People get anxious at times; they might be worried about a test or a major life event. However, for some people, feelings of anxiety hover over them all the time, and it can manifest in different ways. Here are three common anxiety disorders.
1. Social Anxiety Disorder
This is a very common anxiety disorder, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. When someone has social anxiety disorder, it goes beyond feeling a bit out of place in a crowd. It can make one feel almost suffocated. As a result, this can negatively impact their entire life. Individuals with this condition can seek professional help in the form of social anxiety therapy. Here, clients learn to reacclimate themselves slowly to social scenarios with small victories.
2. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder feel anxious almost all the time. They may not be able to pinpoint what it is that they’re worrying about, but the feeling is distinctly there. As a result, they can lose sleep and have trouble focusing. Professional therapy and medication management can help them manage their symptoms.
3. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is when a person manifests their anxiety by doing the same thing over and over again. Their uncontrollable thoughts, or obsessions, turn into repetitive behaviors, or compulsions. It might be checking a stove to make sure it’s off or turning a light switch on and off until the brain is satisfied that it was actually done. For individuals with OCD, such behaviors can center around cleanliness and safety, but they can have other focuses, too. Such rituals can interfere with a person’s everyday life.
When it comes to treating anxiety with methods like social anxiety therapy, each person is different. What works for one client might not be suitable for another. It can be a process of trial and error until the best fit is found. Even after that, it’s still a process of tiny adjustments, but with professional treatment, it is possible to learn how to manage one’s symptoms with strength and resilience.
Are you in need of therapy services for your anxiety? Our team of licensed therapists at Trauma Healing HW can help you. We specialize in social anxiety therapy, neurofeedback therapy, exposure therapy, and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). Please contact us for more information!