F.A.Q.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, worry, or fear that develops when you anticipate or encounter any type of threatening situation. Everyone occasionally experiences anxiety in their daily life. They may have a job interview, be preparing for a first date, have lost their job, or face an illness.
When you feel anxious, your brain immediately puts your body on high alert and energizes you to rise to the challenge. Then your anxiety should disappear after you face the circumstance.
For some people, anxiety turns into a constant presence, or they often experience anxiety that’s severe and out of proportion to the situation.
Anxiety becomes a serious problem when you can’t shake it, the feeling becomes overwhelming, or you change your behavior or routine to avoid the things that trigger your anxiety.
When anxiety interferes with your life and relationships, it’s time to seek help at Addiction and Psychiatric Care.
What symptoms accompany anxiety?
There are several types of anxiety disorders, and each one has a defining set of symptoms. For example, generalized anxiety disorder occurs when you uncontrollably worry about everyday things, whether or not there’s something to worry about.
By comparison, social anxiety disorder causes intense anxiety when you need to meet new people, go to public places, or deal with situations where you must perform in front of others.
As a group, all anxiety disorders cause a range of physical and emotional symptoms. In addition to dread or worry, you may also experience:
- Irritability
- Nervousness
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Tense muscles
- Trouble sleeping
- Rapid heartbeat
- Difficulty concentrating
Intense anxiety can trigger a panic attack, which causes sudden, severe symptoms such as sweating, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
How is anxiety treated?
Treatment for anxiety often begins with psychotherapy, either alone or together with medication, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
Your provider may prescribe one of several types of medications that ease anxiety-related symptoms. Some work quickly and can prevent a severe anxiety or panic attack, while others take several weeks to have an impact.
Many therapeutic approaches effectively help patients overcome anxiety. One type that’s frequently used, cognitive behavioral therapy, teaches you to recognize and change the thinking patterns that trigger your anxiety.
When anxiety keeps you away from daily responsibilities and the activities you enjoy, call Addiction and Psychiatric Care, or request an appointment online today.