Anxiety

When should I get help for anxiety?

Anxiety serves a purpose in life because it energizes you to deal with circumstances that are challenging or dangerous. Normal anxiety goes away when the threat or event you worried about are over.

Your anxiety becomes a problem when you’re frequently or constantly worried and under stress. When your anxiety becomes chronic, levels of hormones like cortisol stay high, which damages your physical and mental health.

If you’re frequently anxious or you change your daily routine to avoid the things that make you anxious, it’s time to seek help from Dr. Chowdhury.

What symptoms develop due to anxiety?

Anxiety causes apprehension and fear as you anticipate a future event. Your body’s natural chemical response to anxiety causes a range of emotional and physical symptoms, including:

• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Pounding heart
• Sweating
• Upset stomach
• Overwhelming sense of dread
• Overthinking worse case scenarios

In addition to these common symptoms, different anxiety disorders have their own set of symptoms. For example, phobias cause fear of something specific like fear of leaving your house or a fear of spiders.

Generalized anxiety disorder makes you feel fatigued and causes muscle tension, while panic disorder causes shortness of breath and chest pain that often feels like a heart attack. No matter what type of anxiety you face, you can get effective treatment at Carolina Psychiatry, PC.

How is anxiety treated?

Treatment for anxiety includes therapy, medication, or both, depending on the type of anxiety disorder and the severity of your symptoms. Medication may be the first line of treatment if you have panic disorder or your anxiety limits your ability to perform normal daily activities.

For milder symptoms, treatment may start with therapy. There are many types of therapy and each one uses a different approach.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective therapies for anxiety. It takes a practical approach that helps you learn different ways to think and behave in response to anxiety-producing circumstances.

If your anxiety involves difficulty socializing, therapy is available to improve your social skills. Another type of therapy gradually desensitizes people so they can face their phobia without fear.

You can overcome your anxiety with individualized treatment. To get the help you need, call Carolina Psychiatry, PC, or book an appointment online.