Anxiety

Anxiety can take various forms for different people. It can be experienced physically, emotionally, and mentally. Anxiety can be a response to future events that have not yet occurred. It is also considered a normal reaction to stressors that can help us deal with the situation. However, when anxiety becomes excessive or begins interfering with daily functioning, it is considered an Anxiety Disorder.

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Anxiety can take several forms. Related categories and disorders include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Agoraphobia

• Panic Disorder with/without Agoraphobia

• Specific Phobias

• Social Phobia

• Acute Stress Disorder

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Anxiety can show up in a multitude of symptoms and forms and varies from person to person, and can even differ from one experience to another. Some symptoms of anxiety include, but are not limited to:

• Excessive worry

• Difficulty controlling the worry

• Restlessness/feeling on edge

• Fatigue

• Difficulty concentrating

• Irritability

• Muscle tension

• Increased need for sleep (hypersomnia)

• Decreased ability to sleep

• General sleep disturbance (e.g., insomnia)

• Feelings of panic

• Fearfulness

• Dread

• Perspiration

• Shortness of breath

• Increased heart rate

• Increased blood pressure

• Inability to be still or calm

• Numbness/tingling

• Gastrointestinal (GI) distress

• Constipation

• Irritable bowel

• Frequent need for urination

• Increases in appetite

• Decreases in appetite

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Similar to several other mental health issues, Anxiety can be treated in a number of ways. While individual cases vary, research shows:

• no treatment yields the worst results,

• medication alone yields better results,

• therapy alone leads to even better results,

• and therapy and medication together consistently lead to the best results.

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Anxiety can occur due to any (combination) of the following:

• Learned behaviors (e.g., upbringing)

• Genetic predisposition (e.g., family history)

• Trauma or stressful circumstances

• Psychosocial factors (e.g., social issues, various stressors)

• Substance use/abuse

• Medication 

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Our clinicians have had years of training and experience in diagnosing and treating anxiety and related disorders. Reach out to us to learn about coping skills, problem solving, and better understanding the underlying issues contributing to your depression to help overcome and manage it successfully.