What are Mood and Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders comprise the most common group of psychiatric disturbances. Although the feeling of anxiety is normal and often serves an adaptive function, anxiety can become severely disabling. Clinical anxiety can range from chronic worry and apprehension to immobilizing panic attacks accompanied by fear of dying, “going crazy” and/or losing control. Another major component of many anxiety disorders is the avoidance of places, objects, or people. Fears and avoidance may range from one or two specific situations such as heights or enclosed spaces (specific phobia) to being completely housebound (agoraphobia).

We all feel down or “blue” from time to time. However, for some people this mood can become more severe and can develop into a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Negative thoughts, a sense of helplessness or hopelessness, and always feeling sad, are symptoms of depression. It can seriously affect sleep patterns, appetite, energy levels and physical well-being.

The Mood and Anxiety Disorders assessed and treated in our clinic includes:

Panic Disorder (PD): Those with panic disorder experience reoccurring panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear that comes without warning, without any obvious reason and has a distinct beginning and end point. The fear is accompanied by physical symptoms such as pounding heart, sweating, and difficulty breathing.

Agoraphobia: An inability to go beyond known and safe surroundings because of intense fear and anxiety. Agoraphobia often occurs in people who experience Panic Disorder.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): A marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears the he or she will act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): People with this disorder have experienced a serious traumatic event and have ensuing symptoms such as reliving the trauma in dreams, numbness and lack of involvement with reality, or recurrent thoughts and images.

Trichotillomania: Recurrent pulling out of one's hair resulting in noticeable hair loss. An increasing sense of tension is present immediately before pulling out the hair or when attempting to resist the behavior and pleasure, gratification, or relief occurs when pulling out the hair.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Obsessive Compulsive Disorder includes both obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive or unwanted thoughts, images or impulses. Whereas, compulsions are behaviors or thoughts that one feels compelled to do in response to an obsession.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities. Those with this disorder have difficulty controlling the worry.

Specific Phobia: Fear of a specific object or situation (e.g. heights, snakes, etc.) that interferes with one's ability to function.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): People with MDD experience depressed or irritable mood and a significant loss of interest or pleasure. People may also have accompanying symptoms such as weight loss or weight gain, difficulty concentrating and problems with sleeping.