Therapies

GAD is a mental health condition characterised by persistent and excessive worry about a wide range of everyday concerns (e.g., health, finances, relationship). It's like having a constant background noise of worry playing in your mind, even when there's no immediate threat or reason to be anxious. People with GAD often find it difficult to control their worry, which can interfere with daily functioning and cause physical symptoms like restlessness, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating.

Social Anxiety Disorder is characterised by overwhelming fear or anxiety in social situations (e.g., meeting new people, talking on the phone, going to a party). It's like feeling extremely self-conscious and worried about being judged or embarrassed by others, even in common situations. People with social anxiety often avoid social situations altogether or endure them with intense distress. This fear can significantly impact daily life, affecting relationships, work, and school.

OCD is characterised by intrusive thoughts, urges, or images (obsessions) that trigger intense anxiety or distress, and/or repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) performed to alleviate that anxiety. It's like having a relentless loop of worries or fears that you feel compelled to act upon, even though you often know they're not rational. People with OCD may engage in rituals or routines, such as hand washing, checking, or counting, to temporarily ease their anxiety; which can become time-consuming and interfere with daily life.

Panic Disorder is characterised by sudden and intense episodes of fear or discomfort, accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, or a feeling of impending doom. It's like experiencing an overwhelming surge of anxiety or panic that comes on suddenly and unexpectedly, sometimes even without an apparent trigger. These panic attacks can be frightening and may lead individuals to avoid certain situations or places where they fear having another attack.

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It's like carrying the weight of the past with you, as the memories and emotions associated with the trauma continue to intrude into your daily life. People with PTSD may experience flashbacks, nightmares, or intense distress when reminded of the traumatic event. They may also avoid situations or places that trigger memories of the trauma and may feel constantly on edge or hypervigilant. They may also experienced depressed mood, feeling hopeless and detached from other people.

Not all traumatic experiences develop into PTSD. Despite this, there can be other symptoms. Trauma is subjective, meaning if an individual perceives an experience as traumatic, than it is or was. Situations that can be perceived as traumatic are vast and varied. These include, but are not limited to, child abuse or neglect, the loss of a loved one, a serious accident, bullying, divorce or infidelity, emotional abuse, medical mistreatment, academic pressure, discrimination, and parental divorce or separation. Often individuals are changed by these experiences, as if an emotional wound has been left, which affects how they see the themselves, others, and the world.