Anxiety

What are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are conditions affecting your mental health by causing fear, intense worry, or even panic attacks in situations that don’t bother most other people. Anxiety disorders are common, but they may negatively affect your job, school, relationships, and overall quality of life when not addressed.

What are the different forms of anxiety disorders?

Common anxiety disorders include the following.

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): unrealistic worry, fear, and being overwhelmed
• Agoraphobia: intense fear of being overwhelmed and unable to escape in new places
• Phobias: fear or worry that’s intense, caused by something specific and disrupts your daily life
• Panic disorder: an anxiety disorder that causes unexpected panic attacks without warning
• Selective mutism: not speaking at all when in specific situations
• Social anxiety disorder: intense fear or discomfort in social situations
• Separation anxiety disorder: fear and anxiousness when separated from a loved one

Your risk of having an anxiety disorder may increase if you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), acute stress disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anxiety also commonly appears with depression.  

Other risk factors associated with anxiety disorders include a family history of anxiety, brain chemistry changes, and severe or long-lasting stress.

Which symptoms can anxiety cause?

Anxiety is often characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:

• Irritability 
• Fear, panic, or dread in seemingly normal situations
• Feeling on-edge
• Obsessive thoughts or behaviors
• Difficulty concentrating
• Heart palpitations
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Restlessness 
• Muscle tension
• Shortness of breath
• Sweaty or cold hands
• Nausea
• Difficulty sleeping

Your symptoms may be mild and not bother you much, or severe and debilitating when left untreated. A panic attack may feel like you’re having a heart attack.

How are anxiety disorders diagnosed?

The experts at Hampstead Therapy and Wellness meet with you in person or virtually to establish which mental health condition you might have. They ask questions about your symptoms, medical history, medications, lifestyle, moods, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

How is anxiety treated?

Treating an anxiety disorder at Hampstead Therapy and Wellness may involve counseling, medication management, and making lifestyle modifications. Your mental health provider may recommend more than one type of treatment. They meet with you in person or virtually for counseling sessions.

Schedule an in person or telehealth anxiety disorder evaluation at Hampstead Therapy and Wellness by calling the office or using the online booking feature today.