Anxiety, Panic, OCD
Anxiety vs Panic
Anxiety and panic are two related but distinct psychological conditions that can have a significant impact on a person’s life. Anxiety can be defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. On the other hand, panic is a sudden and intense fear that can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, and shaking. Both anxiety and panic are normal emotions that everyone experiences at some point in their lives, but when these feelings become persistent, excessive, and interfere with daily activities, they can be indicative of a medical disorder.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States, affecting millions of people each year. They can range from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is characterized by excessive and persistent worry about everyday life events, to specific phobias, such as a fear of heights or public speaking. People with anxiety disorders may also experience physical symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.
Panic disorder, on the other hand, is a type of anxiety disorder that is characterized by sudden and repeated attacks of intense fear, which can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. These panic attacks can come on without warning and can be incredibly distressing. People with panic disorder may avoid certain situations or activities that they associate with panic attacks, leading to significant limitations in their daily lives.
Help with anxiety and panic disorders usually involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are often prescribed to help reduce symptoms of anxiety and panic. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can also be very effective in helping people with anxiety and panic disorders. CBT teaches individuals how to recognize and change negative thought patterns that contribute to their anxiety and panic symptoms
How is OCD different than anxiety?
OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images or impulses (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). These compulsions are performed in an attempt to ease the anxiety caused by the obsessions, but they are not realistically connected to the situation and only provide temporary relief. The compulsions can take up a lot of time and impact daily functioning, causing significant distress and impairment.
OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) and anxiety are related but distinct mental health conditions. While anxiety is a general term that refers to feelings of worry, nervousness, or fear, OCD is a specific type of anxiety disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions).
People with OCD have obsessions that cause them significant distress and anxiety, and they perform compulsive behaviors to try to alleviate that anxiety. The compulsive behaviors are not realistically connected to the situation and often take up a lot of time, impacting daily functioning.
Anxiety, on the other hand, can have a variety of causes and can manifest in many different ways, such as general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or specific phobias. While people with OCD may also experience anxiety, not everyone with anxiety has OCD.
In summary, OCD is a specific type of anxiety disorder that is characterized by persistent obsessions and compulsive behaviors, while anxiety is a general term that refers to feelings of worry, nervousness, or fear.
If anxiety, panic or OCD is getting in the way of your life or happiness, give us a call! We use the latest evidence based therapists, such as CBT and DBT, to help you master your mental health!
