Anxiety - Elite Hormone Health

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a common human experience characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. Nearly everyone deals with anxiety at some point, but for some people these feelings become excessive, persistent, and disruptive to daily life.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting over 19% of adults each year. These disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. They can cause tremendous suffering and interfere with a person’s ability to work, study, sleep, and fully participate in life.

Symptoms

There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with different symptoms:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves persistent, excessive worry about many areas of life
• Panic disorders involve sudden, overwhelming terror that strikes repeatedly and without warning
• Social anxiety disorder involves extreme fear around social interactions and being judged negatively by others
• Phobias are intense fear and avoidance around specific objects or situations

Common psychological anxiety symptoms include:

• Nervousness
• Tension
• Fear
• Uneasiness
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability
• Sleep problems

Common physical symptoms include:

• Increased heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Muscle tension
• Nausea

Causes

Research shows anxiety disorders arise from a complex mix of factors including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.

• Our genes partly shape how vulnerable we are
• Brain circuits and neurochemistry regulate anxiety responses
• Early life experiences may program our nervous system to be more anxious
• Environmental factors like stress or trauma can trigger or worsen anxiety

Treatment

The good news is anxiety disorders are very treatable. Often treatment involves a combination of:

• Therapy, typically cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to examine fear-provoking thoughts and develop coping skills
• Medication, usually antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds like benzodiazepines, to help regulate brain chemistry
• Lifestyle changes to reduce stress and improve sleep, nutrition, exercise and social connection
• Alternative approaches like meditation, yoga, or acupuncture may also help

Getting appropriate treatment leads to relief from anxiety symptoms and improved quality of life for most people.

If you struggle with overwhelming worry or fear, you may have an anxiety disorder. The compassionate team at Elite Hormone Health offers personalized care including therapy, medication management, and holistic approaches to get anxiety under control so you can fully enjoy life again. (menopausesymptoms.info) to schedule a consultation today.