Anxiety disorders can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to function in various areas of life, including work, school, and social situations. They can also affect relationships with family and friends. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available for anxiety, and psychologists, like myself, play a crucial role in helping individuals overcome these challenges. In this article, we will explore anxiety disorders, their prevalence, different types, and how psychologists can assist in their treatment.
Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal human response to stressful situations, and it’s common for everyone to experience worry or nervousness from time to time. However, for individuals with anxiety disorders, these feelings persist and may even worsen over time. The anxiety may cause impairment in functioning. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 19.1% of U.S. adults and 31.9% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 will experience anxiety. Furthermore, among U.S. adults with an anxiety disorder, an estimated 22.8% had serious impairment and 33.7% had moderate impairment. For adolescents with any anxiety disorder, an estimated 8.3% experienced severe impairment.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
There are several major types of anxiety disorders that individuals may experience:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): People with GAD constantly worry or feel anxious about various concerns such as health issues or finances. They often have a general sense that something bad will happen. Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, and an overall feeling of being on edge.
- Panic Disorder: This disorder is characterized by recurring panic attacks that involve symptoms like sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, a feeling of choking, a racing heart, and a sense of impending doom. Panic attacks can occur suddenly, without warning, leading to fear of future episodes and potential lifestyle restrictions.
- Phobias: Phobias involve intense fears of specific objects (e.g., spiders or snakes) or situations (e.g., flying in airplanes) that cause distress and intrusion into daily life.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): People with social anxiety disorder fear social situations where they may feel embarrassed or judged. They often experience nervousness, self-consciousness, and worry about rejection or offending others. Symptoms include difficulty making friends, avoiding social situations, preoccupation with upcoming events, and physical manifestations like trembling, sweating, or nausea.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD is characterized by persistent, uncontrollable thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions). Examples include excessive hand washing due to a fear of germs or repeated checking of work for errors.
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD can develop after experiencing a severe physical or emotional trauma such as a natural disaster, serious accident, or crime. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts that disrupt a person’s daily routine for months or even years after the traumatic event.
Seeking Help from a Psychologist
While anxiety disorders can vary, research indicates that they often share similar underlying processes. Individuals with anxiety disorders may become overwhelmed by their emotions and have particularly negative reactions to those feelings and situations. Often, people try to cope with these negative reactions by avoiding anxiety-inducing situations, which can inadvertently reinforce anxiety over time.
Psychologists, such as myself, are trained in diagnosing anxiety disorders and teaching patients healthier and more effective ways to cope. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a highly effective form of psychotherapy for treating anxiety disorders. In CBT, psychologists help patients identify and manage the factors contributing to their anxiety.
The cognitive component of therapy focuses on understanding how thoughts contribute to anxiety symptoms. By changing these thought patterns, patients can reduce the likelihood and intensity of anxiety symptoms.
The behavioral component of therapy teaches patients techniques to overcome undesired behaviors associated with anxiety disorders. An example of this type of treatment is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is a form of CBT treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This treatment involves confronting thoughts, situations, objects, or images that cause anxiety and refraining from engaging in the compulsive behavior. Over time this procedure helps retrain your brain to no longer view the obsession as a threat. Therefore, anxiety is reduced. Research has demonstrated that ERP is one of the most effective forms of treatment for OCD.
What to Expect in Psychotherapy for Anxiety Disorders
Psychotherapy is a collaborative process where psychologists and patients work together to identify specific concerns and develop concrete coping skills and techniques for managing anxiety. During sessions an individualized plan will be formulated. Patients should expect to apply skills developed in session to their everyday life to learn to effectively handle anxiety-inducing situations. Psychologists will guide and coach patients through the process. For children and adolescents struggling with anxiety disorder, parent training and family sessions help loved ones understand the patient’s anxiety and learn how to interact in ways that do not reinforce anxious habits.
The Treatability of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, and most patients experience a reduction or elimination of symptoms through participation in psychotherapy. Psychologists are extensively trained to tailor treatment plans to meet each patient’s unique needs, ensuring the best possible outcome. I have completed multiple, specialty trainings in the treatment of OCD and other anxiety disorders through the International OCD Foundation. I regularly use these treatments to help my patients experience relief from anxiety.
If you’re seeking a licensed psychologist in your area, I recommend using the Psychologist Locator to find a qualified professional who can help you on your journey to overcoming anxiety disorders. Remember, you don’t have to face it alone, and effective help is available to support you in living a fulfilling and anxiety-free life.