Anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety disorder is a prevalent mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can make everyday situations feel uncomfortable and result in panic attacks or avoidance of certain situations due to ongoing fear and worry. While it’s normal to experience anxious feelings from time to time, having them every day can significantly impact your quality of life, prompting you to seek professional mental health care. At Journey Psyche, we offer treatment options that can help reduce the debilitating symptoms of anxiety disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Some common symptoms of anxiety disorder include constant fear or worry, nervousness or restlessness, overthinking situations, sweating, or trembling, difficulty focusing, problems sleeping, depression, and fear of social situations. You might find yourself avoiding people, places, or things that trigger your anxious feelings. It’s crucial to note that anxiety symptoms can range from mild to severe, and in some cases, they can be debilitating.
Risk Factors for Developing Anxiety
The exact cause of anxiety disorder is unknown, but there are several risk factors, including a family history of anxiety, past trauma, ongoing or extreme stress, having an illness or disease, other mental health challenges, substance use, and chemical imbalances in the brain. Some research suggests that certain personality traits may contribute to the development of anxiety disorders, such as being timid or shy, wanting to be in control of everything at once, or being easily flustered. If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety disorder, it’s essential to seek professional help. Our team of mental health professionals at Journey Psyche can provide you with the support and care you need to manage your symptoms and improve your overall well-being.
How is Anxiety Diagnosed?
If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety, it’s important to seek professional medical help. To diagnose anxiety, the team at Journey Psyche will review your medical history, lifestyle habits, medications, and symptoms. They may also ask about your emotions and behavior patterns.
Treatment Plans for Anxiety May Include
Once a diagnosis is made, your treatment plan for anxiety may include lifestyle counseling, which involves changing your lifestyle habits, such as eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise, and prioritizing good quality sleep. Prescription medicines may also be recommended to reduce side effects and ensure the medicines you’re taking are working for you. When it comes to treating anxiety, there are different options available. Buspirone is one medication that is commonly used to treat anxiety. It is believed to affect chemicals in the brain that regulate mood. On the other hand, antidepressant medications work by affecting neurotransmitters. While they can be used to treat anxiety symptoms, it often takes 4 to 6 weeks to see noticeable effects. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a type of antidepressant that increases levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sexual desire, appetite, sleep, and memory. Your doctor will typically start you on a low dose and gradually increase it. Some examples of SSRIs used to treat anxiety include Lexapro (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline).
If you’re struggling with anxiety, our team provides effective talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, to help you make positive behavioral changes and cope with your symptoms. In addition to talk therapy, we also offer EMDR therapy, which is highly beneficial in treating PTSD and other traumas. However, it can also be very helpful for mental focus, depression, panic attacks, eating disorders, addictions, and anxiety. During an EMDR session, our licensed and trained provider will use ZOOM video to move their fingers in front of your screen, asking you to follow along with your eyes, while you recall a traumatic event and all the sensations that come with it. The session usually lasts up to 60 minutes and begins with you rating your level of distress.
If you’re interested in learning more about anxiety treatments or would like to book an appointment, Journey Psyche is just a phone call or online booking away.
Treatment Plans For Anxiety
Lifestyle Changes
One of the most effective approaches in treating anxiety is lifestyle counseling, which involves making changes to your daily habits like eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise, and prioritizing good quality sleep.
Medication Management
Prescription medication can also be helpful in reducing anxiety symptoms. Our team of healthcare professionals can help manage your medications to ensure that you are taking the right dosage and experiencing minimal side effects.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is another powerful tool for managing anxiety. Through psychotherapy, our team can help you address the root causes of your anxiety and develop strategies for coping with stress and making behavioral changes.