Anxiety is a very common mental health condition characterized by excessive fear, and worry that is difficult to control, persists over time and interferes with daily functioning. There are several types of anxiety disorders each with distinctive features, but they all involve a disproportionate response to stressful situations and often include physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, restlessness, trouble concentrating and difficulty sleeping.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – Persistent and excessive worry about various everyday events or activities that lasts for at least six months.
- Panic Disorder – Repeated, unexpected panic attacks that involve intense feelings of terror or fear, often with physical symptoms such as chest pains, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and a sense of impending doom. These symptoms can lead individuals to avoid situations where panic has previously occurred and to worry about future attacks.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) – Intense fear of being judged, embarrassed or negatively evaluated in social situations. Often people will avoid social situations or endure them with great distress.
- Specific Phobias – Intense distress and fear of specific objects or situations such as flying, heights or animals that lead to avoidance. The fear is out of proportion to the actual risk.
- Agoraphobia – Fear and avoidance of places or situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable if panic symptoms occur. People often avoid public places, crowds or even leaving home.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder – Excessive anxiety concerning separation from attachment figures. This used to be only diagnosed in children but can occur in adults as well.
Psychotherapy is very effective for the treatment of anxiety disorders and can include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Somatic Therapies.
