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Stress and anxiety are a normal and necessary part of life. People who struggle with anxiety disorders, however, face days filled with debilitating discomfort and fear that can make even normal routines unbearable. They often accompany depression, substance abuse and other anxiety disorders. There are 5 different kinds of anxiety disorders:
• PANIC DISORDER — Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness and fear of dying.
• OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD) — Repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to control.
• POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) — Persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing a traumatic event such as rape, child abuse, war, natural disasters or crashes. Many people who suffer from PTSD experience loss of sleep, nightmares, anger, and flashbacks.
• PHOBIAS — There are three major types of phobias: social, specific and a agoraphobia. Social phobia deals with a fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations. People with a specific phobia experience extreme disabling and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Agoraphobia describes the anxiety a person prone to panic attacks feels when in situations from which escape may be difficult, embarrassing or help is not immediately available.
• GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD) — Constant, exaggerated worrisome thoughts and tension about everyday routine life activities lasting a minimum of six months. Symptoms include fatigue, trembling, muscle tension or nausea.
Human beings need one another in ways that influence us profoundly. We grow and find our greatest joys and challenges in relationships. In group therapy, the relationships with the other group members become part of the healing process. When an individual is ready to make real changes in their life, the process of this type of communal therapy becomes extremely enjoyable and rewarding.
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