Anxiety Disorder Treatment
DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, & MANAGEMENT OF ANXIETY IN ADULTS
40 million Americans have anxiety, so know that you’re not alone.
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 Unusally 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 Aura MD, 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 Aura MD, 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.
How Does Aura MD Anxiety Treatment Center Diagnose Anxiety
The first step in evaluating anxiety treatment options, and before diagnosing any condition, your AuraMD anxiety psychiatrist provider will perform a detailed initial consultation to identify your specific symptoms and how to the most effective way to get you back on track. Our board-certified psychiatric team will discuss and actively listen to your needs, goals and the best way to get you where you want to be. Whether you want to come into the office or receive your anxiety treatment online from the comfort of your own home, or office, Aura MD has you covered.
Aura MD has a compassionate and experienced Texas anxiety doctor team ready to answer your questions and get you back on track and feeling your best.
Book your initial consultation with Aura MD today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety
Psychiatrists treat anxiety by determining a successful treatment plan that is unique to each patient. This can include recommending therapy, medications, or a combination of both.
Anxiety can manifest in many ways depending on the person, however some of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety include feeling a sense of restlessness, upset stomach, feeling tense, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, headaches, feeling sweaty/shaky, and nervousness.
It is common for many individuals to have anxiety prior to a stressful event, one of which is commonly taking an exam. There are various medications that can be prescribed to help minimize the physical effects of anxiety. These medications are called beta-blockers and they typically work to decrease common anxiety symptoms such as rapid heart rate, feeling shaky, or sweaty. The most common beta-blockers used include propranolol, atenolol, or metoprolol.
Test anxiety and stress is a sense of distress or anxiousness that is associated with taking an exam. It can impact your ability to carry out the examination and perform to your full ability, even if you felt prepared beforehand. Some anxiousness is natural and can help keep you alert, however too much may can result in symptoms of anxiety and even affect concentration
There are a few ways to work to train your brain to stop anxiety. For some, it can help to list out your concerns out loud or on paper to help clear your mind, hoping to help you feel less stressed. It may also be beneficial to think about what is worrying you can try to understand where that anxiety comes from. However, sometimes even if you work to train your brain to stop anxiety, it is possible you may still experience it.
Physical symptoms of anxiety can last a variable amount of time depending on the person, ranging from minutes to hours. It is very common to experience physical symptoms associated with anxiety, and while these symptoms can be distressing, they are typically not related to any serious medical condition and can be alleviated with an appropriate treatment plan that is unique to you.
Just as physical anxiety symptoms can last a variable amount of time which is unique from person to person, anxiety itself is very similar. How long anxiety can last can also range from minutes to hours to even days for some depending on the situation.
You can feel anxiety in your body in many different places. This can include feeling tense or feeling a sense of tightness in some muscles, most commonly in your shoulders or back. It is also possible to feel tense in your neck or jaw, and you can even experience an upset stomach. Even though these are some of the most common locations to feel anxiety in your body, there is no specific location it may strike as it can occur anywhere the brain sends nerve signals.
Anxiety and stress are a part of life and having anxiety does not mean you are mentally ill. Occasional stress and anxiety are okay, however excessive worry and stress can negatively impact your day-to-day life. Excessive stress and anxiety can make work near impossible and can be set off by events like family gatherings, social scenarios, and even everyday tasks.
An anxiety attack can feel like quite a few different things including feeling a sense of “impending doom”, experience shortness of breath or hyperventilation, chest tightness, or a racing heart. While these are common symptoms of an anxiety attack, these can also vary from person to person, and experiencing an anxiety attack can even result in you feeling as if you are anxious about having another attack or avoiding certain circumstances in which they have happened in the past.