Everyone feels worried or stressed at times, but when that worry lasts a long time or seriously limits your ability to go about your daily life, you may have an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders are very common. They affect roughly 30% of U.S. adults and teens at some point in their lives. Fortunately, these conditions are treatable, and you can find help for managing anxiety at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis and the Mid-South.
Our behavioral health specialists can determine whether you’re experiencing an anxiety disorder and help you find treatments to address your anxiety and free you from ongoing worry, fear and other negative emotions.
Anxiety vs. Anxiety Disorders
Experiencing anxiety isn’t always the same as having an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is a natural reaction to life stress. You may worry about money or health issues, your job, a relationship, or a loved one. Typically, these worries go away when you address the issue or solve the problem.
An anxiety disorder, however, is more severe or persistent. This condition is diagnosed when your worries and fears last a long time. You may worry about money issues even if you no longer have money problems. You may start to fear things that don’t pose a threat. These feelings worsen over time and interfere with your daily life and relationships.
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Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health condition among people in the United States. There are multiple types of anxiety disorders that cause various types of worries and fears.
Types of anxiety disorders include:
- Agoraphobia, which causes a person to worry about being in a place or situation where it would be difficult to escape
- Generalized anxiety disorder, which causes a person to feel anxious for months or even years in a way that disrupts daily life
- Panic disorder, in which someone has repeated panic attacks, or periods of extreme fear that occur for no obvious reason or when there is no obvious threat
- Separation anxiety disorder, which causes fear or anxiety about being separated from a specific person or people
- Social anxiety disorder, which causes a person to feel anxious about being embarrassed, humiliated or rejected in social situations
- Specific phobias, which cause an excessive and persistent fear of a specific object, person, situation or activity that’s not actually a danger. Examples include a fear of spiders, heights or flying. Specific phobias are the most common anxiety disorder, affecting between 8% and 12% of adults in the United States.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
All anxiety disorders cause long-lasting fear or worry, but they also cause a variety of other mental and physical symptoms. Symptoms may include:
- Apprehension or dread
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Digestive issues, such as an upset stomach or diarrhea
- Excessive sweating
- Feeling nervous, restless or tense
- Increased urination
- Irritability
- Jumpiness
- Pounding or racing heartbeat
- Restlessness
- Shortness of breath
- Tremors or twitches
- Trouble sleeping
Symptoms of Panic Attacks
Some people with anxiety disorders may experience panic attacks, a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that’s often accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness or sweating, even when there is no apparent danger. Other alarming symptoms, such as chest pain, a feeling of choking, numbness or tingling, and chills or hot flashes, can also occur.
Because many of those symptoms can also be caused by a heart attack or other serious health issues, it’s important to seek medical attention if the symptoms are new to you or seem out of the norm.
Risk Factors for Anxiety Disorders
Researchers aren’t entirely sure what causes anxiety disorders, but they’re thought to be caused by a combination of biological, environmental, genetic and psychosocial factors. While anyone can develop an anxiety disorder, certain factors can increase your risk.
For one, being female puts you at a higher risk of an anxiety disorder. Between puberty and age 50, women are twice as likely as men to have an anxiety disorder. Women are also more likely to develop anxiety along with another mental health condition, such as depression.
Other risk factors include:
- Being diagnosed with a chronic or life-limiting health condition
- Experiencing chronic or excessive stress
- Experiencing trauma, such as the death of a loved one or childhood abuse
- Having a family history of anxiety disorders
- Having a current or past anxiety disorder or another mental health condition
- Using illegal substances or drinking alcohol excessively
Treating Anxiety Disorders
The first step in treating an anxiety disorder is talking to your primary care provider or a behavioral health specialist. Many symptoms of anxiety disorders mirror those of certain health problems. Your provider can order tests to rule out a physical health problem and make sure you get the right treatment.
With an accurate diagnosis, you can work with a behavioral health specialist to develop a plan to manage and treat your anxiety disorder and get back to feeling more like yourself. Many anxiety disorders benefit from medications, talk therapy or a combination, but your provider will recommend treatments tailored to you and your diagnosis.
Anxiety Disorder Medications
Antidepressants are often used to treat anxiety. There are many types of antidepressants, but they generally work to balance brain chemicals that affect mood and behavior. Finding the medication that will work best for you may take some trial and error, so don’t be discouraged if the first one doesn’t seem effective.
Don’t stop taking an antidepressant without talking with your medical provider, even if you experience a side effect. These medications can cause withdrawal symptoms when discontinued suddenly.
In some cases, other medications, such as benzodiazepines, anti-seizure drugs or beta blockers (commonly used to treat heart conditions), may be prescribed along with an antidepressant to provide relief from emotional and physical symptoms.
Talk Therapy
Also called psychotherapy, talk therapy helps you change thoughts and behaviors that may contribute to your anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type of talk therapy. CBT focuses on identifying unhealthy thought patterns and developing new ways of thinking and other coping mechanisms that help overcome anxiety.
Mental health professionals may use other types of therapy depending on your diagnosis. Exposure therapy, for example, allows you to confront and address fears in a safe environment. Another type, acceptance and commitment therapy, helps you set goals and learn other strategies to address anxiety.
In most cases, anxiety can be treated in an outpatient setting, but if you’re experiencing severe or life-threatening symptoms, 24/7 inpatient care is available through Methodist Behavioral Health Center.
Integrated Behavioral Health
For those dealing with anxiety or worried about anxiety in someone close to them, a primary care provider can provide essential support. Through integrated behavioral health, Methodist Medical Group takes a team approach by integrating primary care providers work with on-site behavioral health consultants, working together to understand each person’s unique situation and design a customized path to recovery.
Get Help Today!
Talk with your primary care provider about a referral to one of our convenient behavioral health locations. Need a provider? Find one in our directory.
If you’re experiencing a behavioral health crisis, call or text 988, 24 hours.