Anxiety 101: Types and Treatment Options
Category: Anxiety
Anxiety in all its forms is highly treatable, and there are more options than ever for those seeking help.
Topic Of Discussion
Anxiety is more than feeling nervous from time to time; it is a disorder that can deeply affect a person’s daily life, relationships, and physical well-being, and comes in several different forms:
Types of Anxiety Disorders
-
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
The most common anxiety disorder, GAD involves persistent and excessive worry about everyday things. People with GAD may feel anxious most days, often without a specific trigger, and may struggle to control their worries even when they recognize they are out of proportion to reality.
-
Social Anxiety Disorder:
This is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. For people with social anxiety, everyday interactions—like eating in public, speaking in meetings, or even making small talk—can cause overwhelming stress.
-
Performance Anxiety:
Often categorized under social anxiety, performance anxiety is specifically tied to fear of performing tasks under observation—like public speaking, giving presentations, or performing in front of an audience. The fear of embarrassment or failure can significantly hinder performance.
-
Separation Anxiety Disorder:
While often associated with children, separation anxiety also affects adults. It involves excessive fear or distress about being away from loved ones or the safety of familiar places. Sufferers may feel panicked at the thought of being separated or worry excessively about potential harm coming to someone they care about.
-
Situational Anxiety:
This type is triggered by specific situations or objects. Common examples include fear of heights, flying, confined spaces, public speaking, or medical procedures. While the anxiety may be short-lived, it can be intense and disruptive.
Treatment Options for Anxiety Disorders
No matter what type of anxiety you’re dealing with, treatments are available and can help. Many of these approaches go beyond simply managing symptoms and work at a deeper neurological or emotional level to help resolve the root causes of anxiety, including:
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
CBT remains one of the most evidence-based therapies for anxiety. It helps people identify, challenge, and replace distorted thought patterns with healthier ones. CBT also often includes behavioral strategies like exposure and relaxation techniques.
Other, newer therapies work directly with the body and brain to process stored trauma and unresolved stress that can contribute to chronic anxiety. They are especially effective when traditional talk therapy alone hasn’t produced results:
-
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing):
Originally developed for trauma, EMDR is also highly effective for anxiety-related issues. It involves guided eye movements or bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess distressing memories or thought patterns. This allows emotional material to be “unstuck” and integrated in a healthier way, often resulting in rapid symptom relief.
-
Brainspotting:
This newer technique helps individuals access and process unresolved emotional experiences by identifying specific “brainspots”—eye positions that correlate with stored trauma or stress. The therapist uses these points to help clients go deeper into their bodily and emotional responses. Brainspotting is particularly helpful for anxiety that stems from unconscious or early-life experiences.
-
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART):
ART is a short-term, structured therapy that combines elements of EMDR with guided visualization and memory reconsolidation. It helps people rapidly reduce distressing images and sensations linked to anxiety by “rewriting” how the brain stores these experiences. Many individuals report significant relief in just a few sessions.
Wrapping it up
All in all, anxiety is highly treatable, and there are more options than ever for those seeking help. If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety, our qualified counselors at Tri-Star Counseling are trained to help. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.
