40 million Americans have anxiety, so know that you’re not alone.
Anxiety can manifest in many forms, requiring a personalized treatment approach. Understanding the type of anxiety you are experiencing can help you get the care that is right for you. By nature, seeking treatment for adult anxiety can be anxiety-inducing in itself, leading many individuals to forgo meeting with a Raleigh psychiatrist. Our practice is centered around evidence-based care and creates a supportive and comfortable environment for your care.
Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. It’s a feeling of fear or apprehension about what’s to come. The first day of school, going to a job interview, or giving a speech may cause most people to feel fearful and nervous
Anxiety is a normal and often healthy emotion. However, when a person regularly feels disproportionate levels of anxiety, it might become a medical disorder. Anxiety disorders form a category of mental health diagnoses that lead to excessive nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worry.
What is Anxiety?
Often anxiety presents as excessively worrying about things out of your control. Many patients do not even realize they have anxiety as it has been an issue most of their lives they assumed was “normal” for everyone. In some cases you may not know what you are worried about but experience an ongoing sense of uneasiness. Anxiety can also present in different forms such as sudden onset of panic attacks, PTSD, OCD or social anxiety.
Everyone experiences symptoms of anxiety and stress from time to time. It is important to differentiate what is a normal anxious response to a stressful situation from what is treatable anxiety symptoms.
Many people with anxiety often simply worry about the worst case scenarios, overthink everyday decisions or experience an ongoing sense of uneasiness. This often puts you feeling constantly on edge and difficulty with coping with daily life stressors and overwhelmed or unusually irritable.
Symptoms of anxiety
- Irritability
- Panic Attacks
- Fatigue or Unusually Tired
- Problems Concentrating
- Sleep Changes- sleeping too little or too much
- Excessive Worry or Overthinking
- Easily Overwhelmed
- Chronic Muscle Tension
- Stomach Pain or other GI symptoms
- Rapid Heart Rate or Shortness of Breath
- Chest Tightness
- Nightmares or Flashbacks about Traumatic Event
- Avoidance of Certain Places or Situations
- Constantly Feeling Nervous or Uneasy
Causes of Anxiety Disorder
At RHP, we have seen a wide range of conditions that lead to the anxiety symptoms. We work hard to treat your specific anxiety symptoms with thoughtfully chosen medications for your specific symptoms and specific coping skills to better control your anxiety.
Some of the factors that can contribute to anxiety include:
- Increased Pressure From Work or at Home
- Increased Pressure From Life Events: Financial Issues, Health Problems or Grief/Loss
- Family History of Anxiety Disorders
- Experience of Prior Trauma or Abuse
While these are the most common underlying causes for anxiety disorders that we have helped to treat at RHP, they are certainly not the only reasons for heightened anxiety and vary from one person to the next depending on your situation. If you believe that you may be experiencing anxiety symptoms, book an appointment with our board certified psychiatrist and clinical providers to discuss your treatment options.
Difference Between Anxiety And Other Issues
Anxiety is increasingly common. It can have symptoms that commonly overlap with ADHD, depression, and insomnia and has been diagnosed in more than 40 million individuals in the United States. There are varying degrees and forms of adult anxiety, requiring professional diagnosis and treatment. Aura MD has a team of experienced and certified practitioners who can help you to determine the severity of your symptoms and what medications or other treatment options, such as cognitive behavioral therapy which are best suited for your specific needs.