There is no doubt that all of us have had to struggle with anxiety at least once in our lives. Experiencing butterflies during a job interview, the first date or in the exam room is a normal response. Psychologists say that all these are examples of dangers to which we have to mount an appropriate response. In some people, however, the emotion is experienced even for what are generally regarded as harmless situations. This is pathological and requires therapy. There are some important things relating to anxiety therapy Toronto residents need to know.
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 a number of different subtypes of the disorder recognized. They include obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, panic disorders, posttraumatic stress disorders, PTSD, specific phobias, social phobia and agoraphobia. There are minor differences in the symptomatic patterns as well as the therapies that are used. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one in which the client is anxious about a wide range of activities or events. They cannot identify the exact events.
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%.
Specific phobias are related to well-known objects or situations. These include dental procedures, blood, injections, heights, insects and animals. It is possible to lead a near normal life with a simple phobia as long as the provocative situations are avoided. The disorder has its onset in early childhood. There are several therapies that are available including cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT and pharmacotherapy.
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.
Several types of anxiety disorder have been discovered and these vary both in symptoms and the treatments used. Understanding his fact is an important step in working out an effective therapy. One the proper classification has been achieved, the client is referred to mental health expert such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.
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 a number of different subtypes of the disorder recognized. They include obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, panic disorders, posttraumatic stress disorders, PTSD, specific phobias, social phobia and agoraphobia. There are minor differences in the symptomatic patterns as well as the therapies that are used. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one in which the client is anxious about a wide range of activities or events. They cannot identify the exact events.
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%.
Specific phobias are related to well-known objects or situations. These include dental procedures, blood, injections, heights, insects and animals. It is possible to lead a near normal life with a simple phobia as long as the provocative situations are avoided. The disorder has its onset in early childhood. There are several therapies that are available including cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT and pharmacotherapy.
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.
Several types of anxiety disorder have been discovered and these vary both in symptoms and the treatments used. Understanding his fact is an important step in working out an effective therapy. One the proper classification has been achieved, the client is referred to mental health expert such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.
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