Getting Help
There are multiple ways to go about overcoming your problem(s) with anxiety. You can read self-help books, talk to people who have personally dealt with anxiety, go to support groups, or find a therapist who
specializes in treating anxiety disorders.
If you live near a larger city, you can find such therapists who specialize in anxiety by doing a google search under the words "anxiety treatment _______," (such as 'Anxiety treatment Boston'). This will bring up names of local therapists— psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers or counselors— who treat anxiety disorders. However you will still need to screen these therapists by phone or in person to find out who might actually be able to help you.
Anxiety disorders take some time and work on your part to overcome. If you are looking for help, seek professional guidance. Be careful about web sites offered by unlicensed individuals that promise fast or immediate results.
Anxiety is a part of normal human experience.
We all know what it is like to feel nervous or tense when faced with a job interview, going out on a first date, giving a public speech, or getting lost in an unfamiliar area. We are all hard-wired to experience anxiety so that we can better cope with situations that are demanding, unfamiliar, or potentially threatening. As such, anxiety is a useful emotion that can improve our performance or protect us from danger.
For some people, however, anxiety is excessive. It can occur too often, too intensely, and disrupt, rather than improve, their ability to cope with daily life. If you are one of these people, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can cause you to feel crippling anxiety much of the time and/or avoid situations you may have previously handled with ease.
Anxiety disorders affect about 17% of adults in the United States between the ages of 18 and 65 (about 40 million people). They are the most common of all mental health problems. In the last twenty years, their incidence has risen due to the increasing stress, complexity and uncertainty of contemporary society.
The six major types of anxiety disorders include panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia (or social anxiety disorder), specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To see a detailed description of each of these disorders, as well as how each is treated, click on the button for Anxiety Disorders.
Anxiety Disorders are highly treatable. With the right help, a majority of people can experience a high degree, if not complete, recovery.