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Areas of Practice - Anxiety
Whatever the type of anxiety you experience, it plays the same game - Anxiety seeking two main things- it has two main rules it demands: Certainty and Comfort.
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health conditions in Canada. 1 in 13 people globally suffers from an anxiety disorder, making it one of the most common mental health issues worldwide.
In 2022, 5.2% of Canadians aged 15 and older met the diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - doubling from 2.6% in 2012. While youth, more so, women than men aged 15 to 24 experienced a significant rise in anxiety disorders. The prevalence of GAD in this group tripled from 3.8% in 2012 to 11.9% in 2022.
The good news is that Anxiety disorders are highly treatable.
What kinds of Anxiety are there?
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by excessive fear, worry, or nervousness. Here are the most common types:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can be described as a persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life such as work, health, or daily responsibilities. People can often feel restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances. Often we hear clients say, “I worry all the time”.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is categorized as an Intense fear of social situations where one may be judged or embarrassed. Often people feel fear of public speaking, avoiding social events, and physical symptoms like sweating or trembling in social scenarios.
Panic Disorder is specific in that it is a recurring and unexpected panic attacks— with sudden episodes of intense fear. Often people describe heart palpitations, chest pain, shaking, dizziness, and feelings of losing control, characterized by thoughts of “I think I'm having a heart attack”, “I feel like i'm going crazy”, “Im going to die”. A Panic attack will ONLY last for a short period of time (5 to 20 minutes).
However an anxiety attack is not a panic attack. Panic attacks and anxiety attacks are both intense emotional and physical experiences often associated with anxiety disorders, but they differ in their causes, symptoms, and duration. Here's a breakdown of the key differences:
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Panic Attack:
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A sudden, intense episode of fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes.
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Often occurs without a specific trigger; it can seemingly come "out of the blue."
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May be part of panic disorder or occur with other conditions like phobias.
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Anxiety Attack:
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An episode of heightened anxiety often triggered by a specific stressor or situation (e.g., work pressure, relationship problems).
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Develops gradually in response to worry or fear about a perceived threat.
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Can last for hours, days, or longer, depending on the situation.
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Less intense physical symptoms than with panic:
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Muscle tension, fatigue, or restlessness.
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Increased heart rate (but not as severe as a panic attack).
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Trouble concentrating or irritability.
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Psychological symptoms:
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Persistent worry or dread about a future event.
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Feeling overwhelmed or out of control.
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Basically, Panic attacks are sudden, intense, and more physically overwhelming, often occurring without an apparent cause. While, Anxiety attacks are tied to specific stressors and build gradually, focusing on prolonged worry or dread.
Specific Phobias are irrational fears of specific objects or situations (fear of confined spaces, flying., darkness, driving vehicles, elevators); fear of animals (spiders, snakes, dogs, birds, etc); heights; natural environments (heights, water, thunder and lighting, bridges, ocean/deep water); Medical-Related Phobias (fear of needles or injections, blood, fear of dentists or dental procedures, fear of hospitals; and lastly, phobia related to fears of vomiting, death or dying, or even clowns.
People who experience intense phobias will often avoid people, places, things, or even try to avoid their own behaviors and physical reactions like nausea or rapid heartbeat to try and prevent anxiety.