Fear is a natural response to dangerous situations. It’s a good thing we experience fear in threatening situations because it prepares our bodies for action. In doing so, we protect ourselves. But what if you experience fear in situations that are not threatening at all? A lot of people suffer from an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. This means that you suffer from anxiety or panic so often that it limits your daily life.
Types of anxiety disorders
There are an awful lot of types of anxiety disorders, which can range from vague brooding symptoms to intense panic attacks. The following anxiety disorders are the most common:
- Generalized anxiety disorder: you fret a lot about topics that affect you on a daily basis, such as money, your job, your health, or the health of your family. However, the amount of worrying you do about these things is disproportionate to the reality of the situation.
- Panic disorder: you have regular panic attacks and sometimes without a specific cause. You suffer from palpitations, start to sweat, get nauseous, and feel stuffy. Panic disorder often occurs in combination with agoraphobia.
- Agoraphobia: you feel anxious in certain public places, such as crowded places or environments where you cannot easily leave.
- Social anxiety: You are anxious in social situations, such as at birthdays, dinners, or meetings. You worry excessively about what others think of you or are afraid of making a fool of yourself.
- Specific phobia: You are afraid of specific things, objects or animals. Coming into contact with them (or just thinking about them) can cause a panic attack.
- PTSD: You suffer from anxiety attacks as part of post-traumatic stress disorder. This anxiety disorder is caused by past trauma.
Causes of anxiety disorders
Some anxiety disorders develop in response to a specific event. But many anxiety disorders have a cause that is not so easy to pinpoint. They are more common in some families than in others. This is probably heredity, but can also be due to upbringing and personality. For example, you are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder if you cannot stand up for yourself or express your emotions with difficulty. Women are also more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders than men.
Choose your online therapist
Help with anxiety
Do you often suffer from anxiety, anxiety attacks, or an indefinable feeling of panic? An online therapist can provide effective help for anxiety symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used for anxiety and panic. Here you discuss the problem in detail, after which your therapist prescribes certain exercises. These may include breathing and relaxation exercises. Or exercises in which you expose yourself step by step to what you fear.
Our psychologists are broadly trained and often use a combination of treatment techniques. The treatment plan is therefore fully tailored to your symptoms, personality, and preferences.