An anxiety disorder (also called worry, spinning thoughts, stress) 
is a common type of mental health condition that affects 40 million adults in the United States (19% of the adult population). These numbers are growing in the past two years as we adjust to living in a constant state of fear.
But what exactly is anxiety, what are the different types of anxiety disorders, and how is it treated? In this blog post, we will explain things you need to know about anxiety. We will also highlight how Janet Schryer Donahue, a nationally certified counselor, can help you to get to the root of the underlying trauma.
What Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety can be described as the body’s response to stress. For example, you may feel apprehensive ahead of a job interview or your first day at a new school—this is natural. In fact, this can be “good anxiety” as it spurs us to rise to the occasion and do our best. However, when these feelings of anxiety cause us to avoid, fear, or cripple us and are affecting your quality of life, it may that you have an anxiety disorder.
As the most common form of emotional disorder, anxiety disorders can affect people at any age. Research has found that women are more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder than men. Anxiety disorders also affect children, with 7% of 3 to 17-year-olds experiencing anxiety issues each year.
What Are the Different Types of Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety forms part of a number of different disorders, including:
- Social anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Phobias including fear of germs
- Separation anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder frequently increases daily anxiety
The most common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Spinning thoughts
- Restlessness
- Increased heart rate
- Trouble concentrating
- Rapid breathing
- Difficulty sleeping
A panic attack can be the worst form of anxiety. It can be described as an episode of intense fear or panic. It often occurs quickly without warning. Some of the main panic attack symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, chills, hot flashes, apprehension, dry mouth, fear, restlessness, and numbness.
What Treatment Options Are Available?
Available treatment options for anxiety disorders include psychological counseling (also known as talk therapy or counseling), medications (including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications that curb the symptoms but do not change the underlying issues), lifestyle changes, and alternative medicine.
Learning to talk about your anxiety disorder and looking at possible underlying trauma is a key help for people to overcome their anxiety and develop healthier, more adaptive approaches to daily living.
I offer a range of services to help people to overcome their anxiety, starting with a full assessment. Treatment may include talk therapy (counseling), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), brain spotting, brain mapping, ADHD/ADD assessment, neurofeedback, and Christian faith-based counseling when requested.
The good news is that anxiety disorders can be successfully treated with one or a combination of the above treatments. The future can look very different for you.
Successfully Overcome Your Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety can affect a person’s quality of life and prevent them from doing the things that they enjoy. Anxiety can even affect a person’s ability to leave their home or interact with other people. It reduces enjoyment of life.
As a nationally certified counselor, Janet Schryer Donahue is here to help you overcome your anxiety. If you are interested in learning more about our range of services for anxiety treatment, schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
