Anxiety

When should I seek help for anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural part of everyday life. Whether your child is sick, your car breaks down, or you just lost your job, you can’t escape it.

Most of the time, anxiety serves an essential role. As soon as you feel anxious, your body prepares you for the challenge at hand by releasing a surge of hormones. The hormones boost your energy and sharpen your concentration.

But your body wasn’t designed to handle frequent, constant, or severe anxiety. When you can’t shake your worries and fears, your body stays on high alert, keeping hormones at unusually high levels. Eventually, the hormones cause emotional and health problems.

You know you’re in the problem zone when you change your routine to avoid the people, places, and activities that trigger anxiety. When you feel overwhelmed, can’t seem to function, or purposefully practice avoidance, it’s time to seek help.

What symptoms occur due to anxiety?

Each anxiety disorder has its own unique symptoms. However, all anxiety disorders can cause:

• Fear
• Dread
• Worry
• Irritability
• Nervousness
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Stomachaches
• Muscle aches

Ongoing or extreme anxiety may lead to a panic attack. Panic attacks occur suddenly and cause symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, a racing heart, and excessive sweating.

What are the different types of anxiety disorders?

You may develop one of six primary anxiety disorders:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder (panic attacks)
• Phobias
• Agoraphobia

Many mental health disorders also cause intense anxiety, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia.

How are anxiety disorders treated?

Anxiety disorder treatment typically starts with psychotherapy (talk therapy). However, you may also need medication. Though there aren’t medications to cure anxiety disorder, they can significantly relieve your symptoms, especially if you have panic attacks.

Your visit begins with a comprehensive psychiatric assessment, allowing Dr. Wright to learn about your challenges, diagnose your anxiety disorder, and determine if you have other issues that often accompany anxiety, like depression. Based on your assessment and after discussing your goals, he recommends a treatment plan.

Several types of therapy are proven to help you manage anxiety. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most effective for anxiety, reduces your anxiety by learning different ways of thinking and reacting.

You can overcome anxiety with expert care from Ryan Wright, MD. Call or book online today to schedule an appointment.