What is anxiety?
Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. Many people worry about things such as health, money, or family problems. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For people with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships.
There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobia-related disorders.
What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety?
Generalized anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) usually involves a persistent feeling of anxiety or dread, which can interfere with daily life. It is not the same as occasionally worrying about things or experiencing anxiety due to stressful life events. People living with GAD experience frequent anxiety for months, if not years.
Symptoms of GAD include:
- Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
- Being easily fatigued
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Being irritable
- Having headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or unexplained pains
- Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
- Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep
At Pathways Therapy Center we design our therapeutic approach based on the interventions that are best suited to our clients needs. Some of the types of therapy we regularly use in treating anxiety are:
Individual therapy
Family therapy
Schema Theory
Present moment grounding skills
CBT - cognitive behavioral therapy
Sand tray therapy
Trauma therapy
DBT - dialectical behavioral therapy
Mindfulness
Sensory based coping skills
Vagus nerve stimulation techniques
Experiential therapy (art, music, play therapy, etc.)