Anxiety & Stress
Everyone worries or feels nervous from time to time. Anxiety is a normal human reaction to stressful situations. Unfortunately, for people with anxiety disorders, those fears and worries aren't temporary. Their anxiety persists, and can even get worse over time.
Anxiety disorders can severely impair a person's ability to function at work, school and in social situations. Anxiety can also interfere with a person's relationships with family members and friends. Fortunately though, there are effective treatments for anxiety.
In some cases, medications have a role in treating anxiety disorders. However, research shows behavioral treatment, alone or in combination with medication, is a highly effective treatment for most people with an anxiety disorder.
Understanding Anxiety
There are several major types of anxiety disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GED is characterized by persistent worry or anxious feelings. People with this disorder worry about a number of concerns, such as health problems or finances, and may have a general sense that something bad is going to happen. Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems and generally feeling on edge.
Panic Disorders
Panic Disorders are marked by recurrent panic attacks that include symptoms such as sweating, trembling, shortness of breath or a feeling of choking, a pounding heart or rapid heart rate, and feelings of dread. Such attacks often happen suddenly, without warning. People who experience panic attacks often become fearful about when the next episode will occur, which can cause them to change or restrict their normal activities.
Phobias
Phobias are intense fears about certain objects (spiders or snakes, for instance) or situations (such as flying in airplanes) that are distressing or intrusive.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder is also known as social phobia. People with this disorder are fearful of social situations in which they might feel embarrassed or judged. They typically feel nervous spending time in social settings, feel self-conscious in front of others, and worry about being rejected by or offending others. Other common symptoms include having a hard time making friends, avoiding social situations, worrying for days before a social event and feeling shaky, sweaty or nauseous when spending time in a social setting.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCD is characterized by persistent, uncontrollable feelings and thoughts (obsessions) and routines or rituals (compulsions). Some common examples include compulsive hand washing in response to a fear of germs, or repeatedly checking work for errors.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD can develop after a severe physical or emotional trauma such as a natural disaster, serious accident or crime. Symptoms include flashbacks of the trauma, nightmares and frightening thoughts that interfere with a person's everyday routine for months or years after the traumatic experience.
Psychotherapy for Anxiety Disorders
Psychotherapy is a collaborative process, where psychotherapists and clients work together to identify specific concerns and develop concrete skills and techniques for coping with anxiety. Clients can expect to practice their new skills outside of sessions to manage anxiety in situations that might make them uncomfortable. However, psychotherapists won't push clients into such scenarios until they're sure they have the skills they need to effectively confront their fears.
Psychotherapists sometimes use other approaches to treat anxiety disorders in addition to CBT. Group psychotherapy, which typically involves several people who all have anxiety disorders, can be effective for both treating anxiety and providing clients with support. Family psychotherapy can help family members understand their loved one's anxiety, and help them learn ways to interact that do not reinforce anxious habits. Family therapy can be particularly helpful for children and adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are very treatable. The majority of clients who suffer from anxiety are able to reduce or eliminate symptoms after several (or fewer) months of psychotherapy, and many clients notice improvement after just a few sessions.
Psychotherapists are highly trained and will tailor a treatment plan to address the unique needs of each client.
For more information regarding anxiety and access to the full article, please visit https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/anxiety.