Anxiety​​
We all experience anxiety from time to time. What differentiates normal levels of anxiety from an anxiety disorder is how excessive and persistent it is, how much distress it is causing us, and how much it is impacting important areas of our life (e.g., school, job, relationships).
Types Of Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Individuals experiencing GAD experience excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday things. They tend to be preoccupied with “what-if” thoughts and have difficulty living in the now.
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Agoraphobia
Individuals experiencing agoraphobia tend to have excessive difficulty leaving their houses. They often fear having a panic attack in public and being in situations where escape might be difficult.
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Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Individuals experiencing SAD experience fear of being judged by others. This may lead to the avoidance of social situations or participating in them while experiencing significant anxiety.
Specific Phobias
Individuals with specific phobias may experience irrational fear of particular objects, situations or activities. These fears may include the fear of particular animals, the fear of throwing up (emetophobia), and the fear of being in enclosed spaces.
Panic Disorder
Individuals with panic disorder experience recurrent unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden episode of fear that triggers an intense physical reaction.
Psychological Treatments For Anxiety Disorders
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and exposure therapy are common therapies which are helpful in treating anxiety disorders.
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Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of psychotherapy that helps individuals understand the relationship between their thoughts, emotions and behaviour. Therapy is focused on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours.
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Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is a form of psychotherapy that uses mindfulness based techniques to help clients accept their thoughts and emotions. It emphasizes the importance of identifying one’s values and living a life where one’s actions are aligned with them.
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Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy involves gradually and systematically exposing clients to what they fear in a safe environment. Exposure is done collaboratively with clients and the goal is to desensitize them to what they fear.