Anxiety

Conditions we treat

These are the anxiety disorders described in the DSM-5-TR, in plain language. A diagnosis is made only by a licensed clinician after a full evaluation; this list is to help you recognize what you might be dealing with.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Excessive worry about several areas of life (work, health, money, family) on more days than not for at least six months, that is hard to control and comes with physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension or disturbed sleep.

Panic disorder

Repeated, unexpected panic attacks: abrupt surges of intense fear that peak within minutes, with symptoms like a pounding heart, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, chills or heat, numbness, feeling detached, or fear of losing control or dying. Followed by ongoing worry about more attacks or changes in behavior to avoid them.

Agoraphobia

Marked fear of situations where escape might be hard or help unavailable if panic-like symptoms strike, such as public transportation, open or enclosed spaces, crowds and lines, or being outside the home alone. These situations are avoided, endured with distress, or require a companion.

Social anxiety disorder

Intense fear of social situations where you could be scrutinized, such as conversations, meeting new people, eating in front of others or speaking up, driven by fear of being judged, embarrassed or rejected. The situations are avoided or endured with great distress, and the fear is out of proportion to the actual threat.

Specific phobia

Strong, immediate fear of a particular object or situation, such as flying, heights, animals, needles, blood or enclosed spaces, that is out of proportion to the danger and leads to avoidance.

Separation anxiety disorder

Developmentally excessive fear about being apart from the people you're attached to: worry about harm coming to them, refusal to go out or sleep away from them, nightmares about separation, and physical symptoms when separation happens or is anticipated. Common in children, and also diagnosed in adults.

Selective mutism

A child who speaks comfortably at home consistently fails to speak in specific settings where speaking is expected, such as school, for at least a month, in a way that interferes with school or social life. It is not a language problem or shyness; it is anxiety.

Illness anxiety and health worry

Preoccupation with having or getting a serious illness despite little or no physical symptoms, with repeated checking, reassurance-seeking or avoidance of medical care. Formally classified alongside the somatic symptom disorders; treated with the same tools as other anxiety.

How we treat it

The strongest evidence for anxiety is behind cognitive behavioral therapy, including exposure-based work that helps you face feared situations gradually until the fear loses its grip. Many clinicians combine this with mindfulness and acceptance skills, and with EMDR when anxiety is rooted in past experiences. Your therapist will build a plan around your specific diagnosis, and will coordinate with your prescriber if medication is part of your care.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Exposure therapy
• Mindfulness and acceptance-based therapy
• EMDR
• Solution-focused therapy
• All approaches

Where to get help for anxiety

Available at every Oceanic® office and through our telehealth team.

Diagnostic descriptions on this page are summarized in plain language from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR, 2022). This page is educational. It is not a substitute for evaluation by a licensed clinician, and only a licensed clinician can make a diagnosis.