Anxiety Disorders
Understanding Anxiety Disorders
The feeling of anxiety can vary from person to person. For some, it can feel like random, intense spikes of panic. It can feel like an all-consuming, underlying dread that never disappears for others. Different people experience anxiety in different ways. Our providers work 1:1 with you to personalize treatment to your unique needs.
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stressful situations. It is part of the body’s “fight or flight” response; when faced with perceived danger, the body enters a state with dilated pupils, heightened senses, quickened pulse, and a flood of adrenaline. This allows us to quickly assess the situation and have a burst of strength or speed to help us get away.
Anxiety becomes problematic when the body enters this heightened state, even when no danger is present. When a person regularly feels disproportionate amounts of nervousness, fear, and worry, it could indicate a medical disorder. Those who suffer from anxiety find it difficult or impossible to control their emotional response to triggering stimuli.
Anxiety Statistics
Forty million people in the United States live with anxiety disorders ranging from mild to debilitating in severity. Unfortunately, only 39% of them will receive treatment for their disorder. Even though anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in our country, there is still a stigma surrounding them. Sufferers often feel the need to self-treat or “just get over it” on their own. At Advanced Medical Psychiatry Group, we know there’s a better way. Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms and types of anxiety.
Symptoms of Anxiety
There are several anxiety disorders, each with its specific symptoms. These symptoms are common across all anxiety disorders and are present with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). They may worsen with the consumption of stimulants, such as caffeine.
Racing, Recurring, or Intrusive Thoughts
Uncontrollable Worry
Increased Irritability
Difficulty Concentrating
Difficulty Sleeping
General Restlessness
Feelings of Dread
Heart Palpitations / Butterflies
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Our licensed psychiatric nurse practitioners treat all anxiety disorders, including:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder. GAD is characterized by long-lasting or chronic anxiety with no discernable cause.
Panic Disorder. This disorder causes episodes of intense terror in response to a perceived danger.
A disproportionate and debilitating fear of an object or situation.
The fear of situations where one might feel trapped or helpless, such as public places.
Selective Mutism. A childhood anxiety disorder wherein the child is unable to speak in uncomfortable settings, such as school.
Social Anxiety Disorder. The irrational fear of social situations.
Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder. Sufferers feel compelled to perform certain behaviors due to recurrent, intrusive thoughts.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This disorder develops after exposure to a frightening or disturbing event, such as a personal attack or military combat.
This list is not exhaustive. New anxiety disorders are still being discovered. Our care providers stay at the forefront of psychiatry and constantly update their understanding of these disorders as further information becomes available.
Treatments for Anxiety
The most successful treatments incorporate healthy lifestyle choices, therapy, and medication if needed.
Caffeinated drinks have been known to amplify the effects of anxiety, so they should be reduced or avoided. Recreational drugs, alcohol, OTC medicines, and herbs can also have detrimental effects, so patients should ask their healthcare provider before use. Many people see an improvement in their level of anxiety after giving up caffeine and other drugs, getting regular exercise, and establishing a regular sleep schedule.
Prescription medications that are used to control the symptoms of anxiety include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, tricyclics, and beta blockers.
Our Anxiety Treatment Plans
Advanced Medical Psychiatry Group tailors each treatment plan to the individual, considering their symptoms' severity, medical history, and tolerance to specific medications. We aim to develop a plan that our patients can comfortably follow and monitor their progress during follow-up exams. We take patient feedback very seriously and encourage questions and collaboration.
If you or a loved one has experienced a reduction in quality of life due to persistent anxiety, please call us or schedule an appointment online. Advanced Medical Psychiatry Group is here to help you regain control of your life.
