Getting anxious is an emotion most people experience from time to time when faced with dangerous stimuli. Situations that may elicit this reaction include sitting examinations, attending job interviews, going for a first date and so on. In some people, this response is too extreme and may be present even for what would be regarded as harmless situations. This type of response is abnormal and requires therapy. There are several important aspects of anxiety therapy Toronto residents need to understand.
The diagnosis is made mainly on clinical grounds. Typically, the doctor takes a history to establish whether or not there are suggestive symptoms. If anxiety disorder is suspected the client is referred to a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Persons with the disorder will typically present with excessively protective responses when faced with worrisome situations. Put in other words, they will respond abnormally to normal situations as opposed to ordinary people who respond normally to abnormal situations.
There are several subtypes that exist. These include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia and specific phobias. There are some differences in the manner of presentation and treatment for each subtype. We will explore a few of them. In generalized anxiety disorder or GAD, the affected individual is anxious to a wide range of activities or events. However, they cannot identify these events or activities.
GAD usually coexists with other types of anxiety and some mental illnesses such as depression. Patients may have complaints such as sleep disturbance, chronic pain and generalized fatigue. These symptoms are usually intermittent and tend to recur even after treatment has been achieved. Over time the patients may become alcoholics and start to exhibit suicidal tendencies. Treatments that are commonly used include systemic desensitization, relaxation therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy and hypnosis among others.
Persons that have persistent intense fear that is associated with a compelling need to flee so as to avoid the phobic object or event should be evaluated for social phobias. Such people are extremely fearful of being publicly embarrassed by engaging in impulsive acts. As is the case with GAD, this fear interferes with normal routine and affects social activities and relationships. This phobia is the commonest of all phobias that exist and has a lifetime prevalence of about 8%.
A specific phobia is experienced due to a specific situation or object. These include insects, blood, dental procedures and heights among others. Many persons with simple phobias lead normal lives. All the need to do is to avoid the phobic situation or object. The age of onset varies but most animal phobias present in early childhood. The treatments used here include cognitive behavioral therapy and the use of benzodiazepines.
As much as the diagnosis relies heavily on the clinical judgment of your doctor, you may be required to undergo some tests. These tests are important as they help rule out any organic causes that may cause similar symptoms. CT scan and MRI images are often needed to exclude a lesion in the brain.
When seeking the treatment for anxiety disorder, you need to understand there are several subtypes that exist all with varying treatments. Proper classification is the first step to finding the most effective form of management to be employed. The therapy will typically be administered by mental health experts such as psychiatrist and psychologists.
The diagnosis is made mainly on clinical grounds. Typically, the doctor takes a history to establish whether or not there are suggestive symptoms. If anxiety disorder is suspected the client is referred to a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Persons with the disorder will typically present with excessively protective responses when faced with worrisome situations. Put in other words, they will respond abnormally to normal situations as opposed to ordinary people who respond normally to abnormal situations.
There are several subtypes that exist. These include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia and specific phobias. There are some differences in the manner of presentation and treatment for each subtype. We will explore a few of them. In generalized anxiety disorder or GAD, the affected individual is anxious to a wide range of activities or events. However, they cannot identify these events or activities.
GAD usually coexists with other types of anxiety and some mental illnesses such as depression. Patients may have complaints such as sleep disturbance, chronic pain and generalized fatigue. These symptoms are usually intermittent and tend to recur even after treatment has been achieved. Over time the patients may become alcoholics and start to exhibit suicidal tendencies. Treatments that are commonly used include systemic desensitization, relaxation therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy and hypnosis among others.
Persons that have persistent intense fear that is associated with a compelling need to flee so as to avoid the phobic object or event should be evaluated for social phobias. Such people are extremely fearful of being publicly embarrassed by engaging in impulsive acts. As is the case with GAD, this fear interferes with normal routine and affects social activities and relationships. This phobia is the commonest of all phobias that exist and has a lifetime prevalence of about 8%.
A specific phobia is experienced due to a specific situation or object. These include insects, blood, dental procedures and heights among others. Many persons with simple phobias lead normal lives. All the need to do is to avoid the phobic situation or object. The age of onset varies but most animal phobias present in early childhood. The treatments used here include cognitive behavioral therapy and the use of benzodiazepines.
As much as the diagnosis relies heavily on the clinical judgment of your doctor, you may be required to undergo some tests. These tests are important as they help rule out any organic causes that may cause similar symptoms. CT scan and MRI images are often needed to exclude a lesion in the brain.
When seeking the treatment for anxiety disorder, you need to understand there are several subtypes that exist all with varying treatments. Proper classification is the first step to finding the most effective form of management to be employed. The therapy will typically be administered by mental health experts such as psychiatrist and psychologists.
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