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