Types of Anxiety Disorders I treat and How They May Feel

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Panic Disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Specific Phobia
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Illness Anxiety Disorder

If you’re searching for anxiety therapy or OCD treatment, it can help to understand the different ways anxiety shows up. Anxiety disorders can affect thoughts, emotions, and the body. They often interfere with work, sleep, relationships, and everyday activities.

Here’s how each may feel in real life:

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Unwanted, distressing thoughts trigger intense anxiety. You might feel compelled to perform rituals such as checking, rumination (opposite of problem solving), thought neutralizing (replacing a bad thought with a good thought), praying, adjusting until it feels "just right", cleaning, or seeking reassurance to feel safe, even though the relief is temporary.

• Illness Anxiety Disorder (Health Anxiety): You’re highly focused on your health, worried that normal sensations mean something serious is wrong. You may research symptoms often, seek repeated medical reassurance, or avoid doctors altogether.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):  You feel like your mind is always “on,” worrying about everything from work and relationships to health and daily tasks, even when there’s no real "threat" or sign of trouble. The worry feels hard to control and is often paired with muscle tension, restlessness, or trouble sleeping.

• Panic Disorder:  Sudden, intense panic attacks strike out of nowhere without a trigger. your heart races, breathing feels hard, you may feel dizzy or like you’re losing control. Over time, you start worrying about when the next one will hit, sometimes avoiding situations "just in case".

• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia):  Being around people or speaking up in a group triggers intense worry about being judged or embarrassed. You might replay conversations afterward or avoid social situations entirely to escape the stress.

• Specific Phobia: A certain object or situation such as flying, heights, needles, or medical procedures brings on intense fear almost instantly. You might go out of your way to avoid it, even when you know the fear outweighs the actual danger. Examples include:

  • Emetophobia (Fear of Vomiting):  You live with an intense fear of vomiting, feeling nauseous, or being around someone who might vomit. This fear can lead you to avoid certain foods, restaurants, travel, or social events. Even mild stomach sensations can trigger significant anxiety.

  • Agoraphobia:  You avoid certain places such as crowded stores, busy streets, public transportation, concert venues, etc., because you fear feeling trapped, panicking, or unable to get help. Sometimes you feel safest staying close to home. This may occur with or without panic disorder.