Anxiety

More than 40 million American adults suffer from anxiety yearly. That is more than 18% of the population. Thus, the negative impact of this disorder is felt nationwide.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal stress reaction. It can also be triggered by the anticipation of future challenges or events.

Stressful situations such as going for an interview or meeting a new person can trigger anxiety. When anxiety is prolonged and lasts for months, it becomes a problem.

This problem is called an anxiety disorder.

What Causes Anxiety?

While there is no precise recognized cause, there are certain contributing risk factors. This includes

Medications or other chronic diseases
Environmental factors such as trauma or family problems.
Drug addiction and abuse.
Defects in brain chemistry

What Does Anxiety Do to a Person?

Anxiety can cause a lot of behavioral changes. It can make you scared and worried. It can also affect your blood pressure and lead to profuse sweating.

People with anxiety disorders are usually worried, frightened, or anxious for long periods. If you are experiencing this, it’s time to take action and seek help.

What are The Types of Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety can lead to the following disorders

Panic disorders

This refers to repeated panic attacks. People who suffer from this disorder are usually worried or anxious about the next attack. This can lead to a vicious cycle of attacks.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

People suffer from this disorder because of a traumatic event in their past. It is usually triggered by an action or event.

Social Anxiety Disorder

People who suffer from this disorder are extremely anxious in social situations. They worry about being judged by others.

Phobias

This refers to extreme fear of an object or an anticipated event. Examples of phobias include acrophobia and claustrophobia.

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)

People with this disorder suffer from illogical thoughts. This compels them to do things in a specific pattern or order. They might also do these things repeatedly.

What are The Signs of Anxiety?

How is Anxiety Disorder Diagnosed?

Diagnosis is usually carried out by your healthcare provider. There are no tests needed to diagnose an anxiety disorder. However, your healthcare provider must perform tests that rule out other conditions. Your complete medical history will also be requested.

What are Possible Treatments for Anxiety?

You can treat anxiety at home or with medical help. Home remedies usually require some form of lifestyle change. This includes:

In some situations, home remedies might not be enough. This is especially true if it is an anxiety disorder.

When anxiety disorder is severe, medications and some form of therapy might be needed. Your primary health care provider can provide you with more information.

How Can You Help Children With Anxiety?

It is not uncommon for children to develop anxiety disorders. When this happens, it can hurt the child’s development and social life. Isolation, shame, and extreme clumsiness are consequences of anxiety disorders in children. Medications and cognitive behavioral therapy can help children during this difficult period.

When should you see a doctor?

You should see your primary provider if you have persistent feelings of worry or anxiety. That will ensure the issue is treated as soon as possible.

Why Choose Mending Minds Orange County?

At Mending Minds Orange County, our mission is to design customized substance abuse treatment programs to cater to the individual’s needs. No two individuals are the same and therefore one size fit all approach doesn’t work in the substance abuse treatment. At Mending Minds Orange County, we offer,

We work with most insurance companies. Click here to see if you are covered for your treatment program.

If you have any questions or if you wish to learn more about our mental health treatment programs, please visit https://mendingmindsorangecounty.com/ or give us a call at 949-541-0139