Anxiety

Persistent, overwhelming nervousness or panic that occurs with an anxiety disorder can affect children, adolescents, and adults. Anxiety can harm your quality of life and social relationships, but with the appropriate treatment, you can find relief from your symptoms and regain control over your life. Stephanie Blanshan, PMHNP, FNP, and the team at Resonance Psychiatry can diagnose and treat a full range of anxiety disorders affecting adults, such as social anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive anxiety conditions, via telehealth. To learn more or to schedule an evaluation, call the office or request an appointment online today. 

What is anxiety?

It’s normal to feel nervous or anxious from time to time. However, persistent, uncontrollable feelings of worry or fear can indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are mental health conditions that can cause significant distress and may interfere with your ability to perform daily tasks, participate in social activities, diminish your overall quality of life, and may lead to physical health concerns.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, such as:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Panic attacks
• Specific phobias
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Obsessional anxiety disorders
• Post-traumatic anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders affect patients of all ages, including children, teens, adults, and seniors.

What are the most common anxiety symptoms?

Different symptoms are associated with different types of anxiety disorders. However, most anxiety disorders cause persistent, overwhelming feelings of worry, nervousness, or fear. 

Other common symptoms of anxiety include:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Difficulty remaining calm
• Sleep disturbances
• Increased heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
• Sweating
• Shaking or trembling
• Digestive problems

Anxiety may contribute to the worsening of medical conditions, such as chronic pain, headaches, cardiac issues, and other health problems. 

What causes anxiety?

Anxiety disorders arise due to a combination of variables. Factors that can lead to an anxiety disorder include:

• Genetics
• Exposure to trauma
• Life stress
• Chronic medical conditions

Sometimes, other types of mental health disorders can cause anxiety, and having an anxiety disorder can increase your risk of developing major depressive disorder.

How is anxiety treated?

The team at Resonance Psychiatry provides expert evaluation and treatment for all types of anxiety disorders. Following a comprehensive virtual assessment to determine the exact nature of your anxiety symptoms, your provider designs a personalized treatment plan to provide relief from the distress of anxiety and address the underlying cause of your anxious emotions.

Depending on your age, the severity of symptoms, overall health, and other personal considerations, anxiety treatment may include: 

• Individual therapy
• Group or family therapy 
• Anti-anxiety medications

The team at Resonance Psychiatry can provide long-term medication management and psychotherapy. They may also recommend support services to help you and your family cope with the challenges of anxiety.

To schedule an evaluation at Resonance Psychiatry, call the office or request an appointment online today.