Specific Phobias are characterized by strong, irrational, involuntary fear reactions to a particular object, place or situation. These fear reactions lead people to dread confronting common, everyday situations, or avoid them altogether, even though they logically know there isn't any threat of danger. The fear doesn't make any sense, but nothing seems to be able to stop it. When confronted with the feared situation, someone with a phobia may even have a panic attack - the abrupt onset of intense fear or terror in which individuals feel like they are losing control, unable to breathe or having a heart attack. Phobias can disrupt daily routines, limit work efficiency, reduce one's self-esteem and place a strain on relationships, since individuals will do whatever they can to avoid the uncomfortable and often terrifying feelings of phobic anxiety. While some phobias develop in childhood, most seem to come out of the blue, usually arising in adolescence or early adulthood. They typically have a sudden onset, occurring in situations that previously did not cause any discomfort or anxiety. Common phobias include animals, insects, heights, thunder, driving, public transportation, flying, dental or medical procedures, and elevators.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by persistent, excessive and unrealistic worry about everyday things. This worry goes on every day, possibly all day. People with GAD feel their worrying is beyond their control and can't be turned "off." They often expect the worst, even when there is no good reason for concern. Their excessive worrying is often about health, family, money or work. This worry is hard to control, and occurs on more days than not for at least six months. The unrelenting worry interferes with every day living and can affect all areas of life, including social, work/school and family.
Physical symptoms of GAD include:
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer from unwanted and intrusive thoughts that they can't seem to get out of their heads (obsessions) and feel compelled to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors and routines (compulsions) to try and ease their anxiety. Most people who have OCD are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, yet feel powerless to stop them. Some spend hours at a time performing complicated rituals involving hand-washing, counting or checking in order to ward off persistent, unwelcome thoughts, feelings or images. Others live in terror that they will accidentally do something wrong, such as harm someone, blurt out an improper statement or throw something out by mistake.
Common obsessions include:
Common compulsions include:
Obsessions and rituals can substantially interfere with a person's normal routine, schoolwork, job, family or social activities. Several hours each day may be spent focusing on obsessive thoughts and performing seemingly senseless rituals. Trying to concentrate on normal daily activities may be difficult. If left untreated, OCD can interfere with all aspects of one's life. Children can suffer from OCD as well as adults. Unlike adults, however, children with OCD do not realize that their obsessions and compulsions are excessive.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), or social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of being scrutinized and negatively evaluated by others in social or performance situations. Some people with SAD literally feel "sick from fear" in seemingly non-threatening situations, such as ordering food in a restaurant, signing one's name in public or making a phone call. Though they recognize that the fear is excessive and unreasonable, people with SAD feel powerless against their anxiety. They are terrified they will act in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating. The anxiety can interfere significantly with daily routines, occupational performance or social life. It can make it difficult to complete school, interview and obtain jobs and create and maintain friendships and romantic partnerships.
Physical symptoms of SAD include:
SAD may be selective. Some people may have an intense fear of a single social or performance circumstance such as giving a speech, talking to a salesperson or making a phone call, but be perfectly comfortable in other social settings. Others may have a more generalized form of SAD, becoming anxious in a variety of routine activities in which their performance might be observed, such as initiating or maintaining a conversation with strangers or people in authority, participating in meetings or classes, or attending parties or dating.
SAD usually begins in childhood or adolescence. Children with SAD are prone to clinging behavior, tantrums and even mutism.
