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Treatment for Anxiety Disorders at Nsight

Nsight Mental Health & Wellness » Conditions We Treat » Treatment for Anxiety Disorders at Nsight

Intense Fear, Distress, and Worry Characterize Anxiety

We all experience anxiety and nervousness. For example, speaking in front of an audience makes most adults very nervous and anxious. That feeling, and brain focus, also motivates us to prepare, practice and perform at our best. But, when feelings of intense fear, worry, and distress become overwhelming and prevent us from doing everyday activities, maintaining relationships, and achieving life goals, an anxiety disorder (mild, moderate, or severe), may be present. These are most often temporary, mild to moderate situations based on life events, relationship or financial/job stress, developmental phases, and new life situations. However, some are more chronic ongoing negative thinking patterns that cause that feeling in our chest that we can’t shake and adversely impact our ability to get the experiences we want in life and feel calm.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue in the United States. Over 42 million adults in the U.S. (~20%) currently have an anxiety disorder. An estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives[7]. Most people develop symptoms before age 21, and most go completely untreated.  Some people have been able to reduce, eliminate or at least cope with mild to moderate anxiety issues by exercising regularly and vigorously, ensuring good sleep, breathing/meditating, and focusing on quality, customized nutritional plans to calm the brain and body and stave off the symptoms. But if those actions don’t help, many are left wondering what to do and why they feel this way so frequently. Most adults with anxiety do not get treated.

Why Do I Feel Like I Want to Die

Anxiety by the Numbers

  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, about a third of adults overall (32.3%) reported anxiety and depression symptoms in 2023. Nearly half of these adults (49.9%) were between the ages of 18 and 24, 38% were between the ages of 25 and 49, 29.3% were between 50 and 64 and 20.1% were 65+.     
  • 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the U.S. population is affected by GAD and only 43.2% are receiving treatment.
  • According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 2.7% of the U.S. population experienced panic disorder, 7.1% had social anxiety disorder (SAD) and 9.1% were impacted by specific phobias in the past year.
  • Results from the Healthy Minds Monthly Poll done by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) found that at the end of 2022, 37% of Americans rated their mental health as fair or poor, which is up from 31% the year before. More than one in four (26%) said they expected to have more stress at the start of 2023, up from just 20% the year before.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are a group of related brain health and medical conditions, each having several unique symptoms. However, all anxiety disorders do have one thing in common: persistent or significant worry or fear when in life situations that are not threatening; or unable to stop the worrying in the mind. People typically experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Emotional symptoms:

  • Frequent feelings of fear/apprehension
  • Feeling tense
  • Restlessness or irritability
  • Anticipating the worst and being watchful for signs of danger

Physical symptoms:

  • Chest feeling tight or not calm
  • Pounding or racing heart and shortness of breath
  • Sweating, tremors, and twitches
  • Headaches, fatigue, and insomnia
  • Upset stomach, frequent urination, or diarrhea.

Types Of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD produces chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday life. This worrying can consume hours each day, making it hard to concentrate or finish daily tasks. A person with GAD may become exhausted by worry and experience headaches, tension, or nausea.

Social Anxiety Disorder

More than shyness, this disorder causes intense fear about social interaction, often driven by irrational worries about humiliation (e.g. saying something stupid or not knowing what to say). Someone with social anxiety disorder may not take part in conversations, contribute to class discussions, or offer their ideas, and may become isolated. Panic attacks are a common reaction to anticipated or forced social interaction.

Panic Disorder

This disorder is characterized by panic attacks and sudden feelings of terror sometimes striking repeatedly and without warning. Often mistaken for a heart attack, a panic attack causes powerful physical symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath and stomach upset. Many people will go to desperate measures to avoid an attack, including social isolation.

Phobias

We all tend to avoid certain things or situations that make us uncomfortable or even fearful. But for someone with a phobia, certain places, events, or objects create powerful reactions of strong, irrational fear. Most people with specific phobias have several things that can trigger those reactions; to avoid panic, they will work hard to avoid their triggers. Depending on the type and number of triggers, attempts to control fear can take over a person’s life.

Other anxiety disorders include:

  • Agoraphobia
  • Selective mutism
  • Separation anxiety disorder
  • Substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder, involving intoxication or withdrawal or medication treatment.

Causes of Anxiety

Scientists believe that many factors combine to cause anxiety disorders:

  • Genetics.  Studies support the evidence that anxiety disorders “run in families,” as some families have a higher-than-average amount of anxiety disorders among relatives.
  • Environment. A stressful or traumatic event such as abuse, death of a loved one, violence or prolonged illness is often linked to the development of an anxiety disorder.

Diagnosis

Physical symptoms of an anxiety disorder can be easily confused with other medical conditions, like heart disease or hyperthyroidism. Therefore, a doctor will likely perform an evaluation involving a physical examination, an interview and lab tests. After ruling out an underlying physical illness, a doctor may refer a person to a mental health professional for evaluation.

Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) a mental health professional can identify the specific type of anxiety disorder causing symptoms as well as any other possible disorders that may be involved. Tackling all disorders through comprehensive treatment is the best strategy.  MD Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (in some states) can assess, diagnosis, and make treatment recommendations.

Treatment for Anxiety

At Nsight Mental Health & Wellness, treatment plans can be created in concert with the adult client/patient for a sound plan of action.  Depending on the type of anxiety and severity (mild, moderate, or severe), clients can engage in residential / crisis stabilization for several weeks or months, outpatient (day or evening programming) with and without housing support, or pure outpatient for counseling, psychiatric care/medication management, exposure therapy/Virtual Reality Experiences, mediation, breathing techniques for stress reduction practices.

Treatment to effectively address Anxiety, Panic, Post Traumatic Stress, and the events that have led up to them can help one to proactively manage stressors and symptoms while building confidence in oneself to minimize the effect in the future. Reach out for information on psychotherapeutic treatment as medications such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium, and other Benzodiazepines are helpful with symptoms management but don’t address the underlying problems. Participation in treatment involving Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Solution Focused Therapy, all Evidenced Based Practices, can help one effectively manage anxiety and trauma that negatively impacts their lives. Call Nsight Mental Health & Wellness or your doctor for a referral as Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists and other mental health professionals are there to help.  Our goal is to make the treatment experience valuable and affordable for each family engaged.

Ready to Get Started?

It’s impossible to answer all the questions you might have on a webpage. We encourage you to call us at 949-629-3730 and have a chat with one of our friendly admissions staff. They will be happy to help. Alternatively, you can verify your insurance by providing some basic, confidential information and we will call you when the verification of benefits is complete (usually same day).

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