CONTENTS
(1) An overview of the anxiety disorders
(2) Commonalities among all anxiety disorders
(3) Common features of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders
(4) Medication information
(5) Related pages
(6) Recommended books
(7) Books for significant others of people with anxiety disorders
(1) An overview of the anxiety disorders
In the DSM 5, there are four major types of anxiety disorders: Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Panic Disorder (and Agoraphobia); Specific Phobia; and Social Anxiety Disorder. There is also a category for people who are experiencing significant difficulties with anxiety but do not meet the full criteria for any of the major types (called Anxiety Disorder, Unspecified).
Several other conditions share common features with the anxiety disorders, and these include: OCD, PTSD, public speaking anxiety, test anxiety, and excessive anxiety about one's health.
(2) Commonalities among all anxiety disorders
What makes an Anxiety Disorder a disorder is not anxiety per se. Anxiety is a normal emotion that can be highly useful in the right circumstances. It can motivate us and our very survival is dependent on it. Rather, what makes an Anxiety Disorder a disorder is that the anxiety is excessive (more than what is needed to serve a useful purpose) and that it causes problems in a person's life (e.g., difficulties concentrating or sleeping, avoiding activities that the person otherwise would want to engage in).
Anxiety Disorders are maintained by habitual ways of thinking and behaving that have been learned over time. Four major factors tend to contribute to maintaining anxiety disorders:
(1) Anxious thoughts and beliefs (e.g., overestimations of the likelihood of bad things happening);
(2) A learned anxious response resulting in unpleasant physical sensations;
(3) Intolerance of the physical sensations of anxiety; and
(4) Avoidance of internal and/or external stimuli that have become associated with anxiety.
Of these factors, perhaps avoidance contributes the most to maintaining an anxiety disorder because it prevents the person from learning how to think and react differently, and it also often prevents them from doing things that they otherwise would want to do. Anxiety Disorders can lead to depression due to the distress and impairment that they cause.
(3) Common features of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders
Psychotherapy works by helping a person learn new ways of thinking and behaving. Anxious thoughts and beliefs can be modified using cognitive reappraisal. The impact of these thoughts can be lessened with cognitive defusion. The learned anxious response and intolerance to physical sensations can be modified by learning mindfulness and relaxation skills. Avoidance can be systematically reduced using the principles of exposure therapy. This result is that a person to learn to think differently about what they have been avoiding (e.g., realizing that it is not as dangerous as they once thought and they can handle facing the situation).
(4) Medication information
HelpGuide - Medications for anxiety
(5) Related pages
Anxiety disorders:
Related conditions
(6) Recommended books
I make specific book recommendations on each of my pages for anxiety disorders and related conditions (see links above). In addition, Here are books that are helpful for all forms of anxiety:
Forsyth, J. P., & Eifert, G. H. (2016). The mindfulness and acceptance workbook for anxiety: A guide to breaking free from anxiety, phobias, and worry using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. New Harbinger. [Amazon] [New Harbinger - Free Accessories] [John P. Forsyth, PhD]
Orsillo, Susan M., Lizabeth Roemer, & Zindel V. Segal. (2011). The mindful way through anxiety: Break free from chronic worry and reclaim your life. The book has an accompanying website. [Amazon]
Tompkins, M. A. (2013). Anxiety and avoidance: A universal treatment for anxiety, panic, and fear. New Harbinger. [Amazon]
(7) Books for significant others of people with anxiety disorders
Thieda, K. N. (2013). Loving Someone with Anxiety: Understanding and Helping Your Partner (The New Harbinger Loving Someone Series). [Amazon]
Also see my webpage on Helping Someone with a Mental Illness
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Freedom from Fear: Overcoming Anxiety, Phobias and Panic (2004) by Howard Liebgold
https://www.overcoming.guide by Elizabeth McMahon