ANXIETY
Oakville Mission 
Feelings of anxiety are a normal part of life. For some people these feelings are intense and frequent. It can start to interfere with your relationships, school, work, and other activities.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months
- Finding it difficult to control worry.
- The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (Only one item required in children)
- Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge
- Being easily fatigued
- Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep)
- Anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of life
- The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
- The disturbance is not better explained by another medical disorder
Social Anxiety
A persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. Fearing that he or she will act in a way that will be embarrassing and humiliating. Exposure to the feared situation almost always provokes anxiety, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally pre-disposed Panic Attack.
The person recognizes that this fear is unreasonable or excessive. The feared situations are avoided or when endured come with intense anxiety and distress. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared social or performance situation(s) interferes significantly with the person's normal routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting 6 or more months.The fear or avoidance is not due to direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., drugs, medications) or a general medical condition not better accounted for by another mental disorder
Panic Disorder
A period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four or more of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes:
- palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
- sweating
- trembling or shaking
- sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
- feeling of choking
- chest pain or discomfort
- nausea or abdominal distress
- feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
- derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
- fear of losing control or going crazy
- fear of dying
- paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
- chills or hot flushes
Additional Resources
Headspace: Guided Meditation and Mindfulness is a free app that provides meditations suitable for all levels. The intent is to improve focus, exercise mindful awareness, relieve anxiety and reduce stress.
Relaxing Nature Sounds is a free app that provides a selection of downloads of various nature sounds. Playing these can aid in calming the thoughts in your head and help you sleep.