Getting anxious is an emotion most people experience from time to time when faced with dangerous stimuli. Situations that may elicit this reaction include sitting examinations, attending job interviews, going for a first date and so on. In some people, this response is too extreme and may be present even for what would be regarded as harmless situations. This type of response is abnormal and requires therapy. There are several important aspects of anxiety therapy Toronto residents need to understand.
The diagnosis is made mainly on clinical grounds. Typically, the doctor takes a history to establish whether or not there are suggestive symptoms. If anxiety disorder is suspected the client is referred to a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Persons with the disorder will typically present with excessively protective responses when faced with worrisome situations. Put in other words, they will respond abnormally to normal situations as opposed to ordinary people who respond normally to abnormal situations.
Different subtypes of the disorder exist. They include, among others, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorders, specific phobias, agoraphobia and social phobias. There are a few differences in the manner of presentation as well as in the treatments that are used. Patients with generalized anxiety disorder, GAD, become anxious about a wide range of events most of which are unknown to the patients.
GAD is usually associated with other comorbidities such as depression. There may be complaints such as generalized fatigues, chronic pain and insomnia. The symptoms are typically intermittent and tend to recur even after treatment. Patients become alcoholics after some time and a number of them even contemplate suicide. It is important that therapy is instituted promptly. The available modalities include hypnosis, psychodynamic psychotherapy, systemic desensitization and hypnosis among others.
Social phobia is characterized by intense and persistent fear that is associated with a desire to flee from the responsible object or event. There is a particular fear to suffer public embarrassment from impulsive acts. The symptoms are severe enough to interfere with normal functioning and interpersonal relationships. Social phobia is the most prevalent of all the types of phobia. About 8% of the general population have some form of this disorder.
Specific phobias are fears of specific objects or situations. These include animals, insects, heights of buildings and dental procedures among others. Simple phobias do not always impair normal functioning and many people with this problem lead near normal lives. The most important thing is to avoid the phobic situation. The onset is in the years of early childhood. Treatments for this therapy include pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
As much as the diagnosis relies heavily on the clinical judgment of your doctor, you may be required to undergo some tests. These tests are important as they help rule out any organic causes that may cause similar symptoms. CT scan and MRI images are often needed to exclude a lesion in the brain.
When seeking the treatment for anxiety disorder, you need to understand there are several subtypes that exist all with varying treatments. Proper classification is the first step to finding the most effective form of management to be employed. The therapy will typically be administered by mental health experts such as psychiatrist and psychologists.
The diagnosis is made mainly on clinical grounds. Typically, the doctor takes a history to establish whether or not there are suggestive symptoms. If anxiety disorder is suspected the client is referred to a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Persons with the disorder will typically present with excessively protective responses when faced with worrisome situations. Put in other words, they will respond abnormally to normal situations as opposed to ordinary people who respond normally to abnormal situations.
Different subtypes of the disorder exist. They include, among others, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorders, specific phobias, agoraphobia and social phobias. There are a few differences in the manner of presentation as well as in the treatments that are used. Patients with generalized anxiety disorder, GAD, become anxious about a wide range of events most of which are unknown to the patients.
GAD is usually associated with other comorbidities such as depression. There may be complaints such as generalized fatigues, chronic pain and insomnia. The symptoms are typically intermittent and tend to recur even after treatment. Patients become alcoholics after some time and a number of them even contemplate suicide. It is important that therapy is instituted promptly. The available modalities include hypnosis, psychodynamic psychotherapy, systemic desensitization and hypnosis among others.
Social phobia is characterized by intense and persistent fear that is associated with a desire to flee from the responsible object or event. There is a particular fear to suffer public embarrassment from impulsive acts. The symptoms are severe enough to interfere with normal functioning and interpersonal relationships. Social phobia is the most prevalent of all the types of phobia. About 8% of the general population have some form of this disorder.
Specific phobias are fears of specific objects or situations. These include animals, insects, heights of buildings and dental procedures among others. Simple phobias do not always impair normal functioning and many people with this problem lead near normal lives. The most important thing is to avoid the phobic situation. The onset is in the years of early childhood. Treatments for this therapy include pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
As much as the diagnosis relies heavily on the clinical judgment of your doctor, you may be required to undergo some tests. These tests are important as they help rule out any organic causes that may cause similar symptoms. CT scan and MRI images are often needed to exclude a lesion in the brain.
When seeking the treatment for anxiety disorder, you need to understand there are several subtypes that exist all with varying treatments. Proper classification is the first step to finding the most effective form of management to be employed. The therapy will typically be administered by mental health experts such as psychiatrist and psychologists.