Anxiety

Worry is part of being human. Anxiety becomes a problem when it starts making your decisions for you: what you avoid, how you sleep, what you stop doing. This door covers the most common forms and what helps. Ten newer guides take one subject each: generalized anxiety, body symptoms that need a medical check, social anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, health anxiety, child anxiety, and three on medicines, including hydroxyzine and propranolol. You will also find a plain guide to telling everyday anxiety from a panic attack, an essay for teens and young adults who are stuck on "what if," and a five-part series on OCD, from what it really is to the treatment that feels backwards but works. There are also honest guides to benzodiazepines, including why they can become hard to stop and how a safe taper is planned.

New here? Start with anxiety versus panic attacks. Then read the overthinking essay. If intrusive thoughts or rituals are part of your day, begin the OCD series at Part 1. For step-by-step practice tools, such as a worry window and careful exposure, visit the Therapy & Skills door.