How Does Anxiety Show up Differently for People?
-Social anxiety is a fear of judgement that is generalized to various situations.
-General anxiety is the fear of negative things happening in the future.
-OCD is a specific fear of thoughts that show up that are the opposite of who you are,
and your OCD wants 100% certainty. Common OCD themes include:
Contamination/Germs
Scrupulosity – This is when your thoughts are based on never being good enough
(eg. In the eyes of God, never exercise enough, etc.)
Sexual orientation – Always questioning
Harm to others or self – A fear of harming others or yourself.
Relationship – Constantly doubting your relationship and wondering how you can be certain one person is the best fit for you
Need to know (for sure)
Just right – Usually thoughts are that if something is not just right, then something bad will happen
A real event – When an event happens and you develop thoughts about never completely knowing about that event for sure (eg. A house burns down and someone becomes fixated on how they will never know for sure if they did or didn't cause it to happen)
Sensorimotor – Becoming fixated on an automatic process in your body and fear that it will never become automatic again (eg. Blinking, breathing, going to the bathroom)
Paedophilia – The fear that you want to have sex with a child, so you may do everything you can to stay away from children, sometimes even including changing your own baby's diaper. This OCD theme can cause significant shame in individuals, but remember that your fears are the opposite of who you are.
Postpartum
Disgust
+ many more
Panic Disorder – Recurrent and unexpected panic attacks. Often there is a fear of having another panic attack. And there may, or may not, be a trigger.
PTSD – Requires exposure to an upsetting traumatic event.
Specific Phobia – An intense fear of something specific, where the actual danger is little or none. Examples include fear of dogs, flying, heights, needles, enclosed spaces, driving, situations that may lead to vomiting, etc.
*Special Consideration: PANS/PANDAS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome)
Occurs in children
A sudden and severe onset of anxiety/OCD/tics/learning difficulties/refusal to eat after an illness such as viral or strep infection, mold exposure, or lyme.
Needs medical attention
+Other Ways!
