Anxiety Disorders

Signs, Symptoms, Disorders We Treat + More

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Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide, and in the United States, anxiety itself is a normal bodily response to stress. It can assist in motivation, alertness and can help us protect ourselves from potentially harmful or dangerous situations. Anxiety becomes a problem when it begins to hinder daily activities and functioning. People with anxiety disorders struggle with feeling a high state of panic or worry almost all the time, even when there is no real threat posed. The World Health Organization estimates that 40 million adults (18% of the population) in the United States are affected by a type of anxiety disorder. It is also important to know that anxiety is a manageable and treatable disease. Still, due to the negative stigma around seeking treatment, only 37% of those suffering from an anxiety-related illness seek care.

Individuals suffering from anxiety disorders commonly struggle with substance abuse and chemical dependency problems to cope with their symptoms. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that individuals with anxiety are twice as likely to suffer from alcohol and drug addiction than the rest of the population. Knowing that anxiety is often a co-occurring disorder alongside addiction, understanding the symptoms, risk factors, and treatments for anxiety can help you or a loved one escape the adverse and daunting effects of living with an anxiety disorder.

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety can manifest itself differently and is an illness recognized by the American Psychology Association (APA) with symptoms in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5). Listed below are the seven types of anxiety disorders. The symptoms commonly seen in all diagnosed anxiety disorders include high levels of anxiety that interfere with daily activities, overreaction to emotions, and lack of control in response to stressful situations.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Individuals with GAD often feel extreme and unrealistic worry and tension even when there is nothing present to trigger those emotions. Worry and rapid thoughts occur frequently, and daily functioning and activities related to health, work, school, and relationships become unmanageable due to copious amounts of stress and fear.

Panic Disorder

Individuals experience this type of anxiety disorder after experiencing a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, domestic violence, childhood neglect, and abuse, sexual assault, violent crime, and military combat. Symptoms of PTSD are characterized by increased irritability and anger, flashbacks, nightmares, paranoia, and social withdrawal and isolation.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Individuals experience this type of anxiety disorder after experiencing a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, domestic violence, childhood neglect and abuse, sexual assault, violent crime and military combat. Symptoms of PTSD are characterized by increased irritability and anger, flashbacks, nightmares, paranoia, and social withdrawal and isolation.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD):

Characterized by an unreasonable or heightened fear of interacting with others and being in social situations. Fears of not escaping disaster when in a crowd, appearing in crowded places, participating in social activities, and public speaking. People with SAD also tend to feel an overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about others judging them or being publicly embarrassed or ridiculed.

Specific Phobias

Demonstrated by a debilitating fear of a particular object, citation, animal, or people. People struggling with specific phobias go out of their way to avoid their particular fear even when it negatively interferes with their ability to maintain and function successfully in everyday life. Some of the most common phobias include fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), fear of heights (aviophobia), and fear of people (agoraphobia).

Separation Anxiety

Appears in those who have had traumatic experiences with abandonment or trauma. Symptoms include feeling intense fear and nervousness when a person you are close with leaves your sight and constantly worrying that something terrible will happen to the people you love.

Drug Induced Anxiety Disorder

The persistent misuse of substances, including drugs and alcohol, and other medications, can trigger an anxiety disorder.

Treatments for Anxiety Disorders

With a combination of therapies, behavioral modification strategies, and in some cases, medication anxiety is a highly treatable condition. Below are some of the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

Teaches individuals how to identify and change self-defeating thought patterns that bring about symptoms of anxiety. It also helps clients develop new coping skills and tools to maintain their long-term recovery goals even in stressful or triggering situations. CBT can be successful in both a group and individual setting.

Talk Therapy:

Talk therapy can be an effective way to discuss and identify struggles and triggers associated with anxiety disorder. It can also be a safe place to discuss past trauma or events that may be a part of the cause of the persistent anxiety. Talk therapy can help individuals take an all-encompassing approach to combat their symptoms while addressing underlying concerns related to emotional pain, loss, grief, and substance abuse.

Medications:

Medications can be a valuable tool alongside other modalities in overcoming the symptoms of anxiety. Medications in the SSRI (selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) category are often used to treat anxiety. The goal of using medications is to help individuals have more stability in their emotional and mental state, ultimately leading them to continue to lead healthier and more satisfying lifestyles. For more information on which types of medications can help you or a loved one with anxiety, contact a local treatment program or healthcare provider.

Anxiety can be an extremely debilitating medical condition. When combined with the struggle of substance abuse and addiction, the need for recovery services and treatment options becomes even more vital.

Here at Warner Park Recovery, we understand the pressing need for relief from addiction and anxiety, two disorders that affect so much of our population. We take an integrative approach to treat anxiety disorders, including services combining individual and group therapy sessions along with adventure therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, life skills building, and psychiatry services to effectively combat and treat individuals suffering from an anxiety diagnosis. We want you to be living the life that you want to live. Our goal is to help you meet your goals, one step at a time.

If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety or substance abuse and needs dual diagnosis treatment options, call our admission line today to receive information on services available to you.