Causes of Anxiety Disorders:
Anxiety disorders are like other forms of psychological illness. The causes of anxiety disorders are unknown but likely involve genetic, environmental, psychological, and developmental factors. Researchers still don’t fully understand the root cause of anxiety disorders but they believe the following factors may be involved:
Heredity:
Anxiety disorders frequently run in families due to heredity. They can have originated from one of your parents or both of them.
Environmental factors:
A traumatic experience might trigger an anxiety condition, especially in people who are already sensitive to it genetically.
Stress due to an illness:
Having a health condition or serious illness can cause anxiety as the person may worry a lot about things like their future and treatment.
Drugs or alcohol:
Anxiety can be caused or made worse by the usage of drugs or alcohol.
Trauma:
Children who have been abused, have had trauma, or have witnessed horrifying occurrences are more likely to develop an anxiety problem in the future. Adults with traumatic experiences may also develop anxiety problems.
Chemical Imbalance:
Prolonged or severe stress can change the balance that directs your mood. An Anxiety Disorder might develop if you are under a lot of pressure for an extended length of time.
What are the symptoms of an anxiety disorder?
Your symptoms will change depending on the sort of anxiety condition you have. The following are general symptoms of an anxiety disorder:
Physical symptoms:
- Muscle tension.
- Shortness of breath.
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Having an increased heart rate
- Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
- Cold or sweaty hands
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
Mental symptoms:
- Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
- Nightmares
- Recurring memories or flashbacks of traumatic events
- Having intense, uncontrollable thoughts
- Feeling panic, fear, and uneasiness
- Urge to stay away from things that make you anxious
Behavioral symptoms:
- Inability to be still and calm
- Ritualistic behaviors, such as washing hands repeatedly
- Trouble sleeping
- Feeling weak or tired
Treatments and Therapies
Similar to any other psychological issue, an anxiety disorder requires treatment. The first step is to see a doctor to ensure that there is no physical issue causing the symptoms. If an anxiety disorder is identified, a mental health professional can assist you in choosing the most effective method of treatment. Although each anxiety disorder has unique characteristics, anxiety disorders are generally treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both.
Psychotherapy
People with anxiety disorders can benefit from psychotherapy or “talk therapy.” Psychotherapy techniques include cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches people new ways of thinking, acting, and reacting to events. It teaches you to recognize thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings. Acceptance and commitment treatment (ACT) employs techniques like goal-setting and mindfulness to lessen discomfort and anxiety.
Medication
While medications cannot treat anxiety disorders, they can significantly reduce symptoms. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and beta-blockers are the three main medications used to treat anxiety disorders. Anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines, help decrease your anxiety, panic, and worry. They act quickly, but you can develop a tolerance for them. Antidepressants are used to treat depression, but they can also help treat anxiety disorders. They could improve how your brain engages specific hormones that regulate stress or mood. Beta-blockers help relieve the physical signs of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat, shaking, shivering, and blushing.
To determine the best-prescribed medication and dosage, your healthcare professional will discuss it with you. Do not alter the dosage without first consulting your healthcare provider. They’ll monitor you to make sure the medicines are working without causing negative side effects.
Prevention
Although it’s impossible to know with certainty what will lead someone to acquire an anxiety disorder, there are steps you can take to lessen the severity of symptoms if you experience anxiety:
Get help early. Waiting to get treatment for anxiety might make it more difficult.
Stay active. Engage in things you find enjoyable. Enjoy social interaction and caring relationships, which can help you relax.
Avoid using drugs or alcohol. Anxiety can be caused by the extreme use of alcohol and other substances. Quitting these substances can cause anxiety if you are addicted to them. If you can’t quit on your own, see your doctor or find a support group to help you.
Selective mutism: Selective mutism is an uncommon anxiety-related condition. People who have selective mutism while having appropriate language abilities will not talk in certain social settings. Selective mutism typically develops before the age of five and is frequently accompanied by excessive shyness, social anxiety, obsessive behaviors, withdrawal, clinging, and temper tantrums.
How do anxiety disorders affect children?
It’s normal for children to feel some amount of anxiety, worry, or fear at specific points. A few examples of different types of anxiety disorders might include being very afraid when away from parents (separation anxiety) and having extreme fear about a specific thing or situation, such as dogs, or going to the doctor (phobias).
Every youngster feels occasional sadness or a sense of helplessness. However, some children feel sad or uninterested in things that they used to enjoy or feel helpless or hopeless in situations they can change.
Treatment, Medication, and Therapy for an anxiety disorder at Novus Beginning Psychiatry in Sugar Land, Texas
Follow these steps to begin counseling at Novus Beginning Psychiatry:
- Get in touch with our office to schedule an appointment or to learn more about anxiety disorder.
- Meet our experienced psychiatrist who will look for solutions to assist you with your psychological health
- Visit our website and learn more about human psychology.
- Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to be updated about psychological issues.
Additional Services We Provide
At Novus Beginning Psychiatry, we provide therapy and medication treatment services for people of all ages having anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, depression, ADHD, autism, and women’s issues. We provide Couples and Marriage Counseling, counseling for children, young adults, and teenagers, family therapy, men’s issues, trauma counseling, and group counseling. Please contact Novus Beginning Psychiatry immediately if you’d like to know more about our psychiatrist, therapist, and counseling service.
