<font size="2">By Kelly Huffman, MS, LPC, CEAP<br />
Solutions EAP Counselor at Middlesex Hospital<br />
<br />
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)<br />
Have you ever heard someone described as a "worry wart?" People with<br />
GAD worry excessively about numerous life areas such as work, health,<br />
money, family, school, etc. Their anxiety occurs nearly every day for a<br />
period of at least six months. Even though they may recognize that<br />
their worry is more intense than the situation seems to warrant, they<br />
have trouble controlling it. They have trouble relaxing, startle<br />
easily, and may have difficulty concentrating. Often their sleep is<br />
disturbed and they may have physical symptoms such as muscle tension,<br />
headaches, nausea, and fatigue. <br />
<br />
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)<br />
People with OCD struggle with persistent intrusive thoughts (obsessions)<br />
that they recognize are inappropriate but which create marked anxiety or<br />
distress. They attempt to ignore or suppress these obsessions or may<br />
use rituals (compulsions) to try to control the anxiety that these<br />
thoughts produce. For example, a person who is obsessed with germs may<br />
wash their hands constantly, or someone obsessed with keeping things in<br />
perfect order may repeatedly check things, touch things in a particular<br />
sequence or count things. Some even have frequent thoughts of violent<br />
behavior or harming loved ones. Hoarding unneeded items is also a form<br />
of OCD. <br />
<br />
Panic Disorder<br />
Someone who suffers from Panic Disorder experiences intense fear or<br />
discomfort that seems to hit them out of nowhere. They may feel as if<br />
they are having a heart attack and end up in the Emergency Room of their<br />
local hospital. Physical signs include heart racing/pounding, sweating,<br />
trembling, shortness of breath, choking sensation, chest pain, nausea,<br />
dizziness, fear of going "crazy," losing control or dying. Once someone<br />
has experienced one or more panic attacks, they may begin to avoid the<br />
places or situations where panic attacks have occurred. Without<br />
treatment, panic disorder can progress to agoraphobia, which is<br />
characterized by the fear of having a panic attack in a place where<br />
escape might be difficult or embarrassing. Agoraphobia can become so<br />
severe that the person may be unable to leave their home.<br />
<br />
A specific phobia is an intense irrational fear of something that<br />
actually poses little or no threat. Some of the more common phobias are<br />
fear of heights, flying, closed-in places, animals, highway driving,<br />
bridges, tunnels, or seeing blood. The phobic situation is either<br />
avoided or endured with intense anxiety and distress. <br />
<br />
Social Phobia<br />
Individuals with social phobia become overwhelmingly anxious and<br />
self-conscious in social situations. They fear being watched and judged<br />
by others and worry that they will do something embarrassing or<br />
humiliating. When in the social situation, the person may experience<br />
physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling, nausea and<br />
difficulty talking. The anxiety may begin days or weeks before the<br />
dreaded event and interferes with their normal activities. Social<br />
phobia can be limited to one situation (i.e. speaking in front of<br />
others) or may be broad such that the person has trouble in almost all<br />
situations involving interacting with other people.<br />
<br />
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)<br />
This disorder can develop after exposure to a traumatic event such as<br />
violence, physical or sexual abuse, war, natural disasters or any<br />
incident involving serious threat of physical harm to oneself or one's<br />
loved ones. People with PTSD may repeatedly relive the trauma through<br />
flashbacks and nightmares. They also attempt to avoid reminders of the<br />
trauma and may feel detached from others. Other symptoms include<br />
startling easily, feeling emotionally numb, and having trouble sleeping<br />
and concentrating. Some have angry outbursts or feel hopeless about the<br />
future. While many individuals exposed to a trauma may experience some<br />
of these same symptoms, the symptoms must last more than one month to be<br />
considered PTSD. <br />
<br />
Separation Anxiety<br />
Children with Separation Anxiety experience severe, persistent anxiety<br />
about being separated from home or their parents. The anxiety must be<br />
severe enough to interfere with normal activities. The child generally<br />
shows distress when separated from parents, and worries that the parents<br />
may suffer harm when away from the child. When separated, the child may<br />
have nightmares and sleep problems. Physical symptoms such as nausea,<br />
headaches and abdominal pain may occur before or during times of<br />
separation. Children with this condition are often refuse or are very<br />
reluctant to go to school or elsewhere without their parents. They may<br />
also have trouble going to sleep alone or have nightmares about being<br />
separated from their parents. <br />
<br />
Next week: Learn more about the treatment available for anxiety<br />
disorders.<br />
<br />
Call Solutions EAP at 1-800-526-3485 for assistance for all of life's<br />
challenges.<br />
It's free, confidential and open to your family members.<br />
Check us out on-line at <a target="_BLANK" href="http://www.solutions-eap.com/">http://www.solutions-eap.com</a><br />
<br />
George "Bud" Wassell, M.S., LPC, CEAP<br />
Director, Solutions EAP<br />
213 Court Street<br />
Middletown, CT 06457<br />
800-526-3485<br />
fax: 860-704-6221<br />
<a target="_BLANK" href="http://www.solutions-eap.com/">http://www.solutions-eap.com</a></font><br />
