Finding Help

What is Counseling?

Choosing a Therapist

About Confidentiality

About Anxiety

About Depression

About Crisis

Marriage & Family Counseling

Anxiety

Some anxiety is normal. It reminds us to lock the door at night or put our car keys away. Almost everyone has experienced anxiety at some point -- butterflies in your stomach before a first date, tension in your stomach when the boss is upset, the way your heart pounds if you're in danger. Anxiety rouses you to take action if you're in danger (the flight or flight response). It also helps us to prepare -- for the big job interview, the final examination or a speech at the annual meeting. But too much anxiety can cripple you.

Facts about Anxiety

• Anxiety most commonly strikes people between late adolescence and the mid-thirties.

• About 25% of the population will suffer from severe anxiety at some point in their lives.

• It is more common in women than men.

• Depression often accompanies anxiety disorders.

• Many people who suffer from anxiety self-medicate with alcohol and drugs.

• Early intervention means rapid recovery. Anxiety is one of the most treatable of the mental disorders.

Types of Anxiety

• Generalized anxiety

• Panic disorder

• Phobias

• Obsessive-Compulsive disorder

• Post-Traumatic stress disorder

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Panic disorder: the primary symptom is the panic attack, a sudden and overwhelming fear of danger in which a person may experience:

1. Pounding heart or chest pain

2. Sweating, trembling or shaking

3. Shortness of breath or sensation of choking

4. Nausea or abdominal pain

5. Dizziness or lightheadedness

6. Feeling unreal or disconnected

7. Fear of losing control, of going crazy or of dying

8. Numbness in fingers and toes

9. Chills or hot flashes

As a result of the sudden onset of symptoms, people having panic attacks often believe they are having a heart attack.

Phobias

A phobia is an irrational and persistent fear of a specific object, situation or activity. People who suffer from phobias often try unsuccessfully to control their feelings or go to great lengths to avoid the things they dread. There are three types of phobias:

• Specific phobia -- Extreme or excessive fear of an object or situation that is not generally harmful. For example, fear of heights, of elevators, or dogs.

• Social phobia -- Fear of being frightened or scorned in social or performance situations. This may include fear of meeting new people, fear of public speaking or fear of using public restrooms. It can lead to isolation and social withdrawal.

• Agoraphobia -- Fear of having a panic attack in a situation in which escape may be difficult or embarrassing. People may be afraid of shopping, dining in restaurants or traveling on public transportation.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• The presence of frequently occurring irrational thoughts that cannot be controlled through reasoning.

• Common obsessions relate to a dread of dirt or germs, or nagging doubts. People with OCD often realize their fears are unreasonable, but they're unable to make them go away.

• People with OCD often engage in compulsive rituals, such as repeated hand washing, to make the fears go away.

• Compulsive behaviors can come to take up to an hour a day and eventually interfere with social and work relationships.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD occurs in people who have survived a severe or terrifying physical or emotional event.

• People with PTSD continue to experience the ordeal through nightmares or recurring memories, flashbacks or extreme distress when exposed to events that remind them of the ordeal.

• They may also feel numb or detached

• Disturbed sleeping

• Find themselves feeling jittery or guarded

• Experience depression.

PTSD can be triggered by:

• Military combat

• Violent personal attack including rape, domestic abuse, and robbery.

• Natural disasters including floods, hurricanes, tornados.

• Tragedies including airline crashes, bombings, and hostage situations.

• Physical or sexual abuse during childhood.

• Witnessing another person's serious injury.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

People with generalized anxiety experience ongoing exaggerated tension that interferes with daily functions. Symptoms include:

• Constant worrying when there is no apparent reason to do so.

• Excessive concerns about health, family, work or money.

• Inability to relax.

• Tiredness.

• Irritability.

• Poor concentration.

• Insomnia.

• Muscle tension.

• Fatigue.

• Headaches.

• Depression, substance abuse or another form of anxiety disorder.

Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most treatable of the mental disorders. About 75% of people with anxiety disorders respond well to a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy consists of five elements:

1. Learning: coming to understand the illness and to identify the symptoms.

2. Monitoring: keeping a journal or diary to record and monitor anxiety-producing situations

3. Breathing: learning relaxation techniques to help combat the physical symptoms of anxiety

4. Rethinking: learning to change your interpretation of physical symptoms from catastrophic to realistic

5. Exposure: for some types of anxiety disorder, for example fear of elevators, you will be helped to encounter the situation in levels that will increase in intensity.

Resources

The American Psychiatric Association - www.psych.org.

This site contains excellent articles on anxiety as well as explanations about the types of medications available and the role of psychotherapy in recovery.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America -- www.adaa.org.

This resource contains articles, links, self-help groups and resources for families.

Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Association -- www.socialphobia.org/

This site maintains resources to assist people suffering from social phobia and to educate the public about this condition.

Freedom From Fear -- www.freedomfromfear.com/.

Freedom From Fear is a national not-for-profit mental health advocacy association founded in 1984 whose mission is to aid and counsel individuals and their families who suffer from anxiety and depressive illnesses.

Anxiety and Panic Hub (Panic Anxiety Education Management) -- www.paems.com.au/.

Panic Anxiety Education Management Services. This informative site provides resources for all people who experience anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, panic attacks and phobias.

Anxiety Today -- www.thegrid.net/dakaiser/today/anxiety.htm.

Recent news, articles, and books on anxiety.