A diagnosis of anxiety disorder is via a medical professional’s evaluation, based on specific criteria.

Deciding when anxiety is severe enough to be considered a disorder can be complicated.

Individual ability to tolerate anxiety varies, and determining what constitutes abnormal anxiety can be difficult.

Medical professionals usually use the following specific established criteria:

• Anxiety is very distressing.
• Anxiety interferes with functioning.
• Anxiety is long-lasting or keeps coming back

Medical professionals look for other disorders that may be causing anxiety, such as depression or a sleep disturbance.

They may also ask whether relatives have had similar symptoms, because anxiety disorders tend to run in families.

Medical professionals also do a physical examination. Blood and other tests may be done to check for other medical disorders that can cause anxiety.