Anxiety and Panic

Anxiety disorders are very common and readily treatable.

Experiencing some anxiety and stress in our lives is normal and even healthy. Stress helps ensure our survival by motivating us to make positive changes or avoid dangerous situations. When anxiety or panic reaches a level where it begins to impair our ability to function optimally, treatment can help get one's life back on a positive track.

If you feel overwhelmed with anxiety and stress you are certainly not alone! Anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed group of psychiatric disorders. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 31% of adults meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder* at some point in their lives and nearly 20% have had one within the past year. There are a number of different anxiety disorders or types such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, performance anxiety/intense public speaking fear, and anxiety caused by substance abuse or an underlying medical disorder.

Some common symptoms of anxiety are:

  • Chronic generalized worrying
  • Mind going blank or freezing in stressful situations
  • Chronic muscle tension
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling restless or on edge
  • Becoming easily fatigued
  • Pronounced irritability
  • Feelings of impending doom or fear of imminent death (panic).
  • Racing thoughts
  • Rumination; replaying the days events in ones head repeatedly. This often includes thinking about what one wishes they had said or done differently.
  • Apprehension or avoidance of places or people.
  • Difficulty sleeping, often with racing or ruminative thoughts.
  • Fear of losing control or “going crazy.”
  • Physical symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, sweating, trembling, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, tingling in fingers or toes, and so on.
  • Depression is not technically a diagnostic symptom of anxiety, but anxiety can certainly contribute to depression and vice versa. Anxiety and depression are often diagnosed and treated together.

Treatment We Provide

We can diagnose a wide variety of anxiety disorders during an initial evaluation and prescribe medication if appropriate. Please see our services & pricing page for more information on our evaluation.

*NIMH includes PTSD and OCD in the category of anxiety disorders.

References: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Any anxiety disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved January 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorders.html