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Kinds of Anxiety Disorders

Nancy MacGregor MA, ATR-BC, LPC, ACS, Clinical Director

While everyone experiences worry and can be anxious at times, anxiety disorders differ from this experience. Instead, they are such intense and excessive states of nervousness or fear that an individual is unable to function appropriately. Alongside depression, anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health disorders affecting millions of people every year. But the good news is all anxiety disorders can be effectively treated. At Harmony Bay Wellness, we specialize in mental health therapy. Our programs, therapies give individuals the support they need to heal and return to their lives anxiety-free and mentally healthy.

ANXIETY DISORDERS EXPLAINED

Often, when someone suffers from anxiety disorders, they avoid what they see as triggering situations. Unfortunately, those triggers may not be accurate because the individual may not understand just what kind of anxiety disorder they have. Thus, it’s vital to get proper professional help when dealing with anxiety. Otherwise, an individual’s job, school, and relationships can suffer. Some common symptoms include:

  • Feeling nervous, irritable or on edge
  • An irrational fear of impending doom or danger
  • Increased heart rate
  • Rapid breathing, sweating, and tremors
  • Fatigue and muscle staring
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Sleep issues like insomnia

When someone experiences one or more of these symptoms routinely, then they may very well be suffering from anxiety disorders. However, it’s important to distinguish an actual anxiety disorder from a stressful situation that may be causing temporary anxiety.

COMMON TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS

For individuals to get the right therapy, it’s vital to understand the various types of anxiety disorders. Some of these include:

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Professionals characterized this condition as suffering from chronic anxiety or exaggerated worry and tension. What makes this a mental health concern is the anxiety is ever-present with little to nothing provoking it.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): When recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) combine, this anxiety disorder occurs. Individuals believe their repetitive behaviors or rituals provide them with relief, and that not doing them will somehow harm them. For example, some behaviors include hand washing, counting, checking, or needless cleaning.
  • Panic disorder: When an individual experiences intense and unexpected episodes of near-crippling fear, they are suffering from panic disorder
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Familiar to many, this anxiety disorder arises from exposure to a traumatic event. The trauma can be directly experienced or indirectly experienced. But when an individual suffers from PTSD triggers unknown to them, bring back the anxiety as though they are experiencing it for the first time.
  • Social Anxiety Disorder: Sometimes called a phobia, this anxiety disorder leaves individuals overly self-conscious in nearly every social situation. Thus, individuals limit themselves out of fear of being wrong, mocked, creating confrontation, etc. Also, it can manifest as a fear of public speaking, eating or drinking in front of people, or intense fear of crowds or shared spaces.

Some signs of the above anxiety disorders may sound familiar, but just because you’re experiencing a few may not be indicative of whether or not you have a legitimate anxiety disorder. To get a clear answer, your best bet is to speak with a therapist that specializes in anxiety disorders.

HEALING WITH HARMONY BAY WELLNESS

Stress and worry may not be inescapable, but they can be appropriately dealt with by most people. However, when pressures from work, family obligations, finances, school, or social concerns increase beyond what you can handle, a mental health disorder may arise. When this happens, individuals can turn to Harmony Bay Wellness for the support they need.

Feeling anxious all the time isn’t natural, nor is it healthy. Our compassionate and experienced staff can provide individual, couples, family, and group therapy to treat anxiety disorders. So if you’re wondering if there is a therapist or psychiatrist specializing in anxiety in Washingon Township, NJ, or the greater South Jersey area, there is! Contact us today at [Direct] to get your mental health and life back under control.

Treatment with Harmony Bay

Harmony Bay is an outpatient behavioral health service that offers primary mental health treatment for a variety of mental health disorders. Our mission is to make mental health care convenient and affordable while providing an unmatched experience to our clients. contact us today by calling 855.765.6399.