Anxiety Disorders

  • Do you have a fear of losing control or going crazy?
  • Do you have upsetting thoughts or images that refuse to go away?
  • Does chronic worry get in the way of your life?
  • Are you troubled by unexpected "attacks" of anxiety or fear?

If you answered "yes" or believe your anxiety is out of control, read below for more information on anxiety disorders and how to get help.

 

When Fear Gets Out of Control

From time to time, most of us can expect to experience some anxiety or fear. It's human and normal. But for the millions of Americans with an anxiety disorder, their fears are far more extreme. Symptoms can be unrelenting and terrifying, crippling the ability to cope and function at work or home. Listed below is more information about some of the major anxiety disorders and their symptoms.

 

Chronic Anxiety:

People with chronic anxiety (also referred to as "generalized anxiety disorder") experience ongoing and exaggerated worry about everyday things that they can't seem to "turn off." Common worries concern health, work, family or financial matters. Physical symptoms include insomnia, muscle tension, and gastric upset. Their worry is unrelenting and interferes with every day living, including work, school or relationships.

 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

Individuals with OCD experience persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that they can’t seem to turn off. To reduce anxiety, they engage in rigid routines or rituals (compulsions) that may go on for hours at a time. Even though most know these behaviors are irrational, they feel unable to stop them. Common behaviors include excessive hand washing, checking or counting to reduce anxiety. If left untreated, OCD can interfere with all aspects of one's life.

 

Panic Disorder:

This disorder is diagnosed in people who experience out-of-the-blue, unexpected panic attacks and who fear such attacks will happen again. Symptoms include a sudden onset of intense fear, racing thoughts, increased heart rate, trembling, difficulty breathing, fear of going crazy, and more. In response to the attacks, individuals often develop agoraphobia where they avoid situations they fear will trigger panic attacks, such as shopping malls, grocery stores and other public places.

 

Social Anxiety:

Individuals with this disorder, also known as "social phobia," are preoccupied by how others will evaluate them in social situations. They are often terrified of doing something that will be considered as embarrassing or humiliating. The anxiety can interfere significantly with daily routines, work or social life, making it difficult to form friendships or obtain employment.

 

What You Can Do

With appropriate and professional care, most people with anxiety disorders can get significantly better or achieve a full recovery. At Pathways Center for Counseling, our psychotherapist, Heather Kitchen, LCSW, has extensive experience using cognitive-behavioral therapy to successfully treat anxiety disorders. She also works closely with health care professionals to ensure that treatment is comprehensive and effective. So, if you're suffering from this disorder, don't let anxiety or worry get the best of you. Give us a call — it's time to start feeling better.