Psychiatric Anxiety Treatment

If you regularly have excessive, intense fears about everyday activities and situations, then you can benefit from anxiety treatment. People who have an anxiety disorder typically experience sudden feelings of intense fear or anxiety that can culminate in a panic attack.

Anxiety can interfere with a person's daily life and it can be tough to control without treatment. It can lead to the person withdrawing from things that that would be beneficial to them to avoid the negative feelings. Anxiety disorder often starts during the teenage years and continues into adulthood if treatment is not administered.

Common types of anxiety disorders include social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder and specific phobias. A person can have more than one type of anxiety disorder at the same time.

Signs you need anxiety treatment

• Regularly feeling a sense of doom, panic or danger
• Constantly feeling tense, restless or nervous
• An elevated heart rate
• Sweating
• Hyperventilation
• Fatigue
• An inability to concentrate or think past fears
• Trembling
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Insomnia
• An inability to control fears

Different types of anxiety

1. Agoraphobia: A disorder that leads to the person avoiding situations that bring out their fears
2. Generalized anxiety disorder: The patient consistently worries about everyday activities
3. Illness-induced: The anxiety is caused by a health issue
4. Selective mutism: A consistent failure of a child to speak in important situations at home or school
5. Separation anxiety: This is linked to separation from parents or guardians
6. Social anxiety disorder: The person experiences high levels of anxiety due to feeling self-conscious, a fear of being judged or embarrassment
7. Specific phobia: The person's anxiety is triggered by a specific thing or condition
8. Drug-induced anxiety: This is often caused by frequent use of recreational drugs or being exposed to toxic chemicals

There are also unclassified types of anxiety disorders that can be just as inhibiting to a person's quality of life.

There is still much to be learned when it comes to the causes of anxiety disorders. Some people inherit the disorder, while the condition is triggered by traumatic experiences for others. Anxiety can also be caused by a health problem. For some, the symptoms of anxiety are actually the first signs of a serious health issue.

Health events that can lead to anxiety include:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Respiratory problems like asthma and COPD
• Thyroid issues
• Drug misuse
• Withdrawal from certain medications and recreational drugs
• Tumors
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic pain

Risk factors for anxiety

Risk factors for anxiety disorder include:

• Trauma
• Stress
• The patient's personality type
• Existing mental issues
• Family members with a history of anxiety disorder
• Alcohol or drug use

What to expect when getting anxiety treatment

A mental health provider can help diagnose your anxiety. A psychological evaluation will be administered to pinpoint the cause of your disorder. The two main anxiety treatment options used are psychotherapy (talking therapy) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).

CBT is particularly effective since you learn new skills that help you cope with your fears and you are gradually exposed to it to comfortably build your confidence. Medication can also be used to manage anxiety disorder.

You do not have to let anxiety take over your life. At NYC Psychiatric Associates, we can help you overcome your fears with anxiety treatment and improve your quality of life. Visit us at our New York office today.

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