Appendix D
Other Common Types of Anxiety
People with social anxiety often have other types of anxiety as well. Here is a list of the most common types and some typical symptoms. While many of the exercises in this book can help with the problems listed below, it is best to learn about specific tools and exercises for each type of anxiety. The websites on page 118 may also be helpful for these types of anxiety.
Panic Attacks
- Suddenly feeling really scared when you don’t expect it
- Physical sensations like racing heart, trouble catching your breath, or dizziness
- Fear of going crazy, dying, or losing control
- Fear of leaving your home
- Feeling trapped when in a store or in class
General Anxiety
- Worries that are hard to control
- Worry that you or someone you love might get hurt or die
- Worry about natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, or hurricanes
- Worry about homework assignments, tests, or getting in trouble at school
- Worry about being late to things
- Physical symptoms like stomachaches and headaches
Phobias
- Fear of specific places like elevators, heights, or bodies of water
- Fear of certain animals or insects
- Fear of needles or blood
- Fear of vomiting
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Unwanted and unpleasant thoughts that get stuck in your head
- Fear of germs or getting dirty
- Worry that you hurt someone or did something bad
- Need for things to be even or just so
- Need to repeat certain actions even when you know it does not make sense
Separation Anxiety
- Fear of being along or sleeping alone
- Fear of being away from your parents
- Anxiety when you go to school, on field trips, or away overnight
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Intense fear, helplessness, avoidance in response to a traumatic event
- Reexperiencing the trauma through flashbacks or nightmares
- Feeling numb and avoiding people, places, or activities that are reminders of the trauma
Jennifer Shannon, LMFT
, is clinical director and cofounder of the Santa Rosa Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Santa Rosa, CA. She is a diplomat of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.
Illustrator Doug Shannon
is a freelance cartoonist. He illustrated
The Two-Step
, a book that has been translated into several languages. He authored the nationally syndicated cartoon strip
Claire and Weber
from 1997 to 2000.
Foreword writer
Christine A. Padesky, PhD
, is a clinical psychologist and director of the Center for Cognitive Therapy in Huntington Beach, CA. She has more than thirty years of experience using cognitive behavioral therapy and is coauthor of
Mind Over Mood
and other books.
www.mindovermood.com