Anxiety Disorder Treament | Pasadena Villa

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What is an Anxiety Disorder?

While it is normal for individuals to experience anxiety or nervousness, anxiety disorders may cause physical and emotional distress that interfere with a person’s ability to lead a normal life, and are not by any means a personal weaknesses, character flaw or the result of poor upbringing, but real illnesses with real causes.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, over 18% of all Americans are affected by anxiety. A combination of factors such as changes in the brain, environmental stressors, and genetics can be the causes. Severe or long lasting stress can change brain circuitry functionality that regulates mood. Trauma and significant events may also trigger anxiety in those who inherit the susceptibility to developing a disorder.

An individual with symptoms of an anxiety disorder is evaluated by a doctor, which includes questions about medical history and a physical exam. There are no lab tests that diagnose anxiety disorders, but a doctor may use various tests to look for physical illnesses that may be causing the symptoms. If there is no physical illness, an individual may be referred to a mental health professional to treat the disorder.

What are the Symptoms?

Anxiety disorders are a group of related conditions, such as panic disorders, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), or social anxiety disorder, and each has its own set of side effects.

Feelings of apprehension or dread
Feeling tense and jumpy
Restlessness or irritability
Expecting the worst and being watchful for signs of danger
Pounding or racing heart and shortness of breath
Upset stomach
Sweating, tremors, and twitches
Headaches, fatigue, and insomnia

How are Anxiety Disorders Treated?

Mental health professionals use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate for anxiety disorders. Diagnosis is based on the individual’s report of intensity and duration of their symptoms and the doctor’s observation of the individual’s attitude and behavior. A doctor will decide if a specific disorder causes the symptoms and degree of dysfunction.

Since each disorder has different symptoms, the exact anxiety disorder treatment depends on the type of disorder, but the most common treatment is a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Learn more about our treatment methods.

It is common for someone to have an accompanying diagnosis such as depression or addiction. Anxiety disorders are rarely the sole diagnosis in a person’s mental health history. That’s why it is important to seek help from a trained professional who can accurately diagnose all of the accompanying conditions and prescribe the right course of treatment for you.

At Pasadena Villa, we treat you with the most advanced and effective methods available, always making sure the client’s needs are the number one priority.