Anxiety Disorders
Although most everybody experiences anxiety at one point or another, which we often label as stress, anxiety disorders are distinguished from "normal" anxiety by the severity of the emotional disturbance and the degree to which the anxiety disrupts a person's functioning. Anxiety disorders are characterized by the presence of distressing, persistent physiological symptoms (frequently: accelerated heart beat, sweaty palms, muscle tension, etc.) that may lead to or be triggered by psychosocial symptoms (obtrusive, unwanted thoughts and worries related to specific objects or situations, or unspecific free floating fears) that may result in maladaptive behaviors. Reportedly, about 25 percent of people in the US will experience some form of this disorders in their lifetime. They can occur throughout the life span and may often be accompanied by other disorders, including depression, eating disorders, substance abuse and addictions.
Panic Disorder is an anxiety disorder that is most distinguishable for its intense nature. In panic disorder, there is a reoccurrence of intense anxiety episodes, also known as panic attacks. These episodes appear to come “out of the blue”, for no apparent reason, and take the person by surprise. People who experience these attacks report a combination of physical and psychological symptoms: feelings of dizziness, heart palpitations, profuse sweating, tremors, and a fear of fainting, combined with fear of dying, fear of suffocating, fear of "going crazy," and fear of losing control and doing something drastic, such as killing herself or others. Often times, Panic Disorder is accompanied by a refusal to go out in the open for fear of suffering a panic attack and feeling humiliated or unsafe. This coexisting disorder is known as Agoraphobia.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by a constant state of low level unattached anxiety. This type of anxiety disorder is different from phobic disorder in that the anxiety experienced has usually no clear object or situation that causes it. Instead, it is "free floating." GAD also differs from panic disorder in that the anxiety is rather constant, as opposed to panic disorders where the anxiety tends to occur in separate and relatively brief episodes.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by repetitive, unwanted, and distressing obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are repetitive thoughts or ideas that cause distress or interfere significantly with functioning. Compulsions are repetitive actions (rituals) or behaviors that cause distress or interfere significantly functioning and are often used as means to relieve the obsessions. Most people engage in compulsory rituals that involve cleaning or checking. Some people with OCD engage in hand-washing rituals, cleaning their hands hundreds of times a day, while others feel compelled to repeatedly check the locks on their doors before they leave the house.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) typically occurs in individuals who have experienced first or second hand life-threatening or other traumatic events. Following this trauma, people may suffer intense emotional distress, re-experiencing the event (say, through nightmares or flashbacks) over and over. When the symptoms persist long after the original trauma and they significantly interfere with the person’s everyday functioning, he/she may be need treatment to help relieve the PTSD symptoms. PTSD may result not only from exposure to warfare and natural disasters, but also as a result of more common types of trauma, such as rape, child abuse, family illness, and witnessing violence. At the Family Counseling and Coaching of Miami, we use a relatively innovative technique known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to help individuals free themselves from the intensity of the negative emotions associated with the trauma and the negative or limiting cognitions (thoughts about self, the world and the future), they may have attached to these experiences.
Phobias, such as fear of flying and fear of public speaking, are one of the most prevalent and most treatable anxiety disorders. These are intense, persistent, and irrational fears that my limit a person’s everyday activities. At our center we treat most phobias using such behavioral interventions as systematic desensitization and EMDR to enable people who may find their daily functioning limited by their fear of flying, or insects or their uneasiness about enclosed spaces or social situations. Helping them get back to living healthy and productive lives is a the main goal of therapy.
Most recent research studies propose that besides the suffering caused by acute anxiety, the chronic stress associated with anxiety disorders may damage the brain, more specifically, the hippocampus which is a brain structure involved in the acquisition and consolidation of new memories. This highlights the importance of promptly seeking help for the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.
Panic Disorder is an anxiety disorder that is most distinguishable for its intense nature. In panic disorder, there is a reoccurrence of intense anxiety episodes, also known as panic attacks. These episodes appear to come “out of the blue”, for no apparent reason, and take the person by surprise. People who experience these attacks report a combination of physical and psychological symptoms: feelings of dizziness, heart palpitations, profuse sweating, tremors, and a fear of fainting, combined with fear of dying, fear of suffocating, fear of "going crazy," and fear of losing control and doing something drastic, such as killing herself or others. Often times, Panic Disorder is accompanied by a refusal to go out in the open for fear of suffering a panic attack and feeling humiliated or unsafe. This coexisting disorder is known as Agoraphobia.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by a constant state of low level unattached anxiety. This type of anxiety disorder is different from phobic disorder in that the anxiety experienced has usually no clear object or situation that causes it. Instead, it is "free floating." GAD also differs from panic disorder in that the anxiety is rather constant, as opposed to panic disorders where the anxiety tends to occur in separate and relatively brief episodes.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by repetitive, unwanted, and distressing obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are repetitive thoughts or ideas that cause distress or interfere significantly with functioning. Compulsions are repetitive actions (rituals) or behaviors that cause distress or interfere significantly functioning and are often used as means to relieve the obsessions. Most people engage in compulsory rituals that involve cleaning or checking. Some people with OCD engage in hand-washing rituals, cleaning their hands hundreds of times a day, while others feel compelled to repeatedly check the locks on their doors before they leave the house.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) typically occurs in individuals who have experienced first or second hand life-threatening or other traumatic events. Following this trauma, people may suffer intense emotional distress, re-experiencing the event (say, through nightmares or flashbacks) over and over. When the symptoms persist long after the original trauma and they significantly interfere with the person’s everyday functioning, he/she may be need treatment to help relieve the PTSD symptoms. PTSD may result not only from exposure to warfare and natural disasters, but also as a result of more common types of trauma, such as rape, child abuse, family illness, and witnessing violence. At the Family Counseling and Coaching of Miami, we use a relatively innovative technique known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to help individuals free themselves from the intensity of the negative emotions associated with the trauma and the negative or limiting cognitions (thoughts about self, the world and the future), they may have attached to these experiences.
Phobias, such as fear of flying and fear of public speaking, are one of the most prevalent and most treatable anxiety disorders. These are intense, persistent, and irrational fears that my limit a person’s everyday activities. At our center we treat most phobias using such behavioral interventions as systematic desensitization and EMDR to enable people who may find their daily functioning limited by their fear of flying, or insects or their uneasiness about enclosed spaces or social situations. Helping them get back to living healthy and productive lives is a the main goal of therapy.
Most recent research studies propose that besides the suffering caused by acute anxiety, the chronic stress associated with anxiety disorders may damage the brain, more specifically, the hippocampus which is a brain structure involved in the acquisition and consolidation of new memories. This highlights the importance of promptly seeking help for the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.