The OAD Clinic
What is Anxiety?
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Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam or having a medical test or a job interview. During times like these, feeling anxious can be perfectly normal. However, some people find it hard to control their worries. Your feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect your daily life. Anxiety is the main symptom of several conditions, including panic disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder (social phobia).
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Main types of Anxiety
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD can be characterised by unrealistic, excessive, and ongoing anxiety and worry that can be difficult to control, interfering with daily tasks and activities. GAD can develop in both childhood and adulthood, so there is no limit on when it can develop.
Symptoms of GAD
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Main symptoms of GAD are reminiscent of other conditions like panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, but it’s important to note that these are all separate disorders. In particular, anxiety symptoms that could indicate GAD are:
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Restlessness
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Irritability
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Difficulty concentrating
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Palpitations (irregular or strong heartbeat)
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Insomnia
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Dizziness
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Excessive sweating
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Trembling and/or shaking
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Stomach aches
GAD Treatment
When it comes to generalised anxiety disorder treatment, there are several routes that are available for patients. These include psychological therapies and anxiety medication. At The OAD Clinic, we can provide quality GAD treatment at our London anxiety clinic.
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - involves the patient talking with a licensed therapist, discussing their problems and helping them change their way of thinking
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Other forms of therapy - such as art therapy or relaxation therapy to help patients manage symptoms and practise methods to soothe their worries
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Anxiety medication - medication might be prescribed as well
Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
People with panic disorder suffer severe attacks of panic which make them feel like they are having a heart attack or are going crazy for no apparent reason. Symptoms include heart palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, sweating, trembling, tingling sensations, a feeling of choking, fear of dying, fear of losing control and feelings of unreality. Panic disorder often occurs with agoraphobia, in which people are afraid of having a panic attack in a place from which escape would be difficult, so they avoid these places.
Social Phobia
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Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is characterised by an intense fear of social situations. People who suffer from this condition may often find themselves worrying about social situations, especially ones where embarrassment could occur. Individuals with social phobia often experience:
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Feeling of being watched or judged by others constantly g of being watched or judged by others constantly
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Feeling sick, trembling, sweating, or a rapid heartbeat
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Possible panic attacks that last a few minutes
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Worrying about social and everyday activities like meeting new people, group conversations, speaking on the phone
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Having social anxiety disorder can be challenging, particularly if it negatively impacts your way of living and your thoughts about the future. However, rest assured that there are treatments to help alleviate the symptoms of social phobia.
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Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment
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You’re not alone when it comes to social phobia. In particular, if you’re looking for social anxiety disorder treatment in London, then The OAD Clinic is here to help. Specialised social anxiety treatments are usually part of broad anxiety management programmes that could include:
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1:1 therapy
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Group therapy
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Gradual exposure to social situations - sometimes through social behavioural experiments
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Re-evaluating particular ways of thinking about situations, addressing misinterpretations and countering negative thoughts
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Specific Phobias
People with specific phobias suffer from an intense fear reaction to a specific object or situation (such as spiders, dogs, or heights). The level of fear is usually disproportionate to the situation, and is recognised by the sufferer as being irrational. This inordinate fear can lead to the avoidance of common, everyday situations.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
In OCD, individuals are plagued by persistent, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that reflect exaggerated anxiety or fears; typical obsessions include worry about being contaminated or fears of behaving improperly or acting violently. The obsessions may lead an individual to perform a ritual or routine (compulsions), such as washing hands, repeating phrases or hoarding-to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsession.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can follow an exposure to a traumatic event such as a sexual or physical assault, witnessing a death, the unexpected death of a loved one or natural disaster. There are three main symptoms associated with PTSD: "reliving" of the traumatic event (such as flashbacks and nightmares); avoidance behaviours (such as avoiding places related to the trauma) and emotional numbing (detachment from others); and physiological arousal, difficulty sleeping, irritability or poor concentration.
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Countries We Serve
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If you live in Egypt, India, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates, we invite you to seek anxiety disorder treatment UK at our clinic in London. Effectively manage your symptoms and calm your mind with The OAD Clinic’s anxiety treatments in London. Get in touch with us today for more information.
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