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If you feel anxious more often than most other people, an anxiety disorder could be the reason. At Essential Mental Healthcare, PLLC, in Chandler, Arizona, and Boise, Idaho, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Frances Spink, DNP, MSN, MBA, PMHNP-BC, diagnoses and treats debilitating anxiety to provide the relief you deserve. Schedule an in-person or telepsychiatry anxiety evaluation by phone or request one online today.
What is an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety disorders are mental health challenges in which you respond to seemingly everyday situations with dread, worry, fear, or physical signs of anxiety, including sweating and a pounding heartbeat. While everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, an anxiety disorder often causes problems with your career, school, self-care, and/or personal life when not treated.
What are the symptoms of an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety disorders can cause:
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Racing heartbeat
- Ongoing worry or fear
- Nervousness
- Cold sweats
- Muscle tension
- Shortness of breath
- Panic attacks
- Difficulty paying attention or sleeping
- Inability to remain calm
See the Essential Mental Healthcare, PLLC, experts if anxiety symptoms interfere with your ability to flourish in everyday situations.
What are the risk factors for anxiety disorders?
Risk factors that could contribute to developing an anxiety disorder include:
- Specific personality traits, like shyness
- Stressful or traumatic life events
- Family history of anxiety disorders
- Medical problems
- Drug or alcohol withdrawal or misuse
- Depression or other mental health challenges
The exact cause of anxiety disorders isn’t clear, so you can’t necessarily prevent it.
What types of anxiety disorders are there?
An anxiety disorder can present as:
Generalized anxiety disorder
People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have unrealistic worries or extreme fears in typical everyday situations.
Panic disorder
Panic disorder is marked by panic attacks and intense, sudden episodes of extreme anxiety. You might have chest pain, sweating, a pounding heart, and difficulty breathing.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder is anxiousness, overwhelming worry, embarrassment, and/or self-consciousness in social situations.
Phobias
Phobias are marked by intense fear of specific objects or situations, like snakes, flying, heights, shots, blood, or spiders.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an extreme fear of crowds, long lines, enclosed spaces, public places, public transportation, or even leaving your home.
Separation anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety disorder affects some children and teenagers who experience fear, worry, or anxiousness when away from their parents.
What increases the risk of anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million Americans, including 30% of adults during their lives.
Risk factors include:
- Family history of anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Chemical brain imbalances
- Stress
- Traumatic experiences
Anxiety disorders typically begin in childhood, the teenage years, or early adulthood.
How are anxiety disorders diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosing anxiety disorders consists of a psychiatric evaluation, medical history review, and GeneSight® testing when needed.
Dr. Spink offers in-person and telepsychiatry (cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, etc.), medication management, lifestyle coaching, and combinations of treatments to overcome anxiety symptoms.
Schedule an in-person or virtual anxiety evaluation by phone or request one online today at Essential Mental Healthcare, PLLC.