Anxiety Disorders (Dr. Katleen Ayers) There are many types of anxiety disorders, from simple phobias (though it doesn’t seem so simple if you have one), to severe posttraumatic stress disorder (this is considered an anxiety disorder). More people experience anxiety disorders than depression. Almost a quarter of the adult population (based on statistics in the US) will experience an anxiety disorder sometime during their lives. Only a small number of these people will seek treatment. That is unfortunate, because anxiety disorders are treatable and many people will find relief with the use of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Phobias are usually treated in a few sessions, while a complex problem like PTSD or severe, generalized anxiety will take longer. Generally, treatment will not exceed 15-20 sessions.
Why do so many people experience anxiety? Stressors may accumulate over time, or someone may deal with a chronic stressor. Almost any situation can become a chronic stressor, such as marital strife, a sick family member, living in a high-crime area, and difficulties can all become chronic stressors. We face uncertainty about our futures and our lives. Our world is changing very rapidly and we must constantly struggle to adjust. All of these factors make it difficult to cope. Problems with coping lead to increased anxiety. While some people experience only anxiety, for some it builds and becomes an anxiety disorder. Again, treatment is available. As part of CBT, learning relaxation techniques helps us to cope with anxiety and stress. Learning to rephrase negative self-talk helps us deal with stress. Discussing different ways of coping helps us deal with the stress. Learning naturopathic and homeopathic treatments will help us deal with stress. Anxiety and stress involve physical sensations along with negative thoughts. People who experience panic attacks often worry that they are having a heart attack. Their worry over this only increases their feeling of panic, creating a vicious circle of escalating symptoms. Treatment can break this cycle. You don’t have to feel this way, and treatment can help you, as it has helped many others when their anxiety grows into an anxiety disorder.