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anxiety disorder

anxiety disorder

12 4.3
A mental health problem that makes someone feel very worried most days and affects daily life
  • noun
  • /æŋˈzaɪəti dɪsˈɔrdər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : trastorno de ansiedad
  • What to do if you develop an anxiety disorder in college
  • generalized anxiety disorder
  • diagnosed with an anxiety disorder
  • anxiety disorder, panic

And Jen Wilde is an autistic person who is also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

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Examples

  • Common mimics of attention disorders are anxiety disorders and mood disorders, and these must be carefully ruled out.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Many people struggle to maintain their daily activities due to an anxiety disorder.

  • Women are more prone to have anxiety disorders and mood disorders.

  • Finally, all participants were asked to indicate if they had ever been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or with depression.

    Academic text (2000)
  • You could be suffering from generalized anxiety disorder.

  • Tony has an anxiety disorder, causing him to faint, brought on by stressful family situations.

    Academic text (2014)
  • IAPT is an NHS-funded programme, approved by NICE, to support individuals with depression and anxiety disorders.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Psychiatric disorders frequently seen in conjunction with substance abuse include mood, conduct, and anxiety disorders.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The patient also had a history of anxiety disorder, insomnia, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Thorn sees many professionals with generalized anxiety disorder, a condition that can't be pinned on anything in particular.

    Academic text (2006)

Synonyms

anxiety neurosis
vsanxiety disorder
  • Archaic
1 7.7

A long, strong worry that often causes fast heartbeat and sweating

affects daily functioning more than focusing on physical fear signs
anxiety reaction
vsanxiety disorder
  • Archaic
1 6.6

A strong feeling of worry that lasts a long time with physical signs like tension and shaking

is a diagnosable problem that reduces daily functioning more than a prolonged response

Antonyms

48 4.4

A calm, peaceful feeling without worry

9 2.7

A state without strong feelings or worry in your mind

How Severe

generalized anxiety disorder
  • Specialized
1 5.5
anxiety disorder
  • Specialized
12 4.3
anxiety reaction
  • Archaic
1 6.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

anxiety + disorder

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'anxiety' (a state of nervousness) + 'disorder' (a diagnosed condition): it denotes a disorder whose central feature is anxiety. This is a transparent noun–noun medical/psychological construction common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Anxiety disorder comes from the words anxiety (a strong 'worry') and disorder (when things are 'not in order'). Imagine your mind as a room where papers fly everywhere, and this picture shows why anxiety disorder means a condition where worry is too strong and makes daily life hard.