What is the difference between “Normal Stress” and an “Anxiety Disorder”?

To be alive is to experience “stress“. We are living in an age of rapid communication, endless to dos and limited down time. It is inevitable to experience some moments of feeling on edge, overwhelmed, and unsure if we can cope with the pressures placed upon us. In fact, if we did not experience any stress, we would lose our ability to survive. If our ancestors did not experience stress at the site of a snake slithering towards them, they would not have reacted and fled for safety. But when does stress shift from being adaptive to being crippling? In general, one has entered the realm of anxiety disorders when:

You feel constantly tense, worried, or on edge
Anxiety interferes with your work, school, or family responsibilities
You experience frequent fears that you know are irrational, but can’t shake
You believe that something bad will happen if certain things aren’t done a certain way
You avoid everyday situations or activities because they cause you anxiety
You experience sudden, unexpected attacks of heart-pounding panic You feel like danger and catastrophe are around every corner

See below to further explore if you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder.

Adult Measures

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Screener

Symptoms of Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including impulsiveness, disorganization, problems focusing, trouble multitasking, and restlessness can persist into adulthood. These symptoms can have a significant adverse impact on the relationships, careers and personal safety of those who suffer from it. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-V1.1), developed in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), can provide insight on if a more in-depth evaluation is warranted. As a difficult to diagnose condition, this screener serves as a starting point to ensure every individual can receive appropriate treatment and reach their full potential.

Light On Anxiety psychologists are available for brief screening evaluations to assess for ADHD.

Anxiety Sensitivity Index

Panic disorder is characterized by repeated attacks of fear that last for several minutes (panic attacks). Interestingly, one does not meet diagnostic criteria for Panic Disorder simply by experiencing frequent panic attacks. In addition, one must also experience frequent worry about the possibility of having a future panic attack. Over 90 percent of the population will state they have had a panic attack at some point in their life yet only 3 percent meet criteria for Panic Disorder. The key different between these two groups is the second group’s high anxiety sensitivity, or discomfort with the sensations of anxiety. Panic disorder is therefore known as “fear of fear”. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index above is a clinical assessment tool that will assist you as well as your provider to determine if you are experiencing “fear of fear” or “anxiety about anxiety”.

Panic can be effectively treated with CBT and and interoceptive exposure for anxiety and panic attacks.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment Form

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by frequent, uncontrollable worries and physical manifestations of stress and anxiety such as bodily tension, difficulty sleeping and feeling restless.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can be effectively treated with CBT for anxiety.

NIMH Trichotillomania Symptom Severity Scale (NIMH-TSS)

The NIMH Trichotillomania Symptom Severity Scale (NIMH-TSS) is a helpful tool for those looking to move past trichotillomania as well as other body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). The first step in treating BFRBs is enhancing your awareness of the nuances of this behavior, such as the frequency, body sites, and the antecedents of the behavior (in other words, what are some of the triggers that occur right before engaging in the pulling or picking behavior), as well as the thoughts and negative feelings associated with the BFRB. Our clients often come to us seeing their pulling or picking behavior as an insurmountable obstacle. By obtaining a clearer and less emotionally driven understanding of a BFRB, you can begin to implement effective habit reversal therapy to decrease the frequency of the behavior and intensity of the urge to engage in the BFRB.

CBT and Habit Reversal Therapy can effectively treat trichotillomania and other BFRBs.

Panic Disorder Severity Scale

Freedom from panic attacks and panic disorder is not only about experiencing decreased “anxiety about anxiety” (otherwise known as anxiety sensitivity). It is also about experiencing decreased frequency and severity of panic attacks and related symptoms, as well as decreased emotional distress and life impairment. The Panic Disorder Severity Scale can assist you and your provider in obtaining an objective assessment regarding the frequency and intensity of your current panic symptoms.

The key to moving past panic disorder is teaching your brain not to fear the thoughts and sensations associated with anxiety and panic attacks.

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a helpful tool is differentiating the symptoms of depression from the symptoms of anxiety. Clients often come to Light On Anxiety experiencing both anxiety and depression, and there are effective, simple treatments to assist you in moving through and past both conditions. A helpful first step in beginning the treatment process is quantifying the level of symptom severity. From here, you and your mental health provider can work together to identify treatment priorities and determine the frequency of treatment and the clinical tools most beneficial to you. The good news is, you don’t need to work on everything at once. Your mental health provider can assist you in clarifying treatment goals and developing a plan that most effectively and efficiently gets you the results you’re looking for.

A Light On Anxiety treatment planning session will help you create a clear plan of attack to move through and past depression.

YBOCS Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Assessment

OCD is characterized by frequent, disturbing intrusive thoughts, feelings, ideas, or sensations (obsessions) and accompanying behaviors that one feels compelled to engage in (compulsions). Compulsions can be either external (washing hands) or internal (counting or praying). One engages in compulsions to get rid of obsessive thoughts, but this only provides temporary relief.

OCD can be effectively treated with CBT and ERP for anxiety.

Child and Adolescent Measures

Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17)

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 (PSC-17) is a psychosocial screen designed to facilitate the recognition of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems so that appropriate interventions can be initiated as early as possible.

Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS)

OCD can be effectively treated with CBT and ERP for anxiety.

Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders

Child/adolescent anxiety and related behavioral health conditions can take many different forms. It is not always obvious to the child or the family that one is experiencing anxiety symptoms. It can be helpful, as a first step in moving past anxiety, to take an assessment such as the one above to obtain an objective picture of current symptoms and determine the best course of action to assist your child in moving past these symptoms.

Child/adolescent anxiety disorders can be effectively treated with a CBT-based, action-oriented approach.

Adolescent Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A)

The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a helpful tool is differentiating the symptoms of depression from the symptoms of anxiety. Clients often come to Light On Anxiety experiencing both anxiety and depression, and there are effective, simple treatments to assist you in moving through and past both conditions. A helpful first step in beginning the treatment process is quantifying the level of symptom severity. From here, you and your mental health provider can work together in deciding the recommended frequency of treatment and the clinical tools most beneficial to you, as well as identifying treatment priorities. The good news is, you don’t need to work on everything at once. Your mental health provider can assist you and your child in clarifying treatment goals and developing a treatment plan that most effectively and efficiently gets you the results you’re looking for.