Nearly everyone experiences anxiety at one time or another. It’s simply a part of every day life. For many people, though, their anxiety symptoms go well beyond mere daily stresses. In fact, nearly 30 percent of adults will suffer from one of the different types of anxiety disorders throughout their lives. The good news is that there are numerous forms of anxiety treatment, but before you can get started you have to know exactly what you’re dealing with.
Anxiety Disorders and How to Spot Them
“Anxiety disorders” is a blanket term that covers a wide range of conditions. What these conditions have in common is an excessive sense of anxiety, which can be defined as excessive worry and apprehension about future events. While everyone experiences these anxiety symptoms at one point or another, anxiety disorders differ in that the worry is out of all proportion to the situation and prevents the sufferer from functioning normally on a day-to-day basis.
Below are some of the most common anxiety disorders:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder is a common and ongoing condition in which persistent worry interferes with your daily functioning. People suffering from this disorder often receive no relief for months or even years, unless they take action to treat it. In addition to feelings of restlessness and irritability, generalized anxiety disorder is also often accompanied by physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, or difficulty sleeping.
- Panic Disorder. People suffering from panic disorder experience regular and unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks fill the person with intense fear and a sense of being out of control. These panic attacks often seem to come out of nowhere.
- Social Anxiety Disorder. Social anxiety disorder is a phobia-related disorder in which the person experiences an irrational fear of social situations. They may feel like they are being watched and judged by people whenever they are in a social setting. Among the symptoms of social anxiety disorder are pounding heart, sweating or trembling, stomachaches, and extreme self-consciousness.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder. Although separation anxiety is often more prevalent in children, adults can experience it as well. Among adults, it manifests as a fear of being away from loved ones. When you are separated from family or close friends, you may always be worried that something bad will happen to them.
Treating Anxiety
If you feel like you may be suffering from some form of anxiety disorder, there is plenty of help out there. The first step is to make an appointment with a medical professional to get an official diagnosis. From there, several treatment options are available, including medication and talk therapy. Another possibility for anxiety treatment is ketamine therapy, a safe and innovative treatment that has proven effective in treating a wide range of psychological disorders, especially in patients who have been resistant to other treatments.
Contact Bluewater Psychiatry
At Bluewater Psychiatry, we offer a variety of treatment options for people suffering from all forms of anxiety disorders. We offer psychiatric care for all ages, tailored specifically to the individual’s needs, as well as ketamine therapy. If you have any questions or wish to schedule an appointment, do not hesitate to contact us. Please fill out the form below and someone will get back to you right away.