
Anxiety may be an everyday experience; however, it becomes a considerable burden once it starts taking over your life. If you feel anxious all the time or experience panic attacks, visit Elena Gherman, MD, at Full Moon Behavioral in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Gherman is a board-certified psychiatrist with considerable experience helping patients overcome anxiety disorders and get their lives back. Call Full Moon Behavioral today to find out more or book an in-person or telemedicine appointment using the online tool.
request an appointmentWhat is anxiety?
Anxiety is a human emotion that everyone feels, although most worries are about such things as getting to work on time or doing well in a test rather than being life and death concerns.
Stress and anxiety make your body release hormones that sharpen your responses and make you more alert, which can be highly beneficial when you want to perform at your best or do well at an important event.
However, if anxiety is constant and excessive, it has adverse effects. At this point, instead of being your friend, anxiety has become a mental health disorder.
What symptoms does an anxiety disorder cause?
If you have an anxiety disorder, you could experience some or all of the following symptoms:
- Frequent fear
- Constant uneasiness
- Intrusive, unwanted thoughts
- Obsessions
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Ritualized behaviors
- Sleep problems
- Feeling out of control
- Panic attacks
Physical symptoms are also common in people with anxiety disorders. Your heart might start racing or pounding, you may feel shortness of breath, your chest can feel tight, and you could have nausea or a fluttering feeling in your stomach. You might also be lightheaded or dizzy.
Are there different types of anxiety disorders?
The most widespread anxiety disorders are:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Phobias
- Separation anxiety disorder
Anxiety is also a primary symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
When you visit Dr. Gherman about your anxiety disorder, she reviews your medical history and talks to you at length to determine what type of anxiety you have and what’s causing it. This process helps her prescribe the most effective forms of treatment.
How is anxiety treated?
There are two principal approaches to treating anxiety.
Medication
Drugs can be very helpful in lessening anxiety’s worst symptoms. Anti-anxiety medications like alprazolam help take the edge off your fears and calm you down. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are also helpful for many patients with anxiety.
Other options include low-dose antipsychotics and anticonvulsant medicines.
Psychotherapy
Undergoing psychotherapy at Full Moon Behavioral is critical to recovery from anxiety. As well as addressing underlying issues that are causing the condition, Dr. Gherman can help you understand and learn to manage your anxiety disorder.
For help overcoming anxiety, call Full Moon Behavioral today or book an in-person or telemedicine appointment online.