Anxiety is a normal human emotion and refers to distress, fear, worry or panic about a future negative outcome, such as a danger or threat. Anxiety symptoms can include feelings of uneasiness, distress, apprehension or dread. Sometimes we experience physical symptoms of our anxiety, such as headaches, stomach upset, tight muscles or sweating.
In certain situations, a low to moderate degree of anxiety can improve our performance, such as when we realize we need to study for an upcoming test, or ensure our survival like when we sense an approaching car as we are about to cross the road.
Anxiety Disorders are typically diagnosed when anxiety is at such high levels that it is difficult to concentrate and perform, when it is experienced for a prolonged period of time, or when the symptoms of anxiety are getting in the way of a person’s ability to do the things that they need to in order to live their life in a fulfilling way.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves excessively worrying and feeling anxious or tense over a number of events and activities that are difficult to control (e.g. work, finances, relationships, health). The anxiety must persist for at least 6 months.
GAD is more than worry. Most people worry about things from time to time. But, people with GAD find that it affects their everyday life. They may try to control their worry by doing things like visiting doctors frequently, asking for reassurance, over-preparing for any potential event, reminding others continuously about things, avoiding doing new things, or taking on new challenges or opportunities, because of their fear.
GAD is treatable! The best treatments involve learning about your symptoms, learning how to control those symptoms, and slowly (and gradually) practicing going into situations you fear (to teach yourself, slowly and gradually, that you can manage those situations). You can talk to your Family Doctor about getting a referral to a Clinical Psychologist or another mental health professional to learn to manage your worry. Or, you can also learn more about the Online Therapy Unit Wellbeing Course HERE.
Individuals with Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) experience considerable anxiety and fear when in social or performance situations. This extreme anxiety often arises with exposure to unfamiliar people or situations and results in the fear of being scrutinized and judged by others. Individuals with SAD commonly avoid social interactions.
Most people experience some degree of shyness from time to time. But, people with SAD find that it affects their everyday life. So, they may avoid doing things, meeting people, or taking on new challenges or opportunities, because of their fear.
Social phobia is treatable! The best treatments involve learning about your symptoms, learning how to manage those symptoms, and slowly (and gradually) practicing going into situations you fear (to teach yourself, slowly and gradually, that you can manage those situations). You can talk to your Family Doctor about getting a referral to a Clinical Psychologist or another mental health professional to learn to manage your social phobia. You can also learn more about the Online Therapy Unit Wellbeing Course HERE.
Panic Disorder (PD) involves the experience of fearing recurrent and unexpected panic attacks in situations that are of little danger. During a panic attack people experience sudden and strong physical symptoms including a racing heart, hyperventilation, shaking, upset stomach, and thoughts of losing control, going crazy, having a heart attack or dying.
Panic is treatable! The best treatments involve learning about your symptoms, learning how to control those symptoms (using cognitive and behavioural techniques or CBT), and gradually resuming your usual activities. Learning to beat your panic takes courage, commitment, and lots of practice!
You can talk to your Family Doctor about getting a referral to a Clinical Psychologist or another mental health professional to learn to manage your panic. Or, you may be able to try our Online Wellbeing program HERE.
A person with a specific phobia (SP) experiences intense anxiety when they are exposed to a particular feared situation or object, which either leads them to avoid the situation/object or face it with intense distress.
Specific Phobia is treatable! The best treatments involve learning about your symptoms, learning how to control those symptoms (using cognitive and behavioural techniques or CBT), and gradually and safely increasing your exposure to the feared situation or item. Learning to beat your phobia takes courage, commitment, and lots of practice!
You can talk to your Family Doctor about getting a referral to a Clinical Psychologist or another mental health professional to learn to manage your specific phobia. Or, you may be able to try our Online Wellbeing program HERE.