Anxiety Disorders

What are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders cause ongoing fear, worry, or nervousness that interfere with daily life. Everyone feels anxious sometimes, but an anxiety disorder makes ordinary tasks feel stressful, exhausting, and hard to manage.

Anxiety can affect your: 

• Thoughts 
• Emotions 
• Body 
• Behavior 

You might avoid certain places, struggle to sleep, be restless, or find it hard to concentrate.

Some people feel anxious most of the time, while others have sudden panic attacks or intense fear in certain situations.

What symptoms can anxiety cause?

Anxiety can cause racing thoughts, constant worry, irritability, trouble relaxing, and a sense that something bad may happen. Physical symptoms may include:

• Fast heartbeat
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Stomach discomfort
• Headaches
• Muscle tension
• Shortness of breath

Some people experience panic attacks, where symptoms spiral out of control. These episodes are frightening, but expert treatment reduces their frequency and intensity.

What types of anxiety disorders are common?

Common anxiety disorders include:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

GAD is the most widespread of the anxiety disorders. It involves continual fear and worry about multiple aspects of everyday life, from what to wear or eat to venturing outside of the home.

Panic disorder

People with panic disorder experience frequent, disabling panic attacks that cause them to retreat from normal life.

Specific phobias

Phobias are irrational fears of harmless or minimally threatening situations or objects. Common examples include spiders (arachnophobia), confined spaces (claustrophobia), and heights (acrophobia). 

Anxiety can also occur with other mental health conditions, like:

• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Substance addiction

A thorough psychiatric evaluation helps the Collegial Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Inc. team identify what’s driving your symptoms.

How are anxiety disorders treated?

Collegial Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Inc. treats anxiety with a patient-centered plan that may include:

• Medication management
• Psychotherapy
• Lifestyle support
• Coping strategies

Medications can calm persistent anxiety, reduce panic attacks, support better sleep, and improve concentration. Psychotherapy can help you understand triggers, challenge anxious thinking, and build healthier responses to stress.

When should I seek help for anxiety?

You should seek help if anxiety affects your: 

• Work
• School 
• Relationships 
• Sleep 
• Ability to enjoy life 

You don’t need to wait until symptoms feel severe.

The Collegial Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Inc. team takes an empathetic approach to anxiety care. Call the office or schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment online today to learn more about treatment for anxiety disorders.