Do you find yourself running from morning to night in an effort to calm your worries?
Do you have difficulty sleeping because of the concerns from your day or worries about the future?
Is it difficult for you to relax, even when you are on a holiday?
Are you constantly stressed out?
Do you experience panic attacks?
Everyone has fears and nervousness, but when it takes over a person’s life or it interferes with doing the things you think you should be doing in life, a psychologist may help. There are different types of anxiety such as Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Specific Phobias, Panic and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. What is common in each type is that the anxiety interferes with your daily life.
A common type of anxiety is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). People can experience symptoms of persistent, excessive and unrealistic worry about everyday things, often expecting the worst, even when logically there is no apparent reason for concern. Some can be overly concerned about money, health, family, work or other issues. Sometimes getting through the day can produce anxiety. Not knowing how to stop the worry cycle may feel beyond one’s control, even though they know their anxiety is more intense then the situation warrants. GAD comes on gradually and can begin across the life cycle, though the risk is higher between childhood and middle age. The exact cause of GAD is unknown; there is evidence for biological factors, family background, and life experiences such as particularly stressful ones play a role. When anxiety levels are mild, people with GAD can manage their lives and be gainfully employed; however, unproductive strategies tend to develop as a way of coping. Some may find they have difficulty carrying out their daily activities when their anxiety is severe.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) may be an effective treatment for anxiety. It has been proven to sustain treatment gains long term through acquiring skills and utilizing them over a lifetime. CBT is a systematic approach that addresses distressing thoughts and behaviors, and works on reducing unproductive coping strategies such as avoidance. Anxiety treatment may also involve Exposure Therapy which involves facing one’s fears in a way that will allow you to move forward by taking small steps. Treatment may also involve psycho-education, relaxation, and mindfulness. Your psychologist will assess your anxiety and make recommendations for treatment based on your personal experience with anxiety.