What is an Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health diagnosis in the United States. Many people do not handle uncertainty well. Not knowing how we will perform on an exam, public speaking, or other common situations can produce anxiety. An anxiety disorder, however, is different from simply experiencing anxiety. An anxiety disorder manifests itself in the experience of intense, overwhelming fear, distress, or panic attacks that interfere with our lives and routines, often causing great hardship.
Symptoms
Physical symptoms:
- Pounding or racing heart and shortness of breath
- Sweating, tremors, and twitches
- Headaches
- Fatigue and/or insomnia
- Upset stomach/nausea
- Frequent urination or diarrhea
- Panic attacks
- Heart palpitations
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
Emotional symptoms:
- Feeling fearful or uneasy
- Feelings of apprehension or dread
- Feeling tense or jumpy
- Restlessness or irritability
- Anticipating the worst and being overly cautious
Most Common Anxiety Disorders:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
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- GAD is characterized by persistent and excessive worry that is difficult or impossible for the individual to control. People with GAD may anticipate and worry about impending disaster. They may also worry more than is warranted about finances, health, family, and/or work. Sometimes, they worry for no discernable reason at all.
- Social Anxiety Disorder
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- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is characterized by an intense fear of being judged negatively or rejected in social and/or performance situations. People diagnosed with social anxiety disorder may be overly concerned about acting or appearing anxious and being viewed as stupid or awkward. As a result, they avoid many common social situations and experience significant anxiety or distress when they cannot avoid situations or places where socializing may occur.
- Specific Phobias
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- People who experience seemingly unreasonable fears while in the presence or in anticipation of a specific object, place, or situation have a specific phobia. Those with these specific phobias often work hard to avoid common places, situations, or objects related to their irrational fears even when they rationally know there is no real threat or danger.
- Panic Disorder
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- Panic attacks can occur unexpectedly and feel terrifying in the moment. People who experience spontaneous panic attacks and are deeply preoccupied with the fear of a recurring attack are often diagnosed with a panic disorder. A panic attack is typically characterized by a sudden increase in heart rate, excessive sweating, dry mouth, dizziness, and fainting.
Sanctuary Centers Treats Anxiety Disorders
Sanctuary Centers treats many anxiety disorders, including but not limited to generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks. Our experienced clinicians incorporate Exposure Response Prevention techniques into our therapies. We also utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral interventions, and other group therapies all designed to help reduce or eliminate symptoms and increase our clients’ quality of life.