What is generalized anxiety? How can it be managed?

It’s normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially if your life is stressful. However, excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that are difficult to control and interfere with day-to-day activities may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder.

It’s possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child or an adult. Generalized anxiety disorder has symptoms that are similar to panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, but they’re all different conditions.

Living with generalized anxiety disorder can be a long-term challenge. In many cases, it occurs along with other anxiety or mood disorders.

Can fears and phobias add to stress? 

Everyone feels afraid sometimes. Uncomfortable as it is, fear is an unavoidable part of life. In fact, a little fear can help you stay safe, avoid danger and grow as a person.

However, fear can become so intense, or trouble you so often, that it leads to serious problems. When specific objects, animals, or situations cause intense feelings of fear that are out of proportion to the actual danger, psychologists call it a ‘phobia’. 

We use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an effective psychological treatment for overcoming fears and phobias.

What is Social Anxiety? 

Are you afraid of being judged by others? Are you self-conscious in everyday social situations? Do you avoid meeting new people due to fear or anxiety? If you have been feeling this way for at least 6 months and these feelings make it hard for you to do everyday tasks—such as talking to people at work or school—you may have social anxiety disorder.

Social anxiety disorder is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. This fear can affect work, school, and other daily activities. It can even make it hard to make and keep friends.

What is a panic attack and how to deal with it?

A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you’re losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.

Many people have just one or two panic attacks in their lifetimes, and the problem goes away, perhaps when a stressful situation ends. But if you’ve had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder.

Although panic attacks themselves aren’t life-threatening, they can be frightening and significantly affect your quality of life.

What is performance anxiety and how to deal with it?

Performance anxiety, also known as “stage fright,” is the nervousness felt before or during important tasks, affecting various individuals, from public speakers and musicians to those giving speeches at events. This experience can stem from emotional reasons like fear, worry, and embarrassment, cognitive symptoms such as excessive self-criticism and unrealistic expectations, and physical symptoms like increased heart rate, shortness of breath, trembling, and sweating.

To assist in managing performance anxiety, we provide scientific training using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

What is work-related stress and how to manage it?

Work-related stress occurs when the demands placed on an individual at work surpass their ability to cope. Dealing with it is important, especially when work demands become too much to handle. Long-term exposure to stress at work can impact your mental health, leading to chronic distress like anxiety and depression. Various factors can cause stress at workplaces, such as the culture of the organization, poor management practices, job demands, the physical work environment, relationships with colleagues, changes happening at work, lack of support, conflicting roles, and even traumatic experiences.

We work with you to manage your work-related stress through therapies that work for you.