Basics On Anxiety Therapy Toronto Residents Should Know

By Daphne Bowen


Getting anxious is normal and something that all of us have deal with from time. As a matter of fact, it is regarded as a normal response to stimuli as it helps us detect dangers in our environments and initiate the appropriate response. Anxiety may also become abnormal in some cases requiring therapy. To understand the available modalities for anxiety therapy Toronto residents need to know some basics regarding the disorder.

The diagnosis is made mainly on clinical grounds. Typically, the doctor takes a history to establish whether or not there are suggestive symptoms. If anxiety disorder is suspected the client is referred to a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Persons with the disorder will typically present with excessively protective responses when faced with worrisome situations. Put in other words, they will respond abnormally to normal situations as opposed to ordinary people who respond normally to abnormal situations.

Different subtypes of the disorder exist. They include, among others, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorders, specific phobias, agoraphobia and social phobias. There are a few differences in the manner of presentation as well as in the treatments that are used. Patients with generalized anxiety disorder, GAD, become anxious about a wide range of events most of which are unknown to the patients.

GAD is usually associated with other comorbidities such as depression. There may be complaints such as generalized fatigues, chronic pain and insomnia. The symptoms are typically intermittent and tend to recur even after treatment. Patients become alcoholics after some time and a number of them even contemplate suicide. It is important that therapy is instituted promptly. The available modalities include hypnosis, psychodynamic psychotherapy, systemic desensitization and hypnosis among others.

Social phobia is the most common phobia with a lifetime prevalence rate of about 8%. The main feature is the presence of an intense form of fear that is persistently present in the presence of a certain object or event. There is a strong desire to flee from this object or event. Most people with this disorder greatly fear public embarrassment that may be caused by impulsive acts. There is significant interference with social relationships and normal functioning.

A specific phobia is experienced due to a specific situation or object. These include insects, blood, dental procedures and heights among others. Many persons with simple phobias lead normal lives. All the need to do is to avoid the phobic situation or object. The age of onset varies but most animal phobias present in early childhood. The treatments used here include cognitive behavioral therapy and the use of benzodiazepines.

As much as the diagnosis relies heavily on the clinical judgment of your doctor, you may be required to undergo some tests. These tests are important as they help rule out any organic causes that may cause similar symptoms. CT scan and MRI images are often needed to exclude a lesion in the brain.

There are many types of anxiety disorders that exist all with unique symptoms and treatments. The process of finding the effective therapy starts with classifying the disorder. Therapy is administered by psychiatrists, psychologists and other trained professionals.




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