Anxiety Treatment Center

Anxiety disorder is a broad term used to classify conditions in which the sufferer is overwhelmed by uncontrollable fear and anxiety. Some types of anxiety disorder are obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, various phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (more commonly known as PTSD). According to recent surveys, as many as 19 million adults in the U.S. may be affected by at least one anxiety disorder. Many anxiety disorders begin developing as early as childhood. They are equally common among all races, though women are more likely to suffer from them than men. An anxiety treatment center can help patients to manage and even eradicate symptoms of anxiety.

Since there are a variety of anxiety disorders, the symptoms depend on which one a patient has. Some common ones to look out for, however, are the following:

• Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts
• Shortness of breath
• Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness
• Recurring thoughts or flashbacks of a traumatic experience or experiences
• Partial or full insomnia
• Nightmares
• Abnormal routine behaviors, such as repeated hand washing
• Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet
• Unusually rapid heart rate
• Inability to remain still and calm
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Muscle tension
• Dizziness

Keep in mind that many of these symptoms are also indicators of other conditions, so be sure not to self-diagnose. Ask a qualified physician or mental health clinic for an examination if you think anything is wrong.

Causes

A common misconception is that anxiety disorders are the result of bad parenting, an inherent character flaw, or weakness. This is never the case. Anxiety disorders are an illness, just like the flu or food allergies. The patient is not responsible for becoming ill, and they cannot control their symptoms. It is very important that a patient’s friends and family understand this, as people with anxiety disorders often feel isolated and terrified due to their condition.

Different anxiety disorders are thought to have different causes but, in general, they are thought to be caused by a combination of changes in environment and body chemistry. Stress is often an important factor, whether it be caused by an increase in responsibility, a new job, or a traumatizing event. Anxiety disorders are also known to run in families.

Diagnosis

The first thing a person should do, when they think they might have an anxiety disorder, is visit their physician. The doctor carry out an examination to see if there are any physical causes for the symptoms. If the doctor cannot find any, the patient may be referred to a mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist working at Sovereign Health of California. There, the specialist will interview and assess the patient to determine whether they have an anxiety disorder. If this is the case, the specialist will figure out which one and how severe it is. Once these are determined, the patient can move onto treatment.

At Sovereign Health, the patient’s assessment will be used to create a customized treatment plan, individually tailored to address the particular needs of the patient. A combination of various therapies such as psychotherapy and relaxation therapy will be used simultaneously with medications that reduce the symptoms. If the patient has been self-medicating and develops an addiction problem, then dual diagnosis rehabilitation is often prescribed. The patient will also be educated on how to prevent the anxiety from taking over any part of their life in the future.