Anxiety - Vitality Health Center

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a common mental health condition characterized by excessive and persistent worry that interferes with daily activities. It is the body's natural response to stress, but becomes problematic when it's disproportionate to the triggering event.

There are several types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday life. Symptoms include restlessness, fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.
• Social anxiety disorder causes intense fear of social situations due to concern over embarrassment or scrutiny. Physical symptoms include blushing, sweating, trembling, and nausea.
• Panic disorder involves sudden, unexpected panic attacks with symptoms like accelerated heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, and trembling. It stems from worrying about future attacks.
• Phobias are marked by irrational fear of specific objects or situations that pose little to no threat. Common phobias include heights, flying, and spiders.
• Separation anxiety involves fear of being away from home or loved ones. It's most common in children but can affect adults too.

Anxiety has complex causes including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. Treatment often involves therapy, medication, or both. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps patients replace negative thoughts with more realistic perspectives. Medications like antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs help regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA.

Lifestyle changes can also help manage anxiety:

• Get regular exercise to reduce tension and boost endorphins
• Practice relaxation techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or deep breathing
• Avoid caffeine and nicotine which can exacerbate anxiety
• Get enough sleep and eat a balanced diet to stabilize mood
• Limit alcohol which disrupts neurotransmitters

If anxiety begins interfering with work, relationships, or overall well-being, it's important to seek professional help. Don't hesitate to confide in loved ones as social support aids recovery. With proper treatment, most people with anxiety disorders can regain control and enjoy life again.

Still struggling with anxiety? The caring medical providers at Vitality Health Center help patients identify the root causes of anxiety and craft personalized treatment plans featuring cutting-edge hormone optimization therapies to restore emotional balance from within. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!