Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of excessive, persistent worry or fear. While normal for stressful situations, for those with an anxiety disorder, the feeling can be all-encompassing and impact daily life. One such common disorder is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a mental health disorder in which you suffer from chronic worry. GAD sufferers often find the worry intrusive to the point that it interferes with living a happy and healthy life. 

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Anxiety symptoms vary from one sufferer to another, but most sufferers experience frequent worrying thoughts and feel unable to relax. You may also have the feeling that danger, disaster, or doom is coming. Most GAD sufferers also experience at least some of the following:

• Restlessness or agitation
• Growing tired quickly
• Concentration problems
• Irritability
• Muscle tightness
• Insomnia

The things that you worry about can vary by day and time. Health, work, money, romantic relationships, and family problems are common stressors. The chronic nature of GAD can have more severe effects, however, and may result in disability, reduced ability to work, loss of productivity, and a high risk of suicide. It’s important to discuss your symptoms promptly with your Nevada Family Psychiatry provider. 

How is an anxiety disorder diagnosed?

Your health provider considers anxiety disorders after eliminating other possible causes, such as physical health problems and other mental health conditions. Dr. Somers will discuss your symptoms with you in detail and may have you complete some tests to aid in diagnosis. Some anxiety disorders can be present for short periods while significantly impairing, while others, like general anxiety disorder (GAD), often have impaired or troublesome symptoms for six months or more.  

What is the treatment for anxiety?

There are several different treatment approaches for anxiety disorders, and your provider customizes your care based on your unique situation. Many patients benefit from a combination of medication, dietary or lifestyle interventions,  and therapy. Your provider may recommend relaxation tools like meditation or special relaxation exercises as well. 

Managing your anxiety effectively is a joint effort between you and your care providers. It's very important to remain committed to taking medication on time, attending therapy sessions, and using the relaxation tools that you learn when you feel the anxiety start to creep in. With the right approach, you can put the anxiety behind you and recapture the joy of living without continual worry. 

For anxiety help from committed and caring experts, book your appointment using the online scheduler or call Nevada Family Psychiatry today.