Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders: Symptoms and Treatment

Anxiety disorders are mental health conditions that cause feelings of stress, worry, and fear. The symptoms can negatively impact a person’s daily life and make it difficult to complete everyday tasks. Anxiety disorders affect 31.1% of adults in America at some point in their lives.[1]

There are many different types of anxiety conditions, with each one having its own set of triggers that lead to the signs and symptoms of anxiety. For example, social anxiety disorder usually involves a person feeling nervous and self-conscious in social situations. On the other hand, panic disorder causes the symptoms of panic attacks in unpredictable times. The type of anxiety disorder you struggle with can influence the treatments that will help you recover.

Treating anxiety disorders involves a combination of individual therapy, group counseling, and sometimes medications. Support groups can also be helpful to keep you connected with a community based on healing.

In this article, you will learn:

• What are anxiety disorders
• What are the symptoms of anxiety disorders
• What are the different types of anxiety disorders
• How anxiety disorders are treated in Palm City, FL

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life. It is normal to feel a little stressed during important life events, like when moving to a new house or starting a new career. However, people with anxiety disorders experience high amounts of stress during seemingly everyday activities. This can make it difficult to cope in daily life.

Anxiety disorders might cause psychological symptoms like racing thoughts, feelings of dread, and fear during specific situations. It is also common to deal with physical symptoms like a pounding heart, sweating, and shaking.

It is important to distinguish the differences between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder. You could have an anxiety disorder if your anxiety:[2]

• Interferes with your daily life
• Makes it difficult to complete tasks
• Causes you to overreact emotionally
• Makes it difficult for you to control your behavior

If you or a loved one need treatment for anxiety in Palm City, Florida, please reach out to our team to learn about our treatment programs today.

What are the Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders?

The symptoms of anxiety disorders will differ based on what type of condition you have. For example, separation anxiety disorder involves intense fears or worries related to perceived abandonment. On the other hand, generalized anxiety disorder causes intense feelings of stress for a variety of different triggers or sometimes, no reason at all.

Each anxiety disorder has symptoms that overlap. The mental symptoms of anxiety disorders include:

• Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness
• Repetitive thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic events
• Racing or obsessive thoughts about worries or fears
• Thinking about things that could potentially go wrong and catastrophizing

The behavioral symptoms of anxiety disorders may include:

• Trouble sleeping or nightmares
• Difficulty staying still or concentrating
• Ritualistic behaviors like counting or washing hands excessively

Physical symptoms of anxiety disorders involve:

• Cold and sweaty hands
• Shaking or tremors
• Dry mouth and nausea
• Heart palpitations or racing pulse
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• Muscle tension
• Shortness of breath or hyperventilation

If you experience any of these symptoms, you might have an anxiety disorder. At Palm City Wellness, we can help you determine which anxiety disorder you struggle with and create an individualized treatment plan based on your needs.

What are the Different Types of Anxiety Disorders?

Each type of anxiety disorder comes with its own set of side effects and symptoms. Each has unique triggers that lead to feelings of fear, worry, and dread. Knowing the differences between the types of anxiety disorders can help you get an idea of what you are struggling with.

The main types of anxiety disorders include:[3]

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – causes persistent and recurring worries about everyday activities

• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) – leads to intense fear, anxiety, and self-esteem issues during social events and situations

• Separation Anxiety Disorder – characterized by experiencing excessive fear and worry when you are separated from a loved one

• Panic Disorder – characterized by recurrent and persistent panic attacks and engaging in avoidant behaviors to prevent them from occurring

• Specific Phobias – intense or persistent fears of a specific object, situation, or activity that is not usually dangerous

• Agoraphobia – causes you to avoid situations or places that might make you feel panicked, embarrassed, helpless, or trapped and is often associated with rarely leaving the home

• Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder – developing the symptoms of anxiety disorders because of a substance or medication that you have been consuming

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders in Palm City, Florida

If you or a loved one suffers from the symptoms of an anxiety disorder, there is still hope. Mental health treatment centers like Palm City Wellness offer the tools and support necessary to manage your symptoms, regain control over your life, and cope with everyday activities.

Treatment for anxiety involves a combination of therapy and medication.

Anxiety treatment with medication

If your anxiety disorder stems from chemical imbalances in the brain, we will help you find a medication that suits your needs. It is common for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to be successful in managing a wide range of anxiety conditions. Sometimes it takes a few different tries to find the right medication for you.

Therapies for anxiety

In addition to medication, you will participate in evidence-based therapies that help you learn emotional regulation, identify your triggers for panic attacks, and use self-soothing techniques to work through anxiety naturally. At Palm City Wellness, we use both individual and group counseling to help you learn to manage your anxiety.

Types of therapies that may be used to treat anxiety include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Exposure therapy
• Interpersonal therapy
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Psychodynamic therapy

Lifestyle changes

In addition to therapy and medication, we encourage clients to make certain lifestyle adjustments that can support anxiety management:

• Physical activity can reduce anxiety symptoms by promoting relaxation and improving mood.
• Eating well-balanced meals can contribute to overall mental health and stability.
• Techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can help individuals manage stress and anxiety.
• Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and ensuring adequate sleep can help regulate mood and reduce anxiety.

Find an Anxiety Treatment Center Near You

Anxiety disorders are never easy to deal with. Untreated anxiety can make it difficult to complete seemingly normal tasks, such as going to the grocery store or driving a car. Thankfully, Palm City Wellness is here to help.

If you are looking for a reputable anxiety treatment center near Palm City, Florida, you’ve come to the right place. Contact us today to learn more about how we treat anxiety disorders at our state-of-the-art facility.

References:

1. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Any Anxiety Disorder 
2. American Psychiatric Association: What are Anxiety Disorders 
3. Ajp.psychiatryonline.org: Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders, and Dissociative Disorders in DSM-5