Anxiety 

About Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotion many people are familiar with, and can range from general worry to severe symptoms that can interfere with someone's ability to function at school, in their jobs, or in social relationships. Some anxiety is necessary for us in order to function, however too much of it can be problematic and even debilitating. People sometimes talk about experiencing what they call a "nervous breakdown", or having an anxiety or panic attack, experiences that may be part of a diagnosable mental health condition. In fact, anxiety plays a role in specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder to name a few. Signs of an anxiety disorder could include real worrying or thinking that is excessive and intrusive, avoidance of people or situations, sudden feelings of terror sometimes including fear of leaving your home, fear of exposure or embarrassment in front of others, doing or thinking things over and over but not feeling like you can stop, uncomfortable bodily sensations including trembling and racing heart, and exposure to traumatic stress that leads to severe difficulties in everyday living, especially with regard to relationships.

An untreated anxiety disorder often leads to prolonged and unnecessary suffering, is very often associated with depressed mood, and can contribute to short-term but ultimately ineffective efforts at relief, including self medication through alcohol or drug abuse. Fortunately, anxiety disorders are treatable and can respond to problem solving techniques and education, stress management techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, medications, and other approaches we use at Fairmount.


For more information about anxiety disorders in children, teenagers, and adults, please visit these websites:

http://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety/index.aspx

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml/