Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Persistent, excessive worry about everyday situations—work, finances, health, relationships—that's difficult to control and interferes with daily life.
- Constant worry about multiple areas of life
- Difficulty controlling worry
- Physical symptoms: tension, restlessness, fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Worry lasts 6+ months and causes significant distress
GAD often develops gradually and can feel like normal worry at first. However, untreated anxiety significantly impacts work performance, relationships, and quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy is highly effective for GAD.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Intense fear of social situations due to worry about being judged, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated by others, often leading to avoidance of social interactions.
- Fear of social situations or public speaking
- Worry about being judged or embarrassed
- Physical symptoms: blushing, sweating, trembling
- Avoidance of social events or public situations
- Difficulty making eye contact
- Anxiety in anticipation of social situations
- Relief when avoiding these situations
Social anxiety can severely limit opportunities and relationships. Gradual exposure therapy combined with cognitive restructuring helps you confront feared situations and reduce anxiety responses effectively.
Panic Disorder
Recurring unexpected panic attacks—sudden intense fear with physical symptoms—followed by worry about future attacks and avoidance of situations associated with panic.
- Sudden onset panic attacks (5-20 minutes)
- Physical symptoms: racing heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath
- Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy
- Constant worry about future panic attacks
- Avoidance of places or situations where attacks have occurred
- Agoraphobia—fear of leaving home or being in public spaces
- Significant life disruption and distress
Panic disorder often develops after an initial panic attack and can become severely limiting. Understanding panic physiology, learning breathing techniques, and gradual exposure to feared situations are highly effective treatments.
Health Anxiety (Illness Anxiety Disorder)
Excessive worry about having or acquiring serious illness despite reassurance from doctors. Often involves health-related research, repeated medical visits, or avoidance of medical care.
- Excessive worry about having serious illness
- Hypervigilance to body sensations
- Frequent doctor visits or seeking reassurance
- Avoidance of medical care or information
- Excessive health-related research online
- High distress despite medical reassurance
- Symptoms persist 6+ months
Health anxiety creates a cycle of worry and reassurance-seeking that maintains the problem. Treatment focuses on reducing health-related behaviors while building tolerance for health uncertainty.
Chronic Stress & Burnout
Persistent stress from work, caregiving, or multiple life demands that depletes emotional resources, reduces effectiveness, and impacts physical and mental health.
- Constant feeling of being overwhelmed
- Exhaustion despite adequate sleep
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Cynicism or emotional detachment
- Reduced sense of accomplishment
- Increased illness frequency
- Difficulty managing responsibilities
Chronic stress affects both mental and physical health. Identifying stressors, setting boundaries, building coping strategies, and making lifestyle changes can significantly improve resilience and well-being.
Specific Phobias
Intense, irrational fear of specific objects or situations (heights, flying, animals, etc.) that leads to avoidance and significantly impacts daily life.
- Intense fear of specific object or situation
- Immediate anxiety when encountering the feared stimulus
- Avoidance of feared situations
- Physical symptoms: racing heart, sweating, trembling
- Recognition that fear is excessive
- Significant life disruption
- Symptoms persist for 6+ months
Phobias respond remarkably well to exposure therapy. Gradual, supported exposure to feared situations reduces anxiety responses and restores your freedom to participate in activities and travel.
