What Are the Levels of Anxiety — And When Do You Need More Than Therapy?

Everyone experiences anxiety to some degree. Perhaps you're preparing for an exam or waiting for an important message to arrive. This anxiety is normal and passes; anxiety disorders are different.

An anxiety disorder means having fear and worry that is intense and excessive. The World Health Organization says that disorders are “difficult to control, cause significant distress, and can last a long time if untreated. [They] interfere with daily activities and can impair a person's family, social, and school or working life.”

Anxiety disorders are nuanced and can manifest differently in different people. A person can have more than one anxiety disorder at a time.

Most people with an anxiety disorder suffer from GAD. People with GAD feel anxious about many things to the point where it interferes with their daily functioning. It's common for GAD to occur alongside an existing mood disorder.

Symptoms of GAD include:

• Problems sleeping
• Restlessness
• Fatigue
• Feeling tense
• Digestion issues
• Heart palpitations
• Low mood

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are also severe symptoms that may arise from GAD. Generally, GAD can be treated using evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Therapy focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and developing practical skills to overcome irrational fears and live with greater confidence.

Medication can also be prescribed to reduce symptoms for GAD, including antidepressants such as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) to regulate mood. Lifestyle factors play a big part in treatment, as regular exercise, low/no caffeine intake, and relaxation techniques can significantly alleviate anxiety.

Sometimes called social phobia, social anxiety is an ongoing, overwhelming fear of social interactions. It's much more than shyness or awkwardness. It tends to start in teenage years and is marked by intense worry before, during, and after social situations.

Symptoms of social anxiety include:

• Concern about meeting strangers, speaking on the phone or starting conversations
• Persistent worry about social activities, including group conversations and attending parties
• Feeling nervous about appearing incompetent or embarrassed in social settings
• Finding it difficult to do things in the presence of others for fear of being judged
• Avoiding eye contact
• Heart palpitations, sweating, shaking

Panic attacks may arise from social anxiety. These are moments of strong psychological and physical distress when the ‘fight or flight’ response has been activated. They can last between 5 and 20 minutes, and while not physically dangerous, are very uncomfortable.

CBT is effective for social anxiety, to address the root cause of the anxiety, and gradually find a balanced perspective about social scenarios. Exposure therapy can also help someone slowly and calmly adjust to social situations. SSRIs may be given to support CBT efforts as part of treatment for social anxiety.

Health anxiety is centered around the belief that you're ill or going to get ill. It's a consuming disorder and is closely related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Health anxiety is sometimes referred to as ‘hypochondriasis’, where people misinterpret minor symptoms or normal bodily processes as a serious diagnosis.

Symptoms of health anxiety include:

• Regularly checking for signs of illness
• Asking for repeated reassurance about health
• Mistrusting medical results and advice
• Obsessively researching health independently
• Avoiding hospitals, medical programs, or things that are related to serious illness
• Behaving as if ill after being told otherwise

Health anxiety is complex because it can cause physical symptoms such as headaches and heart palpitations that can be mistaken for illness. Talk therapy is the standard treatment path for health anxiety, alongside self-help practices including keeping a health journal, meditation, and breathing exercises.

Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent, sudden attacks of fear without a clear stimulus. Such panic attacks can be scary and impact your quality of life.

Symptoms of panic disorder include:

• Sense of impending danger
• Fear of death or losing control
• Fast heart rate
• Sweating and shaking
• Chest pain
• Feeling of detachment from reality

Many people with panic disorder report being terrified about having more panic attacks, and as a result, avoid certain situations. Symptoms can also resemble other serious health problems, such as a heart attack, so it's important to seek help without jumping to extreme conclusions.

Similar to other anxiety disorders, treatment for panic disorder integrates evidence-based therapies, medication, and self-led practices.

Most anxiety disorders can be successfully treated using therapy. If therapy is not supporting improvement, or if your symptoms are affecting your life responsibilities, relationships, and performance at work or school, you should seek more advanced help.

Inpatient and outpatient programs are specially designed to provide care for extreme anxiety disorders, offering a safe space to address fears and find coping mechanisms. They provide individual therapy, group therapy, accelerated resolution therapy (ART), and eye-movement therapies. They may also have medication management and invite people from your support network to join sessions.

These types of programs have been shown to reduce anxiety, especially through personalization, where care is tailored to your history, needs, and hopes.

At Hopewell Health Solutions, we believe that everyone can heal. We have Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) to help people struggling with anxiety.

We have a licensed team that carries out approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), play therapy, and mindfulness practices. We can also create personalized medication management plans. All our treatment is tailored to each individual and focused on helping people gain confidence and clarity to build the life they long for and deserve.

Our admissions team is happy to discuss the right level of care for you. Take a step forward. Contact us today.