Living With an Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety may not be pleasant, but it is a normal human emotion that helps keep us alert and safe when there is trouble. However, when someone is living with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety they experience can be constant, excessive, and out of proportion to what is happening in their life. If left untreated, an anxiety disorder can worsen and damage a person's relationships and physical and mental health. Therefore, it is important to know how to recognize this type of disorder, so you or a loved one can get help.

Am I or a loved one living with an anxiety disorder?

The only way to know if someone is experiencing an anxiety disorder is to seek help from a professional, such as a psychiatrist. However, certain symptoms are strong indicators of this type of disorder. Someone may have an anxiety disorder if any of the following apply:

• The daily presence of excessive worry or fear that lasts at least six months or more.
• Anxiety or worry interferes with one’s ability to work and maintain relationships.
• One has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Difficulty concentrating or controlling emotions.

A mental healthcare professional can review a patient's symptoms and medical history to help them determine the nature of their disorder. From there, they can develop a treatment plan tailored to that patient's needs.

The importance of treatment for an anxiety disorder

Living with an untreated anxiety disorder can seriously damage one's physical and mental health. Not only can a disorder like this cause one to withdraw socially, but also it can harm one's job performance. If not treated, anxiety disorders can eventually lead to problems with addiction or substance abuse and even contribute to physical illnesses, such as high blood pressure.

Getting treatment for an anxiety disorder can help patients cope and get back to enjoying their lives. By working with a mental health professional, patients can reduce their daily level of anxiety and develop the ability to recognize anxiety-provoking thoughts and apply effective coping strategies. Our team helps patients get the correct diagnosis and find a treatment that brings relief and a return to a joyful and fulfilling life.

Treatment for anxiety disorder

There are different types of anxiety disorders; determining the type is the first step to developing a treatment plan. Though each patient's treatment plan differs, effective treatment tends to involve a combination of therapies. For example, many patients find the most relief by combining antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication with talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

The psychiatrist will conduct a thorough physical and psychological exam. In addition, the doctor may order certain tests to rule out any physical illnesses behind the patient's anxiety symptoms. Once the doctor has an accurate diagnosis, they may start the patient on medication.

It can take several weeks for the medication to start working. Therefore, the doctor will offer additional guidance and possibly a referral to a therapist to help the patient manage their symptoms. Our team continues to monitor the patient and adjust treatment when necessary.