Understanding Anxiety Disorders
Everyone experiences anxiety — it's a normal response to stress. But when anxiety becomes persistent, overwhelming, or interferes with daily life, it may be an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders affect approximately 40 million adults in the United States, making them the most prevalent mental health condition.
Common anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, specific phobias, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). While each has unique features, they share a common thread: excessive, disproportionate fear or worry that is difficult to control.
Evidence-Based Treatments for Anxiety
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) — The gold standard. Teaches you to identify and change anxious thought patterns and gradually face feared situations.
- Exposure Therapy — Systematically confronting feared situations to reduce avoidance and anxiety over time.
- ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) — Rather than fighting anxiety, ACT teaches acceptance while building a meaningful life alongside it.
- Somatic Approaches — Body-based therapies that address anxiety's physical manifestations (racing heart, tension, shallow breathing).
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction — Meditation and present-moment awareness techniques that reduce anticipatory anxiety.
- EMDR — Particularly effective when anxiety is rooted in traumatic experiences.
Featured Anxiety Therapy Providers
Verified Oregon therapists specializing in this approach
When Anxiety Needs Professional Help
Consider seeking professional support if you experience:
- Persistent worry that feels out of proportion to the situation
- Panic attacks (sudden surges of intense fear with physical symptoms)
- Avoiding social situations, work, or activities you once enjoyed
- Difficulty sleeping due to racing thoughts
- Physical symptoms like chronic muscle tension, digestive issues, or headaches
- Relying on alcohol or substances to manage anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling "on edge" most of the time
With proper treatment, anxiety disorders have an excellent prognosis. Most people see significant improvement within 8–16 sessions of evidence-based therapy.
What to Expect from Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety therapy is collaborative and skill-based. In the first few sessions, your therapist will help you understand your specific anxiety pattern and develop a treatment plan. You'll learn practical tools you can use immediately — breathing techniques, grounding exercises, and cognitive strategies.
As therapy progresses, you'll gradually face feared situations at your own pace (exposure work), build confidence in your ability to tolerate discomfort, and develop a healthier relationship with uncertainty. The goal isn't to eliminate anxiety entirely — it's to prevent it from controlling your life.