Are There Different Types of Anxiety?

The 'always-on' society

Anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders have become a near epidemic in modern society. The Happy Life Agenda is dedicating an entire series to conversations on anxiety. When you dive in, you will know why unraveling this topic is not only important but is a long, interconnected conversation of how we got here, what to do about it, and why it matters so much.

Globally, anxiety has risen 55 percent. Research shows that 44 percent of adult population in the U.S. is suffering from symptoms of anxiety.

And it is no wonder. Americans do not prioritize rest or human connection. Instead, the mantra is “work hard, play hard” and begs men and women to forsake all else in pursuit of the almighty dollar. Eat, sleep, work, repeat—until you die.

In China, where reported cases of anxiety disorder are more than double that of the United States, there is a term for death by overwork: guolaosi (

For many in the U.S. and around the globe, there seems to be no end in sight to the long hours and anxiety of an “always-on” society. “Always-on” isn’t just about work—are you living for likes, follows, and shares? Are you afraid to leave the house? Do your kids and husbands run the show? Is it all make you happy?

If “always-on,” in whatever form that is for you, isn’t making you happy,  it’s time to carefully examine the root causes of your sadness and/or anxiety and how it manifests in people like you and me.

You will be surprised to learn that this analysis will reveal that solutions are well within your grasp.

Whoever you are, you can opt-out of the always-on, always working, always fearing something mindset.

DSM-5 Definitions of Anxiety

Specific phobia: An extreme fear of a specific stimulus 

Social anxiety disorder: An extreme fear of social situations 

Panic disorder: Recurrent panic attacks 

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Persistent worry about everyday challenges 

Agoraphobia: A fear of places or situations that may cause feelings of panic, entrapment, helplessness, or embarrassment 

Separation anxiety disorder: An anxiety disorder that affects children, adolescents, and adults 

Selective mutism: The least common anxiety disorder

Defining Anxiety

Since shortly after the pandemic, the media has been a buzz with labels for the rampant anxiety plaguing society: Burnout, functional anxiety, and the newest one: “free-floating anxiety” all seeking to clearly define the manifestation of anxiety in men and women.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health (DSM), anxiety is defined as a condition characterized by excessive worry and apprehension that occurs more days than not for at least six months.

Nowhere does this manual add the aforementioned buzz words artfully crafted by the media. However, these “definitions” of anxiety are worth a conversation because these are the forms low level anxiety appears to take, contributing to the epidemic. According to “Dr. Google,” these are the definitions of burnout, functional anxiety, and free-floating anxiety:

• Burnout is a challenging experience often resulting from one’s occupation and is correlated to stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions that can make it difficult to navigate daily life.
• Functional anxiety is a term used to describe people who experience anxiety while still appearing to function well in their daily lives.
• Free-floating anxiety is a term used to describe anxiety that does not relate to a specific event or trigger.

The DSM does not deep dive into generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but the media certainly has, and it is a worthy cause (and I’m not always on the media’s side when it comes to defining medical conditions). When you dive into the research, most people would not classify themselves as having anxiety, but when begin to look at the symptoms of anxiety and how frequently people describe them day in and day out, you see that subsets of GAD would help more people seek solutions to their anxiety—and that doesn’t mean running to a doctor or a pill cabinet.

To get personal for a second, I never knew I had anxiety until about two years ago when I broke down and embarked on my integrative and functional medicine journey as a perimenopausal 40-something.

I was astounded when the practitioner labeled me as a person with anxiety.

When I dove head-first into that research, the buzzword of the hour was “functional anxiety.” It was like reading my own biography.

In researching this project, I have come to learn that at a particularly low point in my life, I struggled with burnout as a result of functional anxiety and this has been my pattern of existence since my early 20s (maybe even high school).  More on that later. . .

The Risk of UncheckED Anxiety

All that said, even low levels of anxiety can keep you from living as your true self and achieving your heart’s desires.

Unchecked anxiety can impair health, advance aging and manifest disease. In 1964, Dr. Robert Ader, developed the field of psychoneuroimmunology. Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of the intricate interaction of consciousness (psycho), brain and central nervous system (neuro), and the body’s defense against external infection and non-standard cell division (immunology). Alongside the research on epigenetics—another growing field of science illustrating that you are not a victim of your genetics—the proof is in: your health and happiness are in your control.* This is why it is more important than ever to stop needless anxiety.

You might think that cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cognitive impairment, dementia and other chronic conditions are an inevitable part of aging. They are not—you are more in control than you realize. The data to the right shows the correlation between stress/anxiety and disease. While the data below illustrates how common these conditions have become.

• 4 percent of the global population suffers from reported anxiety disorder (reported cases only, excludes people with symptoms or unreported cases)
• 20 million individuals in the United States have reported anxiety disorder
• 5 percent of the U.S. adult population experiences mild to severe anxiety symptoms

Much Ado and What to Do About Anxiety

The Happy Life Agenda aims to empower women and girls to be leaders in and of their lives, to take control of their situation and mold it into their heart’s desires—all the while embracing happiness. With this goal in mind, it is important to break down the conditions and constructs that keep women from reaching these goals. Anxiety is high on that list.

Women are nearly 2 times more likely to be affected by anxiety disorders compared to men.

Society asks more of women. Women tackle problems and life from a broad spectrum—they don’t just see numbers and money—they see people and possibilities. The way that women view the world and the way society is constructed increases the risk of anxiety, depression, and the collapse of wellness among women because of the pressure to be all and do all.

Whether you are a working mom, stay-at-home mom, grandmother, or not a mom at all—as a woman, you bring dynamic contribution to your family, your home, your community, and this earth. Yet, society fails to recognize that value and therefore asks women to adapt to the environment, suppressing all things feminine that are essential to a successful culture. Masculine and feminine must exist—this was by design.

The world has asked women to become more like men and rise to definitions of success outlined by a patriarchal society, the outcomes have led to:

• Increased rates of anxiety, depression, and other cognitive conditions.
• Increased rates of obesity.
• Declines in marriage.
• Declines in the family unit.

Women were designed to connect to people, see them, nurture them and pave the way for them to thrive as their truest self. When society fails to value the work women do in the home as much as they value the work done outside the home, there will always be a struggle.

Today, societal constructs allow anyone to claim power over their lives, develop and share their art—in whatever form it exists—and achieve their heart’s desires. The Happy Life Agenda is a guide on that highly unique journey. While this series will unravel anxiety, the first question you need to ask yourself is, “What do I desire?”

Nothing is out of the question. Nothing is off the table.

Your first response will not be your last or your only.

Ask for it all.

Write it down. Now, when you read the next blog on anxiety, where the discussion turns to mastering your mind to quell anxiety, keep these desires at the forefront. You will need them throughout this journey.

Real stories of overcoming anxiety

Anxiety is a complex condition. If you have seen Inside Out 2, you know what I mean. It can truly impair your path to self actualization and productivity–even when it makes you operate in overdrive. Don’t just take my  word for it. Hear the stories of real women in the midst of struggle and how they are transforming their lives in unique and remarkable ways. Find the stories that inspire you! Subscribe to  The Happy Life Agenda and join the conversation.

This article is merely a discussion on anxiety and related mental health conditions and is in no way intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder or health condition, seek the help of healthcare professional.

For the purposes of the conversation in this article, I am going to limit the scope of the conversation to feelings of anxiety that do not obstruct normal living. If you are on medication to treat anxiety, seeing a qualified health professional or the like, please consult your doctor before making any changes that may impact your treatment plan.

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