Anxiety can come in many forms. Some people feel anxious all of the time, excessively worrying about everyday things. Others experience anxiety mostly in social or performance situations such a speaking in public or going to a party where they don’t know many people, worrying “what will they think about me.” Some people experience panic attacks; sudden discrete periods of intense anxiety with significant physical symptoms. Other anxiety disorders can include OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) with obsessive, anxiety-producing thoughts and compulsive behaviors that reduce the anxiety (checking the stove multiple times, counting to a certain number, excessively washing hands, etc), or Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in with a trauma history has lead to significant anxiety, fear, and avoidance.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been the most widely researched treatment for anxiety disorders and has been shown to be extremely effective in treating anxiety symptoms. This can involve identifying triggers for anxiety, learning relaxation techniques to decrease anxiety symptoms, questioning dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs that contribute to anxiety, and exposure to the anxiety producing situations or the physical feelings associated with anxiety to reduce body and mind’s reaction to these triggers.