Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a common reaction to fearful or uncomfortable situations. However, an anxiety disorder causes constant worry, interfering with your quality of life.

There are many types of anxiety disorders and some of the most common include:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Generalized anxiety disorder causes excessive worry about work, health, and other situations, even when nothing is wrong.

Panic disorder

Panic disorders cause chronic feelings of intense fear that develop suddenly and can last for several minutes, triggered by a stressful situation or for no reason at all.

Phobias

A phobia is an intense fear of certain objects or situations, even when there is no cause for concern. Common phobias involve needles, heights, or certain animals and insects.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Anxiety can cause both mental and physical symptoms that affect your life, work, and relationships. Some common symptoms of anxiety include:

• Sweating
• Overthinking
• Excessive worry
• Heart palpitations

As a result of your anxiety, you may also have chronic muscle tension, headaches, and difficulties sleeping.

How is anxiety diagnosed?

When your anxious feelings and other symptoms begin to disrupt your life, your Harmony Health doctor works with you to determine the source of your anxiety. They review your medical history, your family history, and lifestyle to pinpoint the potential triggers for your anxiety.

Your doctor may also run blood tests and other diagnostics to rule out underlying health issues that may be contributing to your anxiety.

What treatments are available for anxiety?

If persistent anxiety is interfering with your quality of life, your Harmony Health doctor may recommend a combination of medication and talk therapy. Therapy can help you better cope with your anxiety symptoms and help you recognize the potential triggers that cause them.

In addition to medications and therapy, you can also make adjustments to your lifestyle to reduce stress. You can increase your daily exercise, eat a nutritious diet, and get quality sleep every night to improve your overall health. You may also need to limit caffeine and alcohol, which can contribute to your anxiety.

You don’t have to live with the overwhelming feelings of anxiety. Schedule an evaluation at Harmony Health today using the online booking feature or by calling the office.