Anxiety disorders involve excess fear and anxiety. Our Providence, Rhode Island therapists treat anxiety disorders such as:

  • Social anxiety disorder, involving anxiety surrounding social interactions, often due to fear of negative evaluation by others;

  • Panic disorder, including panic attacks and anxiety surrounding panic attacks;

  • Generalized anxiety disorder, which involves uncontrolled anxiety about areas such as work or school, often with physical symptoms.

Diagnostic criteria for social anxiety disorder

  • Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others. Examples include social interactions (e.g., having a conversation, meeting unfamiliar people), being observed (e.g., eating or drinking), and performing in front of others (e.g., giving a speech).

  • The individual fears that he or she will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that will be negatively evaluated (i.e., will be humiliating or embarrassing; will lead to rejection or offend others).

  • The social situations are avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety.

  • The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more.

  • The fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Diagnostic criteria for panic disorder

  • Recurrent unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is an abrupt surge of intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, and during which time four (or more) of the following symptoms occur:

    • Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate.

    • Sweating.

    • Trembling or shaking.

    • Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering.

    • Feelings of choking.

    • Chest pain or discomfort.

    • Nausea or abdominal distress.

    • Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint.

    • Chills or heat sensations.

    • Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations).

    • Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself).

    • Fear of losing control or “going crazy.”

    • Fear of dying.

  • At least one of the attacks has been followed by 1 month (or more) of one or both of the following:

    • Persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks or their consequences (e.g., losing control, having a heart attack, “going crazy”).

    • A significant maladaptive change in behavior related to the attacks (e.g., behaviors designed to avoid having panic attacks, such as avoidance of exercise or unfamiliar situations).

Diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder

  • Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).

  • The individual finds it difficult to control the worry.

  • The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms having been present for more days than not for the past 6 months):

    • Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge.

    • Being easily fatigued.

    • Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.

    • Irritability.

    • Muscle tension.

    • Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep).