Suzette Vaughan, Anxiety and Panic Specialist, LMFT
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
  • Constant, excessive anxiety and worry about the past, present, or future
  • Anticipating disaster and experiencing feelings of dread or doom
  • Restless, irritable, and having difficulties with concentration or focusing
  • Insomnia, muscle tension, scary body sensations or an inability to feel relaxed

Children with GAD often worry excessively about school performance, their families,
medical appointments, health issues, disease, natural disasters, or war.

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Social Anxiety Disorder
  • Extreme anxiety in anticipation of a social or performance situation
  • Overwhelming fear of feeling embarrassed or humiliated in front of others
  • Avoidance of being scrutinized or judged by others which is often accompanied by feelings of nausea, sweating, dizziness, and trembling

The onset is usually tweens/teens but can continue through adulthood, and       may occur only in specific situations or in a variety of social situations such as:  school-related events,      social activities, public speaking, asking questions,  being the center of attention, meeting new  people, or eating in front of others.


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Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks
  • Obsessive anticipatory anxiety surrounding recurrent panic attacks
    Panic Attack
    --an abrupt, unexpected, and extreme sense of panic with both highly intense body sensations and incredibly scary thoughts
  • Avoidance of places or situations where a panic attack occurred, might occur, or places that might be difficult to escape from quickly if one does occur. 
  • Can escalate into Agoraphobia.


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Agoraphobia
  • Debilitating avoidance of daily activity that might bring forth
    a panic attack
  • Maintaining a work, social or home life becomes incredibly difficult.
  • A "safe-person" might be required in order to leave the house
Feared situations are endured with intense anxiety and obsessive worry
and may progress to the point of becoming completely housebound. 

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Separation Anxiety Disorder
In children, there is an unwillingness to separate from their caregivers, fearing that something harmful will happen to them.
  • Distress and worry about events that might cause separation are debilitating
  • Homesickness, nightmares, fear of sleeping alone or complaints of physical ailments are common such as: stomach aches, head aches, nausea, and vomiting
In adults, there is a fearful obsession that harm will come to close attachment figures resulting in a struggle to maintain close contact with them.
  • Adult onset is often preceded by early symptoms in childhood
  • Panic attacks can develop when faced with separation from family members

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT #95042.  Offices in Larchmont Village and Toluca Lake