It’s normal to feel anxious or worried from time to time. We may worry about health, money, school, work or family. But anxiety disorders involve more than the occasional worry or fear. The anxiety does not go away, it’s felt in many situations and it can worsen over time.
When the cognitive, physical, and behavioral symptoms of anxiety are persistent and severe, and anxiety causes significant distress, negatively impacting your life, it may be beyond the range of normal.
And when the symptoms of anxiety are persistent and severe, and anxiety causes distress in your life to the point that it negatively affects your ability to work or study, socialize, and manage daily tasks, it may be time to seek professional help.
Read on to learn more about anxiety and how it can be treated.
Types of Anxiety
There are several types of anxiety disorders.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
According to the American Psychiatric Association [1], GAD involves excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least six months about a number of events or activities (such as school or work). It is marked by difficulty controlling worry and at least three associated physical symptoms such as muscle tension, sleep difficulties, or trouble concentrating.
Panic Disorder
If you have frequent and unexpected panic attacks, you likely are experiencing panic disorder. The attacks involve a sudden wave of intense fear, discomfort or a sense of losing control, even when there is no clear danger or cause. It usually peaks within minutes. Not all those who have panic attacks develop panic disorder.
Panic attacks frequently include physical symptoms that might feel like a heart attack, such as trembling, tingling, or rapid heart rate. They can occur at any time. Many of those with panic disorder worry about the possibility of having another attack and they may change their life significantly to avoid having another attack. Panic attacks may happen several times a day or only a few times a year.
Social Anxiety Disorder.
Also known as social phobia, social anxiety disorder involves an intense fear or anxiety about being humiliated, watched, scrutinized, or judged in social situations, which lasts at least six months. More than just shyness, the fear causes significant distress or impairment in day-to-day functioning, for example socially or at work.
You may feel fear in social interactions, being observed and/or performing. For example, meeting strangers, dating, being in small groups, or even playing sports. You may feel the fear is beyond your control. It may become an obstacle to going to work, attending school, or doing daily activities. Some people don’t have anxiety in social situations, but do in performance situations. It typically affects females more than males and can last a lifetime.
Various Phobia-Related Disorders
When a fear is intense or irrational, it may be a specific phobia. There are many kinds including:
- Animal (e.g. fear of mice or spiders)
- Natural environment ( e.g. fear of storms or heights)
- Blood/injection/injury (e.g. fear of seeing blood or receiving an injection)
- Situational (e.g. fear of public transit, elevators)
- Other (e.g. fear of choking or vomiting)
Phobias affect people’s lives. They may adapt their lifestyles to avoid the phobia, or they may endure it with intense feelings of anxiety.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia involves fearing and avoiding places or situations that might cause panic and feelings of being trapped, helpless, or embarrassed. You feel very anxious about being in open or enclosed spaces, using public transport, standing in line, or being in a crowd.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
There is a wide range of symptoms, which may vary depending on the type of anxiety. In general, they include [2] [3]:
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder | ||
| Persistent worry or fear | Dizziness or weakness | Difficulty staying calm |
| Nervousness | Knowing you worry more than you should | Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep |
| Rapid heartbeat | Feel restless and have trouble relaxing | Trouble containing worry |
| Have headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or unexplained pains | Feeling like you’re having a heart attack | Feeling like your losing control |
| Panic Disorder | ||
| Feel irritable or “on edge” | Sudden and repeated panic attacks of overwhelming anxiety and fear | A feeling of being out of control, or a fear of death or impending doom during a panic attack |
| An intense worry about when the next panic attack will happen | Pounding or racing heart Sweating or chills | Avoiding places where the person had anxiety symptoms in the past (e.g., a certain grocery store) or similar places (e.g., all grocery stores) |
| Social Anxiety Disorder | ||
| Blush, sweat, or tremble | Rapid heart rate | Feel their “mind going blank,” or feel sick to their stomach |
| Have a rigid body posture, or speak with an overly soft voice | Find it difficult to make eye contact, be around people they don’t know, or talk to people in social situations, even when they want to | Feel self-consciousness or fear that people will judge them negatively |
| Specific Phobias | ||
| Sweating, muscle tension, dizziness | Avoiding the feared object or situation | Feeling a need to escape the feared object or situation |
Treatment Options
Anxiety disorders are usually treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medications. The most effective treatments include:
Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps you identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors
- Exposure Therapy: Gradually exposes you to anxiety-triggering situations to build confidence
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies along with commitment and behavior-change strategies to increase psychological flexibility
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Through talk therapy you address emotions and thoughts and develop insight and resilience
Medications
- Antidepressants: SSRIs and SNRIs are commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders
- Buspirone: An anti-anxiety medication used for chronic anxiety
- Beta-blockers: Can help with physical symptoms of anxiety
- Benzodiazepines: Used for short-term relief but can be habit-forming
Lifestyle Changes
- Regular exercise
- Stress management techniques
- Limiting caffeine intake
- Getting enough sleep
- Avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs
Improving Mental Health in Utah
Treatment and transitional living is available in Utah. Are you or a loved one looking for a compassionate space to heal from anxiety, trauma, PTSD, other mental health conditions, or addictions? Our licensed trauma-informed professional therapists and counselors at Corner Canyon Health Centers can provide compassionate help using a range of therapeutic and holistic techniques.
Reach out to our Admissions team now at Corner Canyon. We’re in a peaceful setting bordered by the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.
Sources
[1] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
[2] National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety Disorders.
[3] CAMH. Anxiety Disorders.
