directly with the relevant provider. The clinic cannot determine a provider’s decision. You may find it helpful to read a more specific guide on panic attacks, health anxiety, social anxiety, phobias or physical symptoms. These pages can help organise questions, but they do not replace individual assessment, medical advice or urgent support. It is common to recognise parts of your experience in more than one description. That does not mean you have reached a diagnosis, nor does it mean you must decide immediately which label fits. A careful conversation can begin with the parts of daily life that feel most difficult, the situations you avoid or endure, the questions that keep returning and the support you have already tried. You may want to ask how an assessment considers physical health, medication, sleep, work pressures, relationships, culture, identity and past experiences. These are not background details to dismiss. They can affect how anxiety is experienced and what kind of practical support may be feasible. The aim is not to make a person fit a category, but to understand what is happening with sufficient care and context. It is reasonable to take time after an initial conversation to consider what you have heard, speak with someone you trust or decide that another route is more appropriate. You do not need to settle every question before seeking appropriate information. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent help, use an appropriate emergency or urgent service rather than relying on a guide or enquiry form.