Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder.
There are many different types of anxiety disorders. Some of the most common ones are:
• Agoraphobia: extreme anticipatory fear that restricts one from leaving a "safe-zone."
• Panic Disorder: seemingly spontaneous anxiety attacks at a disruptive frequency
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder: jittery nerves all the time
• Specific Phobia: debilitating fear of a specific object or situation
• Social Anxiety: fear of being around other humans
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: ritualized behaviours or obsessions driven by anxious thought
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: anxiety tied to a past traumatic experience
Tell us about the type of anxiety you are experiencing and what you have found helpful to cope with it.
Ashley, Health Educator
