ANXIETY DISORDERS

Anxiety disorders are among the most common of all psychiatric illnesses. Anxiety disorders are conditions in which you experience persistent anxiety that might worsen over time. Symptoms might make it difficult to do things like work, schoolwork, and maintain relationships. High pathological levels of anxiety interfere with perceptions, memory, judgment, and motor responses. Chronic anxiety is wearing on the body; therefore, assess for effects on the cardiovascular system.

There are many different types of anxiety disorders. Symptoms can be brief, lasting only a few hours, or long and incapacitating. The problem can interfere with day-to-day living and can affect sleep, concentration, travel, and health. There is no known cure for anxiety, but treatments can help. Read on to learn more about how to manage anxiety disorders. It’s important to remember that anxiety disorders can be managed with therapy, and or medications.

The following are some of the most prevalent symptoms of anxiety disorders:

  • Nervousness or restlessness
  • A feeling of impending doom
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Hyperventilation
  • Shaking or trembling
  • Inability to focus due to worry
  • Insomnia
  • Stomach pain or other gastrointestinal issues

Anxiety Diagnosis

Anxiety diagnosis requires the presence of certain signs and symptoms and must interfere with a person’s ability to perform normal daily tasks. Anxiety disorders must not be caused by another mental or physical disorder. Although anxiety disorders can occur in combination with other conditions, their symptoms may overshadow those of the underlying condition. Anxiety disorder symptoms can cause an individual to worry and feel depressed. However, the good news is that anxiety is treatable.

The symptoms of anxiety disorders include excessive worry and fear, nervousness, and obsessions. In addition to these symptoms, anxiety disorders also have numerous physical symptoms. Because of this, a clinician must be highly suspicious when they observe multiple symptoms in a patient, particularly if they have no physical cause. Some researchers recommend screening for psychiatric disorders as part of routine health care for some patients. The earlier that an individual recognizes the signs and symptoms of anxiety, the better.

Anxiety Disorder Facts

If you suffer from anxiety, you are not alone. Anxiety disorders are a common mental health issue in the United States. Here are some facts about anxiety disorders affecting almost one in three adults at some point in their lives. Prevalence 19.1% of U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder, and 31.1% will experience one at some point in their lives. Women are more likely to experience anxiety disorders than men, with 23.4% of women and 14.3% of men experiencing an anxiety disorder in the past year.

First, identify what triggers your anxiety. Do not isolate yourself from people and activities you enjoy. Instead, reach out and make friends with like-minded individuals. Consider joining a support group. You’ll get compassionate help and advice from others who are going through the same experience. Additionally, physical activity can reduce anxiety symptoms. Make time to get regular exercise and reduce your stress. Avoid caffeine and other stimulants. Taking the medication prescribed by a doctor is also a great way to relieve stress.

The following is a list of anxiety disorders that Point Psychiatry team is knowledgeable about.

  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
  • Panic disorder
  • Panic attack
  • Separation anxiety disorder
  • Specific phobia
  • Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can also include severe anxiety.

For most patients, our specialists recommend a combination of psychotherapy and medication to treat anxiety disorders.

Therapy for Anxiety

Psychotherapy

Anxiety disorders often benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy, which gives you specific strategies to manage your anxiety while progressively teaching you how to deal with the circumstances you’re scared of.

If you’re having difficulty managing the symptoms of your anxiety, psychotherapy might be helpful. People who suffer from anxiety disorders are often aware of their worst fears, which make everyday activities difficult or painful. They may also question the strength of their relationships and the strength of their own convictions. However, psychotherapy can help you manage these symptoms and overcome your anxiety.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most common type of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. The aim of this treatment is to help sufferers identify their learned behaviors and replace them with less harmful ones. This therapy has been proven to reduce anxiety symptoms and improve the quality of life for those who suffer from it. The American Psychological Association reports that 75 percent of patients who undergo psychotherapy improve their quality of life significantly. However, it is important to understand that psychotherapy is not a quick fix.

How to manage Anxiety?

Our clinicians recommend medications to individuals who have severe episodes to lessen the severity of their symptoms. The sooner you get a professional diagnosis for an anxiety disorder, the better. At Point Psychiatry, we have behavioral experts who are experienced, certified, and trained to handle a wide range of anxiety disorders. Relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga, exercise, sleep, and avoiding drugs and alcohol can help manage anxiety.

While psychotherapy is the most common form of treatment for anxiety disorders, medications can also be a part of the treatment plan. Among the available medications for anxiety disorders, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to help patients learn new ways of controlling and managing their thoughts. This type of therapy may involve slowly exposing patients to triggers to help them build a tolerance to them. Generally, beta-blockers and sedatives are short-term medications. Antidepressants, on the other hand, are commonly prescribed for long-term use.

Off-label medications are usually prescribed by healthcare professionals to treat anxiety disorders. However, they may have side effects or interactions with other medications and should be used only under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Medications for anxiety disorders are one of the most common forms of treatment for this mental health condition. Approximately 264 million people worldwide suffer from anxiety disorders. Although off-label medications are not recommended for everyone, it’s worth trying them if you don’t see results from non-pharmacological methods.

Our Anxiety Providers

Anxiety is a common mental disorder that can be treated by a variety of professionals. Getting help early is crucial for successful treatment. If your anxiety is mild, your primary care doctor can rule out other conditions and refer you to a mental health professional if necessary. However, if your anxiety is severe or is accompanied by another mental health disorder, you may need more serious treatment.

Medication for anxiety disorders is often prescribed. Antidepressants work by changing the neurotransmitters in the brain. These chemicals regulate our moods and feelings. Most antidepressants used for treating anxiety belong to the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully. Aside from medications, your doctor can also recommend therapy to help you overcome your anxiety symptoms.

DEPRESSION

Depression is a mood disorder that can affect a person’s thoughts, feelings, behavior, and sense of well-being. Mood disorders are the most common of all psychiatric illnesses. Sadness is one of the most common, normal human emotion. Depression must distinguish between normal levels of sadness and pathological levels that are symptomatic of an underlying brain-based illness called major depression. Major depression requires treatment and generally will not fully abate without therapeutic intervention. Untreated, major depression predisposes people to other serious health problems, so pathological levels of depression should not go untreated.

Depression’s Symptoms

Depression causes many symptoms, with some of the most common beings:

  • Empty feeling, Feelings of sadness, tearfulness
  • Overwhelming sadness
  • Hopeless feeling
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
  • Chronic exhaustion, Fatigue or low energy levels Low or depressed mood daily
  • Frequent or recurrent Intrusive thoughts about death or committing suicide
  • Difficulty thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
  • Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters, Fidgeting
  • Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
  • Sleep changes, such as oversleeping or sleeping too little
  • Appetite changes, leading to Unintended weight loss or gain
  • Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
  • Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
  • Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Although mild sadness, irritation, or other symptoms may occur from time to time, patients with depression experience these symptoms for weeks, months, or even years.

Depression can be caused by a number of factors, including:

Brain chemistry imbalances, such as low serotonin or dopamine

Family history

Stressful life events, such as trauma, divorce, or the death of a loved one

Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, or chronic pain

How to Cope with Depression

Based on the available research, the mental health community estimates that 80 percent of people with depression feel better when seeking treatment. In some cases, depression lifts when the patient heals from the traumatic event that caused it. These people may struggle with depression at other times in their lives, but they typically do not have chronic problems.

People who have chemical imbalances that cause depression often feel better with the right combination of treatments. It can take time to find the right options. These patients must often continue treatment for years or even throughout their lives. However, effective solutions allow the symptoms of depression to go away.

Treatment options for depression include:

Individual therapy

Medication

Regular physical activity

Maintaining a regular sleep schedule

Eating regular, healthy meals

Avoid drink too much alcohol. For some people, alcohol can become a problem

Connecting with people

Group therapy

What works for one patient may not be sufficient for another. It’s essential to work with a qualified mental health care provider to get a personalized care plan to fit your needs.

When to get emergency help

If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number immediately.

Also consider these options if you’re having suicidal thoughts:

Contact a suicide hotline.

In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat. Services are free and confidential.

U.S. veterans or service members who are in crisis can call 988 and then press “1” for the Veterans Crisis Line. Or text 838255. Or chat online.

The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. has a Spanish language phone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).

Reach out to a close friend or loved one. Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.

 

Contact us or call us today for an appointment, if you need help from a professional psychiatrist. We’re here to help you!