Anxiety Disorders
What is an Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety disorders may be the most common mental illness in the United States, according to some sources. In fact, the National Institute for Mental Health reports that 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders in a given year.
These illnesses occur when a person experiences irrational fear, distress or uneasiness for six months or more – disrupting productivity and affecting quality of life.
Some examples of anxiety disorders include:
• Panic disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder
• Specific phobias
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
What are the symptoms of Anxiety Disorder?
Actually, each anxiety disorder has its own distinct symptoms – but they all center on excessive, irrational fear and dread.
People who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) may know that their anxiety is more intense than the situation calls for, but they can’t seem to shake their worries. They may have problems relaxing, concentrating, falling/staying asleep, and may startle easily. Physical symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder can include:
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Muscle tension/aches
• Difficulty swallowing
• Trembling
• Twitching
• Irritability
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Lightheadedness
• Frequent urination
• Feeling short of breath
• Hot flashes
Other, more specific anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder (or social phobia), are centered on certain events or situations:
• People with social anxiety can have an intense fear of being observed or judged by other people, and of doing something to embarrass themselves.
• They worry excessively about an impending event beforehand, are extremely uncomfortable during the event, and obsess for hours afterward about how other may have judged them.
• Social phobia can encompass some of the same symptoms of GAD, such as profuse sweating, trembling, nausea and difficulty talking.
How can The Treatment Center Help?
With our full staff of dedicated, experienced mental health professionals, The Treatment Center is equipped to handle your anxiety disorders. We can prescribe medications and provide you with psychotherapy – and, perhaps most importantly, walk with you on your journey toward improved mental health.
We can help you.
Please contact us at 877-392-3342 for a free confidential assessment and discussion of the different options available to you.
