Anxiety is a common human emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. Nearly everyone experiences some anxiety in their life.
When anxiety becomes excessive, irrational, or impacts daily function, it may meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders affect around 31% of U.S. adults at some point. Common examples include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and separation anxiety.
Symptoms of anxiety disorders can be emotional, physical, cognitive, and behavioral. Emotional symptoms include feelings of apprehension, tension, or uneasiness. Physical symptoms include restlessness, fatigue, tense muscles, stomach upset, and sleep issues. Cognitive symptoms include constant worrying, fixation on negative possibilities, feeling overwhelmed, and trouble concentrating. Behavioral symptoms include avoidance of situations, changing habits, nervous physical behaviors like nail biting, and using alcohol to self-medicate.
What causes anxiety?
Anxiety disorders have no single cause. Complex interactions of biological and environmental influences are at play. Risk factors include genetics, brain chemistry differences, personality traits of shyness or high sensitivity, childhood adversity or trauma, learned worrisome thinking patterns, medications, and medical issues. Diagnosis of an anxiety disorder requires meeting established criteria in the DSM manual.
Treatment options aim to reduce symptoms and improve daily function. Types of treatment include psychotherapy approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), anti-anxiety medications like SSRIs or benzodiazepines, holistic options like yoga, lifestyle changes like improved sleep and nutrition, and in some cases complementary medicine approaches like acupuncture.
The psychologists and medical providers at Revive Hormone Institute specialize in integrative and tailored treatment plans for anxiety, using both traditional approaches like CBT and novel hormone therapies personalized to the individual’s needs. Anxiety treatment varies widely - there is hope, and it is so important to seek help. The first step is speaking to a mental health professional. Relief from anxiety is possible with professional support.
This overview summarizes key aspects of this prevalent mental health issue. Anxiety has multiple causes, symptoms effect wellbeing in many ways, and there are thankfully a range of management strategies to explore for coping with this challenging emotion. The compassionate medical providers at Revive Hormone Institute encourage anyone living with excessive anxiety to reach out today to start the journey toward relief. Don't face anxiety alone - support and effective treatment are available.