Mental Health
Anxiety
Are worries, fears, or panic attacks interfering with your daily life? Learn about different types of anxiety disorders, their symptoms, and what you can do to regain control and find peace of mind.
Understand Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety
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Social Anxiety
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Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder
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Recommend Help in the Field
Dr Kerryn Armstrong
Dr. Kerryn Armstrong offers talking therapy, specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Applied Relaxation Therapy, which are recommended for anxiety and panic.
Dr Marcelle Stastny
Her experience includes psychiatry in pediatrics, geriatrics, forensics, psychosis, and mood disorders. She has received additional training in family therapy, interpersonal therapy, EMDR, and CBT.
Free 2 Be You
Her qualifications in EFT and PSYCH-K® have enabled her, and many of her clients, to shift old emotions, create new positive thoughts, change core beliefs, build self-esteem, or cultivate balance among the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic aspects of themselves that contribute to ADD and ADHD symptoms.
Anxiety FAQ's
What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety can manifest in various ways, including: racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, tension, trembling, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and body aches. The specific symptoms can vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder: panic disorder, characterized by frequent panic attacks, or phobias, involving an irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity.
What is Agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is a fear of being in open spaces or crowded situations where escape or help might be difficult. Often stemming from panic attacks and panic disorder, it can involve a fear of having a panic attack in public or embarrassing situations like social gatherings or travel. This anxiety disorder can significantly impair daily life, leading to avoidance behaviors like refusing job opportunities that involve commuting or declining social invitations due to the fear of a panic attack.
What medications work for anxiety?
Various types of medications work for anxiety, including:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac and Zoloft. These are antidepressants that may also be used to treat anxiety.
- Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Valium, are fast-acting tranquilizers prescribed to treat anxiety.
- Beta-blockers, such as propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Tenormin), can help reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety.
- Bupropion, also known as Wellbutrin, Forfivo, or Zyban, is an antidepressant that can also treat anxiety and panic disorders.
- Buspirone, or BuSpar, is a mild tranquilizer that is primarily used to manage Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
- Hydroxyzine, an antihistamine that offers allergy relief, may also be used to reduce nervousness and tension.
What's the difference between a panic attack and anxiety attack?
A panic attack is a sudden, intense surge of fear that can strike without warning. It usually peaks within 10-20 minutes before subsiding. Symptoms often include physical signs of anxiety like chest pain, rapid heartbeat, trembling, and dizziness. Additionally, panic attacks can involve feelings of detachment from reality or a sense of impending doom. The discomfort of a panic attack can be so severe that even recalling a previous one might trigger another. Recurrent panic attacks are a hallmark of panic disorder.
While anxiety attack isn’t officially recognized in the DSM-5, it’s sometimes used to describe a panic attack or a less severe episode of sudden anxiousness.
Can I use CBD for anxiety?
CBD, a component of cannabis, has shown promise in studies for treating certain types of anxiety, particularly social anxiety. It’s often associated with fewer adverse side effects compared to traditional medications. However, more research is necessary to fully understand its safety and effectiveness. Due to knowledge gaps, CBD isn’t universally recommended by experts. As of 2022, the FDA has only approved one CBD product, a drug for seizures.