Understanding Anxiety
Understanding anxiety
Every person experiences anxiety at one point or another. Anxiety is a feeling of unease or worry about an unclear threat or future event. Anxiety is usually accompanied by physical symptoms such as raised blood pressure, tension in the arms and legs, or a tingling sensation.
Though it’s natural to feel anxiety once in a while, these feelings can grow more frequent and intense to the point that your day to day routines become disrupted. You may find yourself doing everything you can to avoid certain situations or activities that cause you great anxiety. Perhaps you become terrified or sleepless about a specific object or action, even if you know that it's not an immediate danger. At this point, you consider getting diagnosed and treated for an anxiety disorder.
Whether you think or you know for sure that you have an anxiety disorder, you aren’t alone. In fact, 32.3% of adults in the United States report regular symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder. And in Texas, that number is a little higher — 36.8% of adults.
Over 40 million adult Americans have an anxiety disorder. It's the most common type of mental health condition among adults, but unfortunately, more than 60% of people with the condition go untreated. Many people don’t know that anxiety disorder is extremely treatable.
Signs and types of anxiety disorder
Panic or fear
Feeling nervous, tense, or restless
Coldness, numbness, trembling, or tingling
Sleep problems, irritability
Being unable to think about anything else except the worry
Avoiding activities or triggers related to the worry
Rapid breathing, breathing trouble
Anxiety disorders come in different forms. You may have heard these terms before:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Regular, persistent worries that you have difficulty controlling. Overthinking plans and solutions and difficulty handling uncertainty. Constant fear about making the wrong decision. GAD is diagnosed when your worrying happens on most days for at least 6 months.
Social anxiety. Social anxiety often starts in adolescence. It’s characterized by an intense fear of being watched and judged by others. Activities such as meeting strangers, starting conversations, speaking on the phone, group conversations, or making mistakes can feel terrible.
Anxiety or Panic attack. Anxiety attacks usually involve some very challenging physical symptoms. A single anxiety attack can feel like a medical emergency — you may experience a combination of shortness of breath, nausea, and/or a racing heartbeat.
Phobias and panic disorders are also classified as anxiety disorders and can improve with the right treatment.
Why should I get treatment for anxiety disorder?
When you have an anxiety disorder, your feelings of terror may be triggered even without any threats. Shopping, meeting loved ones, working or sleeping may become challenging. Anxiety disorders can make it difficult for you to function or simply to enjoy life.
In the toughest situations, you may feel depressed or irritable or develop trouble with drugs, drinking, or other unhealthy coping mechanisms.
By becoming more aware of your anxiety and working with a trained professional to understand and manage it, you can regain control of your life. Anxiety disorders are unlikely to go away or disappear on their own. In fact, they can actually worsen over time. The sooner you seek professional help, the easier it can be to treat.
Get help for anxiety disorder in Dallas-Fort Worth
The psychiatrist you choose to accompany you on your journey will make a huge difference in your healing process. I’m Ina, a PMNHNP in Dallas, Texas. I earned my Doctorate in Nursing from the University of Texas, and have been working in the medical industry for over ten years.
At Hearts of Health, we take a holistic approach that combines cutting-edge science with proven therapy techniques to bring long-lasting change. When we meet, we will discuss your unique symptoms and specific concerns to develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
If you are looking for treatment for anxiety disorder in Dallas, my private practice is located at 5301 Alpha Road. I am also available to provide teletherapy to patients in the Texas, New York, and Arizona. No matter where we connect, it is my commitment to create a safe, confidential space for you.
