Adult Anxiety Disorders

Everyone worries. As our age increases, so do our worries. Finances, health, and children can all be things that keep us up at night. In many ways, worry is a good thing. It can be the motivating force that helps us stick with a problem or a project until we find a solution. But when the worry is excessive, and interferes with normal daily functioning, it may be a sign of a more serious anxiety disorder.

General symptoms of anxiety, as opposed to worry, include:

The following are five types of anxiety disorders that commonly occur in adults:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Social Phobia
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Anxiety disorders can look like many different things, which may result in an inaccurate diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to receive a thorough evaluation of social, emotional, and academic functioning in order to fully assess the presenting symptoms and issues. If undiagnosed and untreated, anxiety disorders can have significant effects on an individual’s life, including poor social relationships, depression, poor academic/job performance, and may lead to other disorders, such as depression or substance abuse.

If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, a psychological evaluation is recommended. The Tarnow Center offers both assessment and treatment for anxiety disorders using a biopsychosocial approach that addresses the medical and psychosocial needs of the individual and the family. Appropriate intervention for anxiety disorders includes:

• Individual Therapy: Individual work focuses on developing specific skills for managing anxiety, while also addressing the struggles with daily stressors and low self-esteem that often accompany a diagnosis of anxiety.

• Biofeedback: Like individual therapy, Biofeedback works by teaching specific anxiety management skills to the client. Biofeedback employs the use of technology to make the client more aware of the internal processes that contribute to anxiety, and in doing so, teaches the client to better control these processes.

• Family Therapy: Family work is important in the treatment of anxiety in that it focuses on developing open communication and expression of emotion, while teaching parents/loved ones techniques to utilize at home with the client.

• Group Therapy: Groups provide safe and appropriate social training where the client can get feedback from peers and professionals about how to regulate their behavior.

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Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders, are “umbrella” terms used to refer to a family of disorders that share some characteristics, but that can differ in severity of impairment. Common Spectrum Disorders are listed below:

• Autistic Disorder
• Asperger's Disorder
• Rett’s Disorder
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

Most Spectrum disorders are characterized by children who don’t follow “typical” development of social and communication skills, and who display what are known as “repetitive, stereotyped” behaviors. Examples of these symptoms are listed in the tables below:

Social Impairments
Poor eye contact
Difficulty responding in typical “back and forth” communication
Seem indifferent to sharing their enjoyment of toys/objects with others
Difficulty understanding/empathizing with the emotions/feelings of others

Communication Delays
Delays in developing spoken language
Slow to respond to attempts at getting their attention
Repeat words or phrases they hear, also known as “echolalia”

Repetitive / Stereotyped Behaviors
Flapping hands or arms when excited
Intense preoccupation with specific topics/objects such as trains, calendars, planets
Extremely upset by changes in routine

ASD tends to affect 1 in 110 children, with boys being 4 to 5 times as likely to develop ASD. Scientists have not identified a specific factor that contributes to a child developing ASD, but believe that both environmental and genetic influences play a role. Previous theories tried to link ASD to certain vaccines given in infancy, but current research widely rejects this notion.

While there is no “cure” for ASD, early identification and treatment makes a significant difference in the ability of these children to reach their full potential. A good assessment that looks into the child’s interpersonal relationships, emotional functioning, learning style, and speech/language functioning is critical as soon as symptoms are suspected.

If you recognize any of these patterns in yourself, a friend, or a loved one, a psychological evaluation is recommended. The Tarnow Center offers both assessment and treatment for autistic spectrum disorders using a biopsychosocial approach that addresses the medical and psychosocial needs of the child and their family. Appropriate intervention for ASD includes:

• Family Therapy: Helps parents and siblings develop individualized strategies to manage the ASD child’s behaviors and anxiety. Family therapy also provides support to families with an ASD member.
• Group Therapy: Specifically focuses on strengthening the child’s social and communication skills, as well as develop the child’s “social radar.” Appropriateness for group therapy will depend on the child’s current language skills.
• Speech and language therapy: Address and strengthen difficulties in communication.
• Biologically based treatments: Medical (pharmaceutical) therapy or Neurofeedback can support and supplement skill building therapies.

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Anxiety Disorders in Children

Anxiety is common in children and adolescents and can often be an understandable response to normal developmental challenges (e.g., not wanting to separate from parents during preschool, being scared of the dark, shy/fearful of strangers). These anxious responses are often short and do not lead to significant problems with the child’s daily life. What separates normal anxiety from an anxiety disorder is when the anxiety is irrational and persistent and significantly impairs the child’s daily functioning.

Anxiety disorders occur in approximately one out of eight children. Anxiety in children may often be misinterpreted or misdiagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) given that both disorders have many symptoms in common. due to the similar problems concentrating, distractibility, daydreaming, fidgeting or restlessness, and impatience. Children suffering from an anxiety disorder may have a co-existing disorder of depression, eating disorders, ADHD, or other learning problems; thus, a thorough evaluation is often necessary to fully evaluate the symptoms and differential diagnoses.

General symptoms of childhood anxiety may include:

• Worrying about things before they happen
• Constant concerns about family, school, friends, or activities
• Repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or actions (compulsions)
• Fears of embarrassment or making mistakes
• Low self esteem and lack of self-confidence

The following are six primary types of anxiety disorders commonly occurring in children:

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Pediatric Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)
• Separation Anxiety
• Panic Disorder
• Post Traumatic Disorder

Anxiety disorders during childhood may appear as many different things, which may result in an inaccurate diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to receive a thorough evaluation of a social, emotional, and academic functioning in order to fully assess the presenting symptoms and issues. If undiagnosed and untreated, anxiety disorders can have significant effects on an individual’s life, including poor social relationships, depression, poor academic performance, and may lead to other disorders, such as depression or substance abuse.

The Tarnow Center offers a variety of approaches to the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders. Individual therapy and biofeedback focuses on developing specific skills for managing anxiety, while also addressing the struggles with daily stressors and low self-esteem that often accompany a diagnosis of anxiety. Family therapy focuses on developing open communication and expression of emotion and teaches the parents techniques to utilize at home with the anxious child. Additionally, group therapy provides safe and appropriate social training, where the child can get feedback from peers and adults about how to regulate their behavior.

The Tarnow Center offers a variety of approaches to the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders.

• Individual Therapy: Individual work focuses on developing specific skills for managing anxiety, while also addressing the struggles with daily stressors and low self-esteem that often accompany a diagnosis of anxiety.

• Biofeedback: Like individual therapy, Biofeedback works by teaching specific anxiety management skills to the client. Biofeedback employs the use of technology to make the client more aware of the internal processes that contribute to anxiety, and in doing so, teaches the client to better control these processes.

• Family Therapy: Family work is important in the treatment of anxiety in that it focuses on developing open communication and expression of emotion, while teaching parents techniques to utilize at home with the anxious child.

• Group Therapy: Groups provide safe and appropriate social training where the child can get feedback from peers and adults about how to regulate their behavior.

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Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder affecting parts of the brain that control alertness, attention, and behavior regulation. It is commonly referred to as “ADD,” but there is no difference between the two. ADHD is typically diagnosed in children and adolescents, and can look different depending on whether the child is primarily Inattentive, or Hyperactive/Impulsive. There is also a third subtype of ADHD, the Combined Type, which includes both Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity. The features of both the Inattentive and Hyperactive/Impulsive subtypes are listed below:

Just because it looks like ADHD does not mean that it is ADHD. There are many other problems, such as Depression, Anxiety, or Learning Disorders, that can mimic ADHD or exist alongside ADHD. Therefore, a diagnosis of ADHD requires an in-depth evaluation of a child’s social, emotional, and academic functioning.

It is important to note that ADHD is not just a disorder of childhood, and is a lifelong condition. Symptoms of hyperactivity generally fade in young adulthood, but difficulties with impulsivity and inattention tend to be consistent throughout the lifespan. It cannot be “cured,” but effective treatment will teach the child how to develop the skills that he or she is lacking, and therefore better manage life with ADHD.

The Tarnow Center offers a variety of approaches to the treatment of ADHD. Individual therapy focuses on developing specific skills, while also addressing the struggles with mood and low self-esteem that often accompany a diagnosis of ADHD. Family therapy teaches parents how to incorporate the structure and support at home that will help the ADHD child thrive. And group therapy provides safe and appropriate social training, where the child can get feedback from peers and adults about how to regulate their behavior.

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