The Battle Against Anxiety
There is no disputing the fact that fears and worries are normal parts of life, but for people with anxiety disorders, those fears and worries aren't temporary. Their anxiety persists, and can even get worse over time.
What is Anxiety
There are several major types of anxiety disorders:
- Generalized anxiety disorder: persistent worry or anxious feelings. (symptoms include restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems and generally feeling on edge.)
- Panic disorder: recurrent panic attacks that can include symptoms like sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, and feelings of dread.
- Phobias: intense fears about certain objects or situations that are distressing or intrusive.
- Social anxiety disorder: being fearful of social situations in where you might feel embarrassed or judged. (common symptoms include being nervous in social settings, feeling self-conscious in front of others, having a hard time making friends, and avoiding social situations.)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder: persistent, uncontrollable feelings and thoughts or persistent, uncontrollable routines or rituals. (examples... compulsive hand washing in response to a fear of germs, or repeatedly checking for errors.)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): occurs after a severe physical or emotional trauma. (symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, or frightening thoughts that interfere with everyday life for months or years after the causing experience.)
What is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack is considered a sudden surge of overwhelming fear that can come without warning or reason. It is more intense than the usually anxiety or feeling of being 'stressed out' that most people experience. 1 out of 75 people will experience a panic attack at some point in their lifetime.
Many common symptoms of a panic attack include...
- a raging heartbeat
- difficulty breathing
- paralyzing terror or fear
- dizziness, feeling light headed or nausea
- trembling, sweating or shaking
- chest pains, choking
- hot flashes, or sudden chills
- tingling in fingers or toes ('pins and needles')
Anxiety Treatment
Here at Hamilton Health Associates our Psychologists are here to help you! Our Psychologists are highly trained mental health professionals with experience in helping many patients recover from Anxiety. Our Psychologists will tailor a treatment plan to address the unique needs of each patient.
Using Psychotherapy our Psychologists can help people with anxiety to:
- Identify and manage the factors that contribute to their anxiety.
- Learn to understand how their thoughts contribute to their anxiety symptoms.
- Learn techniques to reduce undesired behaviors associated with anxiety disorders.
- Develop skills to cope with symptoms and problems and identify or prevent future episodes of anxiety.