NAVIGATION- Dr. Charles R. Davenport; Licensed Psychologist

Anxiety and Its Treatment

Sarasota anxiety treatment

Anxiety is the body’s reaction to stress, usually the fear about what is to come. Most individuals are afraid and apprehensive on the first day of school, making a speech or a job interview. 

However, if your anxiety symptoms are severe, linger for more than six months, and interfere with your daily life, you most likely have an anxiety disorder.

What are anxiety disorders?

It’s normal to be nervous about relocating, starting a new career, or taking an exam. Although this kind of anxiety is unpleasant, it may inspire you to work harder and accomplish a better job. Ordinary anxiety usually will not interfere with your daily life.

But, in an anxiety condition, you may experience terror all of the time. It is intense and sometimes frustrating.

Anxiety is the most frequent type of emotional disorder, and it can afflict people of any age. According to some research carried out by the American Psychiatric Association, women are more likely to be often diagnosed with anxiety than men.

What are the types of anxiety disorders?

Anxiety plays a vital role in a variety of conditions. These include:

  • Panic disorder: It is characterized by frequent panic attacks at inconvenient times. A person suffering from this may live in constant terror of the next panic attack.
  • Social anxiety disorder is characterized by an intense dread of being criticized by others in social circumstances.
  • OCD: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurring irrational ideas that cause you to engage in specific, repetitive actions.
  • PTSD: Anxiety caused by a traumatic incident is a post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • Separation anxiety disorder: The fear of being separated from one’s loved one or home
  • Illness Anxiety disorder: Concerns about one’s health (formerly hypochondria)
  • Phobia: abnormally intense fear of a single thing, place, or action

What Are The Symptoms Of Anxiety?

anxiety can have many symptoms. The best anxiety doctors in Sarasota help treat anxiety at Dr. Charles Davenport

Anxiety has distinct sensations depending on who is experiencing it. These feelings can be butterflies in your stomach to a pounding heart, and you may experience various emotions. You may feel out of control as if there is a schism between your mind and body.

Nightmares, panic attacks, and terrible thoughts or memories that you can’t control are other forms people experience anxiety. You may experience a general sense of fear and worry, or you may be afraid of a specific location or event.

Symptoms include:

  • fast breathing
  • increased heart rate
  • restlessness
  • focusing difficulties slipping off to sleep

Your anxiety symptoms may be quite different from those of others. That is why it is critical to be aware of all the different ways anxiety can manifest itself.

What causes anxiety?

The actual source of anxiety is unknown. However, several factors are likely at play. Environmental and genetic variables, alongside brain chemistry, all play a role.

Additionally, experts believe that the parts of the brain associated with fear regulation may be altered.

Current anxiety research involves delving further into the areas of the brain associated with anxiety. Learn more about the findings of the researchers.

Depression and anxiety

If you suffer from anxiety, the chances are that you also suffer from depression. While anxiety and depression can manifest independently, it is not uncommon for these two mental health conditions to coexist.

Anxiety can be a symptom of severe or clinical depression. Similarly, anxiety disorders can exacerbate depressive symptoms.

Both illnesses share several treatment options, including psychotherapy (counseling), medication, and lifestyle changes. Medical experts usually recommend anxiety and depression counseling for patients. 

Alcohol and anxiety

If you’re regularly anxious, you may think that a drink will help settle your nerves. Yes, that is indeed a sedative. It has been shown to reduce central nervous system activity, which may help calm your nerves for a short time.

Alcohol can increase anxiety symptoms

This may feel like the ideal way to relax and steam off the heat in a social context. In the end, it does worsen anxiety.

Some persons who suffer from anxiety disorders develop a habit of misusing alcohol or other substances to feel better consistently. This may result in the development of dependency and addiction.

It may be essential to address an alcohol or drug problem before addressing the anxiety. On the other hand, chronic or long-term use can exacerbate the problem.

How to assist children with anxiety

Anxiety is a natural and typical occurrence in youngsters. Indeed, one in every eight youngsters will suffer from anxiety. Children often develop the ability to calm themselves and manage worry as they mature and learn from their parents, friends, and caregivers.

However, worry in youngsters can evolve into a chronic and persistent condition known as an anxiety disorder. Uncontrolled worry might begin to disrupt daily activities, and youngsters may withdraw from friends and family members.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (talk therapy) and medication are used to manage anxiety in children. Discover the warning symptoms of an anxiety problem and ways for calming your child’s nervousness. 

How to assist adolescents who suffer from anxiety

Teenagers may be worried for a variety of reasons. These formative years are filled with tests, college visits, and first dates. However, teenagers who frequently feel uncomfortable or exhibit anxiety-related symptoms may have an anxiety disorder.

Teenagers who suffer from anxiety may exhibit anxiety, timidity, isolationist attitudes, and avoidance. Similarly, anxiety in adolescents can manifest itself in strange actions. They may act out, struggle academically, miss social gatherings, or even engage in substance or alcohol abuse.

Anxiety may be accompanied by depression in certain adolescents. Diagnosis of both illnesses is critical to addressing the underlying causes and relieving symptoms.

Talk therapy and medication are the most often used therapies for anxiety in adolescents. Additionally, these medicines aid in the treatment of depressive symptoms.

What are the available treatments for anxiety?

Once you’ve been diagnosed with anxiety, doctors usually discuss therapy choices. Anxiety and depression therapy may not be the only way to curb the problem for some patients, and others may require anxiety treatment. Lifestyle changes may be sufficient to alleviate symptoms.

In moderate or severe situations, treatment can assist you in overcoming symptoms and leading a more healthy daily life.

So, there are two treatment options for anxiety, psychotherapy, and medication. Consultations with a therapist or psychologist can assist you in developing tools and methods for coping with anxiety when it strikes.

Meditation can help treat anxiety

Suppose you need a mental health expert, Dr. Charles R. Davenport gives the best medical care through therapy, counseling, or treatment so you can live a healthy life with a smile every day. 

Antidepressants and sedatives are frequently used to treat anxiety. They operate by balancing brain chemistry, preventing anxiety attacks, and mitigating the disorder’s most severe symptoms. 

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