Anxiety disorders are common and can severely impair functioning. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is highly effective for treating anxiety by helping patients change anxious thought patterns and learn coping techniques. Through CBT, psychologists encourage patients to face anxiety-provoking situations to demonstrate that feared outcomes are unlikely and reduce avoidance, which can worsen anxiety over time. Most patients see improvement after a few months of psychotherapy.
Anxiety disorders are common and can severely impair functioning. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is highly effective for treating anxiety by helping patients change anxious thought patterns and learn coping techniques. Through CBT, psychologists encourage patients to face anxiety-provoking situations to demonstrate that feared outcomes are unlikely and reduce avoidance, which can worsen anxiety over time. Most patients see improvement after a few months of psychotherapy.
Anxiety disorders are common and can severely impair functioning. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is highly effective for treating anxiety by helping patients change anxious thought patterns and learn coping techniques. Through CBT, psychologists encourage patients to face anxiety-provoking situations to demonstrate that feared outcomes are unlikely and reduce avoidance, which can worsen anxiety over time. Most patients see improvement after a few months of psychotherapy.
Anxiety disorders are common and can severely impair functioning. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is highly effective for treating anxiety by helping patients change anxious thought patterns and learn coping techniques. Through CBT, psychologists encourage patients to face anxiety-provoking situations to demonstrate that feared outcomes are unlikely and reduce avoidance, which can worsen anxiety over time. Most patients see improvement after a few months of psychotherapy.
Everyone worries or feels nervous from time to time. Anxiety is a normal human reaction to stressful situations. But for people with anxiety disorders, those fears and worries aren’t temporary. Their anxiety persists, and can even get worse over time.
Anxiety disorders can severely impair a person’s ability to function at work, school and in social situations. Anxiety can also interfere with a person’s relationships with family members and friends. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for anxiety.
In some cases, medications have a role in treating anxiety disorders. Yet research shows behavioral treatment, alone or in combination with medication, is a highly effective treatment for most people with an anxiety disorder.
Understanding anxiety • Social anxiety disorder is also known as social phobia.
People with this disorder are fearful of social situations Anxiety disorders are common in both adults and children. About 18 percent of U.S. adults and 25 percent of adolescents ages 13 to in which they might feel embarrassed or judged. They 18 will experience anxiety, according to the National Institute of typically feel nervous spending time in social settings, feel Mental Health. About 4 percent of adults and nearly 6 percent of self-conscious in front of others, and worry about being teens have anxiety disorders classified as severe. rejected by or offending others. Other common symptoms include having a hard time making friends; avoiding social There are several major types of anxiety disorders: situations; worrying for days before a social event; and feeling shaky, sweaty or nauseous when spending time in • Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent a social setting. worry or anxious feelings. People with this disorder worry about a number of concerns, such as health problems or • Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized finances, and may have a general sense that something bad by persistent, uncontrollable feelings and thoughts is going to happen. Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems and (obsessions) and routines or rituals (compulsions). Some generally feeling on edge. common examples include compulsive hand washing in response to a fear of germs, or repeatedly checking work • Panic disorder is marked by recurrent panic attacks that for errors. include symptoms such as sweating, trembling, shortness of breath or a feeling of choking, a pounding heart or rapid heart rate, and feelings of dread. Such attacks often happen suddenly, without warning. People who experience panic attacks often About 18 percent of U.S. adults and become fearful about when the next episode will occur, which can cause them to change or restrict their normal activities. 25 percent of adolescents ages 13–18 • Phobias are intense fears about certain objects (spiders or WILL EXPERIENCE ANXIETY snakes, for instance) or situations (such as flying in airplanes) that are distressing or intrusive.
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• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after Specifically, patients are encouraged to approach activities a severe physical or emotional trauma such as a natural and situations that provoke anxiety (such as public speaking disaster, serious accident or crime. Symptoms include or being in an enclosed space) to learn that their feared flashbacks of the trauma, nightmares and frightening outcomes (such as losing their train of thought or having a thoughts that interfere with a person’s everyday routine for panic attack) are unlikely. months or years after the traumatic experience.
Psychotherapy for anxiety
Seeing a psychologist about disorders: What to expect anxiety disorders Psychotherapy is a collaborative process where psychologists Though many types of anxiety disorders exist, research and patients work together to identify specific concerns suggests that most are driven by similar underlying processes. and develop concrete skills and techniques for coping with People with anxiety disorders tend to become easily anxiety. Patients can expect to practice their new skills outside overwhelmed by their emotions, and they tend to have of sessions to manage anxiety in situations that might make particularly negative reactions to those unpleasant feelings them uncomfortable. However, psychologists won’t push and situations. patients into such scenarios until they’re sure they have the skills they need to effectively confront their fears. Often, people try to cope with those negative reactions by avoiding situations or experiences that make them anxious. Psychologists sometimes use other approaches to treat anxiety Unfortunately, avoidance can backfire and actually feed the disorders in addition to CBT. Group psychotherapy, which anxiety. typically involves several people who all have anxiety disorders, can be effective for both treating anxiety and providing By learning to change their thought patterns patients with support. Family psychotherapy can help family members understand their loved one’s anxiety and help them (through therapy), patients can reduce the learn ways to interact that do not reinforce anxious habits. Family therapy can be particularly helpful for children and likelihood and intensity of anxiety symptoms. adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders. Psychologists are trained in diagnosing anxiety disorders and Anxiety disorders are very treatable. The majority of patients teaching patients healthier, more effective ways to cope. A who suffer from anxiety are able to reduce or eliminate form of psychotherapy known as cognitive-behavioral therapy symptoms after several (or fewer) months of psychotherapy, (CBT) is highly effective at treating anxiety disorders. Through and many patients notice improvement after just a few CBT, psychologists help patients learn to identify and manage sessions. the factors that contribute to their anxiety. Psychologists are highly trained and will tailor a treatment plan Through the cognitive component of therapy, patients learn to address the unique needs of each patient. To find a licensed to understand how their thoughts contribute to their anxiety psychologist in your area, vist PsychologistLocator.org. symptoms. By learning to change those thought patterns, they can reduce the likelihood and intensity of anxiety symptoms. The American Psychological Association gratefully acknowledges With the behavioral component, patients learn techniques to Shannon Sauer-Zavala, PhD, Lynn Bufka, PhD, and C. Vaile Wright, reduce undesired behaviors associated with anxiety disorders. PhD for contributing to this fact sheet.
