Problems Treated

Problems Treated at the Anxiety and Depression Clinic:

Panic Disorder (with or without Agoraphobia): Individuals with this disorder often experience panic attacks. Panic attacks are episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as dizziness, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, faintness, and/or shortness of breath. Individuals often believe they are dying, going crazy, or will lose control during the attack. Individuals with panic disorder typically develop agoraphobia, which is fear and/or avoidance of certain situations (e.g., elevators, trains, stores) because they bring on panic attacks and anxiety.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Individuals with this disorder experience persistent worry. Other common symptoms include muscle aches, restlessness, fatigue, insomnia, abdominal upset, concentration problems, edginess, and irritability.

Specific Phobia: Individuals with this disorder experience irrational fear of a particular object or situation and avoid it. The most common phobias are of animals, flying, heights, and closed places.

Social Anxiety: Individuals with this disorder experience an excessive, unreasonable fear in social situations that he or she may act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing. The individual tries to avoid such situations whenever possible.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Individuals with this disorder experience intense anxiety and emotional distress following a traumatic event, such as rape, assault, or wartime combat duty. Physical symptoms such as restlessness, jumpiness, and insomnia are common.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Individuals with this disorder experience recurrent obsessions (thoughts, ideas, images that are intrusive and senseless) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviors performed in response to an obsession).

Depression (major depressive disorder & persistent depressive disorder): Individuals with this disorder experience a sustained low or sad mood. Additional symptoms may include: Reduced sleep, interrupted sleep or too much sleep; reduced appetite, weight loss or increased appetite, thoughts of hopelessness, worthlessness or guilt; loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities; difficulty concentrating or making daily decisions; increased fatigue or lower energy; thoughts of death or suicide.

NOTE: It is typical that individuals experience more than one of the above problems.