Anxiety Disorders and Panic Attacks:Calming the MindPage 1 of 3*****Anxiety Disorders and Panic Attacks: Calming the Mind*****NarratorWhen someone experiences anxiety or a panic attack, they may feel as if they’re losing control, and theworld is spinning out of control.Kelsey, PatientFrom the time I was a kid I would be up all night worrying that the nuclear power plant by my house wasgoing to explode or that my house was going to catch on fire, or that it, my parents were going to die. Allthese really big worries that plagued me.Kate, PatientI was having moments where my mind was constantly racing and you don’t really notice those things until itgets really bad, so until I started having the panic attacks.NarratorEvery year, nearly one in five adults are affected by anxiety disorders. More than just mild, temporaryuneasiness brought on by stress, anxiety disorders are severe and last for months or years. And it’s notunusual for anxiety disorders to occur with other illnesses, such as alcohol or substance abuse.Rachel C. Leonard, PhD, Behavioral Activation Specialist and Clinical Supervisor, Rogers MemorialHospitalSo anxiety disorders are a group of disorders where individuals experience excessive fear and anxietyabout specific types of triggers. And so some of the anxiety disorders are like generalized anxiety disorderwhere people are consumed by excessive worry that is kind of too much for the situation, or social anxietywhere people have difficulty talking with others or performing in certain situations.Panic disorder where people have panic attacks that are unexpected. And with kids we’ll see a lot ofseparation anxiety; so difficulty being apart from their parents, and then there are some specific phobias toothat people might experience; so like a fear of flying or a fear of spiders, things like that.NarratorOther types of anxiety disorders include obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, andspecific phobias. Each type of anxiety disorder has different symptoms, but all the symptoms cluster aroundextreme, unreasonable fear and dread. If an anxiety impairs functioning in your daily life, it may be ananxiety disorder.Kelsey, PatientMy worries interfered with a lot of just my daily activities. When I decided to find support it was becauseanxiety or worry, or whatever it was, I wasn’t sure, it was getting in the way of my relationships. It wasgetting in the way of my ability to function at school. I felt like I was paralyzed by whatever this was going onin my mind and in my body, and I decided to take the step to see the counselor at my school.Rachel C. Leonard, PhD, Behavioral Activation Specialist and Clinical Supervisor, Rogers MemorialHospitalSo there are a variety of treatments out there for anxiety disorders. The two main treatments that we wouldrecommend are Exposure Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and medication treatments. And so withtherapy we would encourage people to kind of gradually at a pace that’s comfortable to them, confront thedifferent situations or triggers that cause them to feel anxious, and when they tend to get a lot of anxietypeople tend to kind of have their lives shrink and really stop doing things that can lead to a meaningful andmore satisfied life, and so through that course of treatment we can help them.Page 2 of 3NarratorEffective therapies for anxiety disorders are available, and research is uncovering new treatments to helppeople with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. But treatments don’t always work on the firsttry. It may take several different treatments or combinations of treatments before finding the best one foryou. If you or a loved one has an anxiety disorder, seek information and treatment right away. Here arequestions that can help you choose a mental health provider. What approaches have worked for your past clients? Look for options rather than a “one size fits all”approach. What are my treatment options? If medication is an option, what are the possible side effects? How will I know we are on the right track for my recovery? Your provider should be willing to be heldaccountable for the outcomes of treatment they provide. What lifestyle changes can I make to help me feel better? You are the author of your own recovery.Providers should base their advice on your strengths, values and lifestyle options. How will alcohol or other drugs interact with my medication or affect my anxiety?Rachel C. Leonard, PhD, Behavioral Activation Specialist and Clinical Supervisor, Rogers MemorialHospitalEach patient is unique in their needs, and a good mental health professional will be able to really tailortreatment exactly to that individual and so it’s hard to say this is exactly the approach someone would takewith you because a good therapist or psychiatrist, or psychologist will be able to really get to know you andmake the treatment fit for your needs.Kate, PatientMy life after being diagnosed with anxiety is a lot better. I can do things on my own. I don’t feel like I needcompany to go out to the store. I can drive on my own without having to get nervous about going over abridge or going at a certain speed. I’m a lot more calm. I can sleep through the night without having mymind racing a million miles per hour.Kelsey, PatientBeing diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder felt empowering. I finally had an understanding. I wasn’tas confused about what was going on with me, so… My advice for others who are receiving a diagnosis ofanxiety or panic disorder is, “Don’t freak out. It’s going to be okay, and this is a good next step for you.”There’s a lot of information on anxiety. There’s all these evidence-based treatments, and fortunately thisdiagnosis is one of the most treatable. So receiving that diagnosis, that’s a gift.© The Wellness NetworkPage 3 of 3
