Common Types of Anxiety Disorders
Social Anxiety. Social anxiety is among the most common of anxiety disorders, and involves an excessive fear of being viewed negatively by others. People with social anxiety have overly negative beliefs about social interactions, and avoid social situations that create anxiety. Social anxiety is magnified when meeting new and unfamiliar people and when doing things- such as speaking, eating, or playing a sport- while others watch.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This is a disorder of excessive and unrealistic worry. Typically, people with GAD have worries in several areas of life, including school or work, relationships, health, finances, and other areas, such as catastrophic events. The worry takes up a lot of time and effort, and interferes with daily life. Depression may develop after living with GAD for a while, because so much effort has gone toward managing anxiety that life isn't enjoyable any more.
Separation Anxiety Disorder. This is commonly seen in young children, but can occur at older ages. Someone with separation anxiety has difficulty being away from an attachment figure, and may become very upset when alone. This may present as "homesickness" but is really about anxiety involved in being away from familiar people and places.
Panic Disorder. Individuals with panic disorder typically have experienced panic attacks, or periods of intense anxiety that feel overwhelming. Panic attacks involve extremely upsetting thoughts, emotions, and body symptoms, such as rapid breathing and heart rate, shaking, and a belief that one is in terrible danger or dying. After having some panic attacks, people with panic disorder come to fear having another panic attack, and may even avoid places where panic attacks could happen. They become very easily triggered into having more panic attacks, and often report having panic "out of nowhere" or even during sleep.
Specific Phobias. People with specific phobias have excessive and unrealistic fears, most commonly animals, needles or other medical procedures, weather, and situations such as being in a plane or crossing a bridge.
School Avoidance. Children and teens who develop anxiety about school may resist going to school. Usually, school avoidance is linked to some negative experience of school, such as being teased, social anxiety, or struggling academically. There may also be a history of panic attacks and a fear of having panic in school. Children who are anxious about school should be evaluated for possible learning or peer problems. An important component of treatment involves coordination between parents and the school regarding a plan for making sure the child 1) Gets treatment for the underlying cause of school avoidance, 2) Has a plan for returning to school as soon as possible, and 3) Receives needed support in the school setting.
Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
Most of the anxiety disorders have a common core of treatment, consisting of:
1. Education, or helping the client and family to understand the nature and treatment of anxiety. This often involves teaching family members how to respond to a loved one's anxiety in a productive way. Family members often unintentionally feed anxiety by too much reassurance or "fixing" the situation so the client feels less anxious.
2. Cognitive Strategies. Recognizing and changing unhelpful thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions.
3. Exposure. Gradually confronting, rather than avoiding, the situations that produce anxiety.
4. Self-care and self-soothing. This includes relaxation, healthy exercise, sleep, meditation, and deep breathing.
SPACE for Parents of Anxious Children and Teens
SPACE stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. This program is an evidence-based approach to helping anxious children and teens by working with their parents. Research studies show that SPACE is at least as effective as individual child therapy at reducing anxiety. It can be especially helpful in situations where a child is too young or otherwise not able or willing to participate in therapy. In this program, parents learn to support their anxious child in new ways that reduce anxiety significantly. We are pleased that Dr. Virginia Murphy has specialized training in SPACE and can offer this program for parents. For more information, please call our office and click here to read more about SPACE.
1. Education, or helping the client and family to understand the nature and treatment of anxiety. This often involves teaching family members how to respond to a loved one's anxiety in a productive way. Family members often unintentionally feed anxiety by too much reassurance or "fixing" the situation so the client feels less anxious.
2. Cognitive Strategies. Recognizing and changing unhelpful thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions.
3. Exposure. Gradually confronting, rather than avoiding, the situations that produce anxiety.
4. Self-care and self-soothing. This includes relaxation, healthy exercise, sleep, meditation, and deep breathing.
SPACE for Parents of Anxious Children and Teens
SPACE stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. This program is an evidence-based approach to helping anxious children and teens by working with their parents. Research studies show that SPACE is at least as effective as individual child therapy at reducing anxiety. It can be especially helpful in situations where a child is too young or otherwise not able or willing to participate in therapy. In this program, parents learn to support their anxious child in new ways that reduce anxiety significantly. We are pleased that Dr. Virginia Murphy has specialized training in SPACE and can offer this program for parents. For more information, please call our office and click here to read more about SPACE.