Anxiety, panic attacks and phobias
घबराहट, पैनिक और डर (फ़ोबिया)
Some anxiety is normal. It becomes a disorder when worry or fear is excessive, hard to control and starts limiting daily life.
Generalised anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety and specific phobias all respond well to treatment.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kuldeep Budania, MBBS, MD Psychiatry
Common symptoms
- Constant worry about health, family, money or work
- Restlessness, irritability, muscle tension
- Sudden attacks of fear with palpitations, sweating, breathlessness
- Fear of dying or 'going mad' during an attack
- Avoiding crowds, travel, markets or being alone
- Fear of speaking or eating in front of others
- Poor sleep and difficulty concentrating
- Repeated visits to doctors and tests that are 'normal'
Causes
- Over-sensitive stress and alarm system in the brain
- Family tendency to anxiety
- Stressful events, illness in the family, exams or job pressure
- Excess tea/coffee, nicotine, alcohol withdrawal or thyroid problems
Risk factors
- Anxious temperament since childhood, or anxiety in the family
- Ongoing stress: exams, job, debts, health worries
- Too much tea, coffee, energy drinks, or withdrawal from alcohol or pills
- Thyroid over-activity and some medicines
How it is diagnosed
- Identifying the type: general worry, panic attacks, social fear or a specific phobia
- Checking heart, thyroid and sugar when physical symptoms are prominent
- The GAD-7 questionnaire to measure severity
Classification: ICD-10 F40–F41 · ICD-11 6B00–6B0ZAnxiety or fear-related disorders (group).
Treatment options
- 1Explaining the anxiety cycle — understanding alone reduces fear
- 2CBT and graded exposure to face feared situations step by step
- 3Breathing and relaxation techniques you can use anywhere
- 4Non-habit-forming medicines (antidepressants) when needed; sleeping pills only short-term, if at all
- 5Reducing caffeine, regular exercise and sleep routine
Psychotherapy and counselling
- CBT teaches how worry and avoidance keep anxiety going, and how to break the cycle
- Gradual exposure to feared situations, at your own pace
- Breathing and relaxation skills for the body symptoms
Guidance for family
- Reassure, but do not do everything for the person — avoidance makes fear stronger
- Encourage small steps and praise effort
- Avoid repeated reassurance about the same worry; it brings only short relief
When to see a psychiatrist
- Anxiety stops you from working, travelling or going out
- Panic attacks keep coming back
- You rely on alcohol or sleeping pills to cope
Thoughts of self-harm or a medical emergency? Call Tele-MANAS 14416 (24×7, free) or 112.
Free self-assessment
A short screening in Hindi or English. Private — nothing is saved. Screening does not establish a diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
Is a panic attack a heart attack?
No, but the symptoms can feel similar. If you have chest pain for the first time, get checked by a physician; once the heart is normal, panic disorder can be treated.
Will I need medicines for life?
Usually not. Most people take medicines for some months along with therapy and then taper off.
Can anxiety be treated without medicines?
Mild to moderate anxiety often improves with CBT alone. Your doctor will discuss what suits you best.
Help is available — confidential, in Hindi or English.
Private video consultation from anywhere in India with an Ajmer-based psychiatrist. Psychiatry consultation ₹500.
This page is for education and does not replace a personal consultation. Do not start or stop any medicine without a doctor's advice.