Anxiety occurs when we run into stressful situations. We experience it everyday, since living in the modern world is quite stressful. We need to make the deadline in work, to think about how to fit in, or to face the challenges from others. We normally automatically adjust our anxious condition back to a more relaxed status very quickly. When we are able to get out of the stressful situation, anxiety basically begins to reduce. Nonetheless, the anxiety can become easily triggered in our daily lives and make life very difficult for us. In this case, we can hardly be our relaxed self and perform as who we really are. It might be caused by traumatic incident, or has gradually formed in our nerves system as a habitual reaction.
– Stressful environment
– Phobia
– Traumatic Event/ Past Trauma
– Feeling limited/suppressed
– Feeling abnormal
– Insecurity
Emotional level
– Stressed
– Self-doubt
– Apprehensive
– Worry
– Paranoid/Self-Conscious
– Suspicious
– Self-critical
– Panic
Physical level
– Tight/contracted neck, shoulders, chest, and/or lower back
– Chest pain / stomach aches / headache
– Rapid heart beat
– Breathing problems
– Shivering / Twitching
– Sweating
– Nausea
– Sensitive
Cognitive level
– Addictive personality
– Overly sensitive
– Limited choices
Unconscious level
– Nightmares
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is characterized by long lasting, chronic anxiety. This is often exhibited as exaggerated worry or tension, even when there is little or nothing that appears to be causing it. It can be rather low level, but wears you down day after day. Both CBT and Mindfulness are very useful with this type of problem.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is another type of Anxiety disorder. It is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts ( called obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (called compulsions). This might involve repetitive behaviors such as hand-washing, counting, checking if a light is off, or repetitive cleaning performed with the hope of preventing the obsessive thoughts or making them go away. This behaviour, sometimes in response to the worry about anxiety is sometimes referred to as “secondary anxiety.” Worry about worry. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy have been found to be highly effective.
Panic Disorder (Panic Attacks)
Panic Disorder (Panic Attacks) is at the other end of the spectrum and involves unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear that are accompanied by physical symptoms. This is a common problem for individuals after a traumatic event, but can also develop on it’s own over time. It may or may not develop into PTSD, and again, can develop without the precipitating event we expect in PTSD. The symptoms might include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress or pain. Some people fear they are dying or having a heart attack during episodes of panic, which can add to their distress. It is often seen as a fear of losing control. Exposure therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are effective, and Mindfulness training can help avoid relapse in the future.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can develop after exposure to an event or ordeal in which physical harm occurred to either the sufferer or someone they witnessed experiencing this, or sometimes when such harm or injury was threatened. This might include a violent assault, experiencing a natural disaster, an accident, or often occurs after military combat. A diagnosis of PTSD involves specific symptoms and periods of time experiencing these symptoms. Treatment is often needed to avoid serious disruption to daily life. PTSD is treatable with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Social Phobia (or social anxiety disorder)
Social Phobias are characterized by a sense of overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in while involved in common social situations and activity. We have new and effective means of teaching children as young as 5 the techniques of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and often suggest texts and stories such as “When My Troubles Get Too Big,” and “The Incredible Five Point Scale.”