Anxiety

When feelings of anxiety or fear get out of control, you become a prisoner of your emotions. If you avoid going out or your relationships suffer because of anxiety, visit Grace Muthami, PMHNP-BC, of Brightmind Wellness, based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Grace helps you harness your inner strength and overcome anxiety using secure, convenient telehealth. For effective solutions to anxiety disorders, call Brightmind Wellness or request an appointment online today.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is an emotion most people feel when facing significant life choices, stressful situations, or problems in their lives, and that’s perfectly natural.

However, if anxiety persists, worsens, and prevents you from leading the life you would like to, this everyday emotion has become a mental health disorder.

What anxiety disorders might affect me?

Types of anxiety disorder include:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

If you have GAD, worries about issues like your health, family, money, and work become excessive, taking over your daily life for six months or more. Your fears don’t focus on a single subject and often extend to areas like world events over which you have no control.

Panic disorder

Panic disorder causes sudden episodes of overwhelming fear in everyday situations (panic attacks). These attacks can make you unable to breathe or think properly and cause physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, and chest pain. Fear of experiencing another attack can make you reluctant to leave a place of safety, like your home.

Phobias

People with phobias experience intense feelings of fear, disgust, or panic when they suffer exposure to a specific object, like spiders or snakes, or an experience, like flying or heights. Social anxiety disorder is a phobia of being in social situations.

What treatments will help my anxiety?

Grace designs a treatment plan to fit your needs and the nature of your anxiety. Some of the treatments that will likely be in your plan include:

Medication

Medications like selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and benzodiazepines reduce your anxiety to a level where you can benefit from therapy. Antidepressants may also help improve your mood and make you less vulnerable to stress triggers.

Finding the medication that works for you may take a while, so it’s essential to be patient.

Psychotherapy

Some talking therapies aim to help you understand the reasons for your anxiety and the distressing feelings and thoughts you experience. Another approach that can help people with anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT focuses on helping you look at your situation differently and alter how you respond. This enables you to handle challenges more realistically.

If anxiety, panic attacks, or phobias are causing you distress, Brightmind Wellness can help. Call the office or book a telehealth appointment online today.