Stress and worry are universal experiences. For some, anxiety, stress and worry become so pronounced that they interfere with the ability to engage in age-appropriate activities, school, and relationships.
While anxiety can latch onto many concerns including but not limited to separation from parents, the negative evaluation of others, or natural disasters, core to most experiences of anxiety are frequent and distressing thoughts and worries, physical symptoms of stress and worry such as nausea and headaches, and avoidance of situations that make one nervous.
Unfortunately, the most instinctive responses to anxiety, especially avoidance, while helpful in mitigating short-term unpleasant thoughts and feelings, tend to aggravate anxiety over time.
Anxiety is a normal emotion and we all experience it in one form or another. It’s our brain’s natural way of reacting to stress and alerting us of potential danger. Finding out what type of anxiety you may be suffering from is the first step to helping you conquer yours.
Some of the the different types include...
Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when symptoms are excessive for the developmental age and cause significant distress in daily functioning.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts and/or behaviors that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.
A phobia is an anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation.
Social anxiety disorder is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. This fear can affect work, school, and other daily activities.
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where you regularly have sudden attacks of panic or fear. Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and panic at certain times. It's a natural response to stressful or dangerous situations.
Generalized anxiety disorder is a condition of excessive worry about everyday issues and situations. In addition to feeling worried you may also feel restlessness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, increased muscle tension, and trouble sleeping.
At their essence, effective psychological treatments for anxiety involve gradually approaching difficult situations and experiences. In doing so, individuals learn that fear often decreases with time, that we possess tremendous capacity for bravery and for tolerating the unpleasant, and that life is a lot more joyous when anxiety isn’t dictating the terms.
ERP therapy is a behavioral therapy that gradually exposes people to situations designed to provoke a person's obsessions in a safe environment.
a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, and related problems.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is an approach to psychotherapy that uses cognitive behavioral therapy methods in collaboration with mindfulness meditative practices and similar psychological strategies.
Habit reversal training (HRT) is an evidence-based highly effective behavioral therapy for people with unwanted repetitive behaviors or habits.
