Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal emotion that we all experience at times. These feelings are usually mild and short-lived. But for some people, anxiety can feel relentless and never-ending.  When anxiety feels more severe, its effects can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. When anxiety is severe, it may be diagnosed as a medical condition known as anxiety disorder.

If you are feeling significant anxiety, you are not alone in this struggle.  Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, they affect 40 million adults in the U.S. or 19.1% of the population. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet according to FHE health, only 37% of those suffering receive treatment.

While the symptoms of anxiety can feel scary and out-of-control for many people, there is hope. Anxiety disorders are actually very treatable.. The most common treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a type of psychotherapy that helps a person identify and change negative thinking and behavior.

CBT is an effective treatment of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. CBT can be delivered in a group or individual format and can be done in person or virtually via teletherapy.

If anxiety feels like it is interfering in living the life you want for yourself, talk to a mental health professional. They can help you get an accurate diagnosis for an anxiety disorder  and find the right treatment to improve your quality of life.

There are different types of anxiety disorders, each with its own set of mental and physical symptoms. Anxiety symptoms can include:

• Feeling nervous, restless, or tense

• Having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom

• Having an increased heart rate

• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)

• Sweating

• Trembling

• Feeling weak or tired

• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the anxiety

• Having trouble sleeping

• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems

• Avoiding stressful situations that trigger anxiety

There are many types of anxiety disorders, each with its own set of symptoms and conditions. The most common are:

  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): People with GAD worry excessively about many different things most days, for at least six months. They may have a hard time concentrating and may feel restless, keyed up, or on edge.

  • Panic disorder: People with panic disorder have sudden and repeated attacks of excessive fear. These panic attacks can happen at any time, even during sleep. People with panic disorder may also have a phobia, such as a fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia) or of flying (aerophobia).

  • Social anxiety disorder : Also called social phobia, social anxiety is a type of anxiety disorder that causes extreme fear in social situations. It can be triggered by anything from giving a speech to simply going out on a date.

  • Specific phobias: A specific phobia is an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as flying, heights, animals, or injections. People with specific phobias often go to great lengths to avoid the things they fear.

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions (recurring, unwanted thoughts) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels compelled to do to relieve anxiety).

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD can develop after exposure to a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, abuse, war/combat, sexual assault, or other violent personal assault.

What is Therapy for Anxiety?

Therapy for anxiety can help you understand and work through your anxiety. We can help you learn how to cope with your anxiety and manage it in everyday life in a healthy way.

There are different types of therapy for anxiety disorders, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

  1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps you identify and change the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your anxiety.

  2. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a type of therapy that helps you confront your fears while disengaging from behaviors (such as compulsions or reassurance) that contribute to the anxiety cycle.

  3. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of therapy that helps you accept your anxiety and learn to live with it in a more productive way.