Anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways. When it comes to certain conditions or behaviors, it is grouped into types of anxiety disorders.
Anyone who has suffered from any of these types of anxiety disorders will know the debilitating effect it can have on their life. If you are reading this, you have likely experienced or suffered from some type of anxiety disorder.
There are several types of anxiety disorders, but I will focus on five:
social anxiety
panic disorder
Health concern
Generalized panic disorder (GAD)
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
These types of anxiety disorders can start with little or no warning. All of them, however, have core beliefs that maintain and fuel anxiety.
social anxiety
Social anxiety disorder is characterized by intense fear and anxiety in everyday social situations. You may feel an overwhelming urge to escape when you are in social settings. These settings can include the workplace, parties, or simply being out and about where people might be.
People with social anxiety will feel very shy. They may struggle with certain aspects of social situations. This can include eating or drinking in public or public speaking. In extreme cases, a person will feel anxious wherever he is, in any social condition.
The core beliefs behind social anxiety
Fear of rejection
I’m not good enough
I don’t feel safe
Typically, those who suffer from social anxiety have grown up in an environment where social humiliation was the norm. They would learn to expect the worst and start avoiding social gatherings to avoid embarrassment. They thought they would act awkward in all social situations. To protect themselves, they try to avoid social situations of all kinds.
Another underlying belief central to this type of anxiety disorder is the fear of rejection. Here people are afraid of making a mistake in front of others because they are afraid of rejection. This core belief will lead them to be on the side of caution when it comes to social situations. People with this core belief tend to view social situations as threats that must be avoided at all costs. Their negative thought process especially kicks in if they are expected to “perform” in some way.
Another example is when a person with social phobia does not feel safe around others. It may be due to past negative experiences, trauma, or even sensory processing sensitivity.
panic disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by sudden, recurring episodes of intense feelings of fear that don’t seem to be connected to anything real. These feelings have physical symptoms that include heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, and fainting spells.
The core beliefs behind the panic disorder
I need control
I’m looser
I don’t deserve love
Many people with certain types of anxiety disorders have maladaptive core beliefs that began in childhood. They may have lived in an environment that made them feel powerless, out of control, or unloved.
Now, these children are adults, and these core beliefs manifest as panic disorder. They feel helpless and panic when they have no control.
Health concern
A health concern is more of a hypochondriac person. It is an anxiety disorder where a person feels a real panic about having a serious illness. Most people with health anxiety are preoccupied with diseases like cancer, AIDS, heart attacks, strokes, and even death. But any kind of disease is fair game, especially one that runs in families.
The core beliefs behind health anxiety
I don’t want to give up on me
I feel isolated
I am worthless
There can be many core beliefs associated with health anxiety, it all depends on the person. But most revolve around negative views of oneself, death, and illness (including issues of abandonment and isolation). It can be common for people to misinterpret the signals from their bodies. They may even avoid parts of their own body if they think it will make it worse.
Surprisingly, another strong core belief for health anxiety sufferers is superstition. Many believe that death can be used as punishment for them being weak and worthless.
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most difficult types of anxiety disorder to treat. This is because, as the name suggests, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what caused the attack. Generally, a person with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experiences random panic attacks that come and go at will.
The core beliefs behind GAD
Fear of the unknown
Fear of the future
Fear of responsibility
One study showed that growing up in dysfunctional environments can lead to the adoption of negative core beliefs. In particular, situations in which the child is constantly under relentless pressure. This may involve them having to take responsibility, as the results are always uncertain.
Other reasons why they have to take care of others. In these circumstances, symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are likely to present as adults.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is another type of health-related anxiety disorder. OCD is characterized by obsessive and intrusive thoughts where the person must repeat compulsive behaviors. These behaviors can be anything from washing hands, examining, and counting. These behaviors become rituals to eliminate thoughts.
