Anxiety Counseling

What is an Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety can be defined as an individual’s response to a threat, real or imagined. It is a process, to some extent, that is present in all living things. Anxiety isn’t always bad. It can assist us in coping with tense situations and motivate us to work harder or stay focused when working towards a goal. However, chronic anxiety that is excessive, irrational, and debilitating can interfere with our overall quality of life. It becomes chronic when anxiety interferes with our ability to function in daily life, work, school, and relationships. Chronic anxiety is fueled by the fear of what might be: fear is a response to an immediate threat, while anxiety is the anticipation of a future concern (American Psychiatric Association, 2026).

While some amount of anxiety is part of being alive, if worries and fears prevent you from living your life, it would be helpful to seek out a mental health professional specializing in anxiety disorders.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, n.d.), anxiety disorders affect an estimated 19.1% of U.S. adults in a year, and an estimated 31.1% of adults experience an anxiety disorder at some time in their lives. Past-year rates are higher for women (23.4%) than for men (14.3%).

Unlike acute anxiety, caused by a stressful event like driving in bad weather, chronic anxiety or anxiety disorders are present for a long time without any imminent threat. Anxiety disorders respond very well to treatment; however, many people don’t get treatment. For example, only about 43% of people with generalized anxiety disorder are receiving treatment (Anxiety and Depression Association of America [ADAA], 2026). Fortunately, people who experience chronic anxiety can be successfully treated and go on to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

If you or someone you know is experiencing chronic anxiety, you aren’t alone, and there is no need to suffer. Search TherapyTribe for a therapist specializing in anxiety disorders and learn more about treatment options.

Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Even though each person with chronic anxiety may have unique symptoms, there is a typical thought process involved: irrational fear and dread.

Some other common anxiety symptoms are listed below (NIMH, 2025).

• Feelings of panic, fear, and nervousness
• Uncontrollable, obsessive thinking
• Repeated thoughts or “flashbacks” of traumatic events
• Irrational ritualistic behaviors
• Excessive sweating or numbness in the hands or feet
• Shortness of breath, hyperventilation
• Chest pain or heart palpitations
• An inability to be still and calm
• Dry mouth, nausea, dizziness
• Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
• Being easily fatigued
• Having difficulty concentrating; mind going blank
• Being irritable
• Having muscle tension
• Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
• Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, restlessness, or unsatisfying sleep

Types of Anxiety Disorders

The DSM-5-TR lists generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and selective mutism as anxiety disorders. OCD and PTSD now have their own categories, but they are closely related to anxiety and are included here (American Psychiatric Association, 2026).

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is when you experience repeated, unexpected attacks of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, chest pain, heart palpitations, or a feeling of choking. Panic attacks are so severe that you can feel like you are dying or that you’re going to lose control. This leads to developing a deep fear of having another panic attack. Panic attacks are incredibly debilitating and scary. For those who have repeated panic attacks, there’s no need to suffer. Seek treatment before you start to avoid places or situations in fear that another panic attack will occur. A professional can help you better manage yourself when panic attacks happen, giving you the confidence to handle yourself better in times of extreme stress.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Individuals with OCD experience excessive, unwanted thoughts or obsessions accompanied by ritualistic behaviors intended to reduce anxiety. Individuals with OCD often recognize their obsessive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors as irrational; however, they still find it hard to stop them. It is normal to double-check that the stove is off or to worry about the well-being of a loved one. However, if these thoughts or behaviors become excessive and begin to consume your thoughts or keep you from partaking in the responsibilities necessary to lead an everyday life, it may be due to OCD.

Read more about the symptoms of OCD ›

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a trauma-related condition that can develop following a traumatic or life-threatening event. Some examples of traumatic events are war, the unexpected death of a loved one, sexual or physical assault, a plane crash, or a natural disaster. It is normal and expected to respond to trauma with “shock” or acute stress. However, if dealt with and worked through, these symptoms gradually lift over time. When suffering from PTSD, you can experience significant problems at home, work, or other vital areas of life. Without treatment, PTSD symptoms can linger and may get worse over time.

Read more about the symptoms of PTSD ›

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

All of us get nervous or self-conscious at some point in our lives. Whether it’s before giving a speech or interviewing for a new job, it’s natural to feel anxious. However, social anxiety disorder or social phobia is more than shyness or occasional nerves. People with social phobia experience intense anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. They have an intense fear of being watched and judged by others, which consumes them, making work, school, and any daily activity very challenging. Some people with SAD understand that their fears are excessive and unreasonable but cannot overcome them. In the most severe cases, social situations are avoided altogether.

Read more about the symptoms of SAD ›

Specific Phobias

A specific phobia is an anxiety disorder that involves an intense, irrational fear of a particular object or situation. Examples are fear of heights, closed-in spaces, flying, germs, spiders, snakes. The affected person avoids contact with the objects or situations and, in severe cases, any mention or picture of them. The level of fear is disproportionate to the situation and can lead the person to go to great lengths to avoid what they fear. Avoidance of the feared object or situation only strengthens the phobia. The fear is so intense that the idea of facing the actual phobia can bring on a panic attack or severe anxiety.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD is a pattern of chronic anxiety and worries over daily activities and thoughts about future events. People with GAD go about their day filled with amplified fear and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it in their current life. They anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about possible health problems, difficulties at work, money, or family issues. This chronic anxiety takes a physical toll, causing body aches, poor sleep patterns, and constant exhaustion (NIMH, 2025).

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is an intense fear of situations where escape might be difficult or embarrassing, or where help might not be available if panic symptoms start, such as using public transportation, being in a crowd, being in open or enclosed spaces, or being outside the home alone (American Psychiatric Association, 2026). People with agoraphobia often avoid these situations, go only with a trusted companion, or push through them with intense fear, and without treatment it can become so severe that a person is unable to leave home (American Psychiatric Association, 2026). CBT, including gradual exposure to feared situations, is an effective treatment (Bandelow et al., 2017).

Anxiety Treatment Approaches

The treatment approaches used for your anxiety will depend on the type of anxiety disorder, its severity, and the therapist’s treatment modality.

Most anxiety disorders are treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), medication, or a combination of the two (Bandelow et al., 2017). Anxiety disorders usually respond well to treatment, but untreated anxiety can get worse over time (NIMH, 2024).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a well-established and highly effective treatment for anxiety disorders (Bandelow et al., 2017). CBT focuses on identifying, understanding, and changing thinking and behavior patterns. In therapy, patients are actively involved in their improvement; this gives them a sense of control. Patients learn skills that are useful for their entire lives. CBT typically involves completing assignments at home, like reading and practicing what they have learned. This practice is instrumental in seeing improvements.

Read more about CBT as a treatment method ›

Exposure Therapy

A form of CBT, exposure therapy helps reduce fear and anxiety responses. In treatment, a person is exposed to a feared situation or object, learning to become less anxious about it over time. Research shows it helps with phobias, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder (American Psychological Association, 2017).

Medication for Anxiety Disorders

Medication can be used on its own or together with therapy such as CBT (Bandelow et al., 2017). Medicine does not cure anxiety disorders; however, it can keep symptoms under control while a person receives therapy (American Psychiatric Association, 2026).

It is essential to give adequate time to a treatment plan to gauge its success before you decide to go on any medication. And on occasion, individuals may need to try several different treatment combinations before finding the right one.

Antidepressants called SSRIs and SNRIs are usually the first medications tried for anxiety disorders, and they can take a few weeks to start working. Benzodiazepines work quickly but are not recommended for routine use because of the risk of tolerance and dependence (Bandelow et al., 2017; NIMH, 2025). A psychiatrist or primary care provider can explain the options and possible side effects.

People with anxiety disorders also commonly struggle with related problems, such as perfectionism, angry outbursts, or using alcohol or drugs to manage anxiety symptoms. It is essential to address all significant issues in therapy.

What to Expect in Anxiety Counseling

In the first few sessions, your therapist will ask about your symptoms, what tends to trigger your anxiety, and how it affects your daily life, and then work with you to set clear goals, such as driving on the freeway again or sleeping through the night. Many therapists use CBT, which helps you notice anxious or unhelpful thoughts, question them, and gradually change the patterns that keep worry going, often with short practice exercises between sessions (NIMH, 2025). Therapy can take some time to work, so you and your therapist will check in regularly on how you are feeling and adjust the plan as needed (NIMH, 2025).

Complementary Treatments

Research suggests that some complementary approaches can support progress in treatment. For milder anxiety symptoms, exercise, meditation, biofeedback, and hypnosis may also help, although the evidence is stronger for exercise and meditation than for biofeedback and hypnosis (Aylett et al., 2018; Bandelow et al., 2017; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [NCCIH], 2022).

Below are some things someone can do in addition to therapy or even before they try treatment:

Social Support Network

A compassionate and understanding social support network can be instrumental in the recovery of a person with anxiety. Close personal relationships with family, friends and the community are directly linked to a person’s general well-being. Positive feedback and support can help motivate a person to stay on the course of treatment. In addition, many people with anxiety benefit from joining a support group or an online support community. Sharing stories of success and failures can lead to critical improvements and inspiration to stay motivated. With this in mind, advice from peers shouldn’t be used as a substitute for care from a mental health professional (NIMH, 2025). To connect with others working hard to manage symptoms of anxiety, visit AnxietyTribe.

Healthy Lifestyle

Eating well, avoiding stimulants, and regular exercise can help ease anxiety. A person’s physical well-being is connected to their mental and emotional well-being. In addition, stress management techniques like meditation can help people with anxiety to calm themselves and may enhance the effects of therapy (NIMH, 2025).

Biofeedback

Using sensors to measure the physical symptoms of anxiety (increased heart rate, fast breathing, sweaty palms, and tense muscles) can teach you to recognize the body’s natural response to anxiety. In turn, you can utilize relaxation techniques to counteract the physical effects of anxiety and calm yourself in intensely stressful situations (Alneyadi et al., 2021).

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is sometimes used alongside CBT to treat anxiety, although controlled studies are still limited (Bandelow et al., 2017). A hypnotherapist can help you achieve a state of deep relaxation that may help you face your fears and learn to deal with them constructively.

Narrow Band Green Light

Preliminary research suggests that exposure to Narrow Band Green Light (nbGL) may reduce anxiety in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). One small 2023 study of 13 people with GAD found that psychotherapy sessions conducted with exposure to nbGL can increase positive feelings significantly more than sessions conducted under regular room light (Melo-Carrillo et al., 2023).

If you’re in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (US and Canada), or see our crisis helplines for other countries. If you have experienced sexual assault, the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673) offers free, confidential support.

Find Help for an Anxiety Disorder

If you or someone you know is experiencing chronic anxiety, it’s never too late to seek help. Anxiety disorders are treatable and, without treatment, can get more severe over time. People with anxiety can lead happier lives with proper and effective treatment.

Search TherapyTribe today for someone who specializes in treating anxiety; there is no need to live with anxiety and the challenges it creates in your life.

References

Alneyadi, M., Drissi, N., Almeqbaali, M., & Ouhbi, S. (2021). Biofeedback-based connected mental health interventions for anxiety: Systematic literature review. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 9(4), e26038. https://doi.org/10.2196/26038

American Psychiatric Association. (2026). What are anxiety disorders? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders

American Psychological Association. (2017). What is exposure therapy? https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/exposure-therapy

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2026). Anxiety disorders: Facts and statistics. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics

Aylett, E., Small, N., & Bower, P. (2018). Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 18, Article 559. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5

Bandelow, B., Michaelis, S., & Wedekind, D. (2017). Treatment of anxiety disorders. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 19(2), 93–107. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelow

Melo-Carrillo, A., Rodriguez, R., Ashina, S., Lipinski, B., Hart, P., & Burstein, R. (2023). Psychotherapy treatment of generalized anxiety disorder improves when conducted under narrow band green light. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 16, 241–250. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S388042

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2022). Meditation and mindfulness: Effectiveness and safety. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-and-mindfulness-what-you-need-to-know

National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Any anxiety disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder

National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Anxiety disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders

National Institute of Mental Health. (2025). Generalized anxiety disorder: What you need to know. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad