Anxiety is a common emotion. It may be what you feel when you have a job interview, when you are faced with a problem, or have to make a significant decision. Anxiety manifests in various ways. Most people have had that butterfly in the stomach feeling or noticed that their hands are shaking or found themselves wishing they were any place, but in the place they are in right now.
However, anxiety disorders are different than ordinary butterflies in the stomach. These disorders create a crushing and irrational fear of situations, objects, or people. In some cases, everyday responsibilities like getting up for work are too overwhelming for those with anxiety disorders. At Fort Behavioral Health, our anxiety treatment program gives people with anxiety disorders an opportunity to learn how to live with anxiety. After all, although our Fort Behavioral Health team would love to “cure” anxiety disorders, the truth is that our anxiety treatment program teaches people skills and strategies that they can use to deal with their anxiety disorders.
Signs of Anxiety
Once you are able to identify signs of anxiety, you are more likely to be able to handle its adverse effects.
Some of the most common signs of anxiety include:
- Panic attacks – Panic attacks produce an intense, overwhelming sensation of fear that can be debilitating.
- Irritability – Given that anxiety is associated with high arousal and excessive worrying, it is not surprising that irritability is a common symptom.
- Restlessness or insomnia – This is one of the red flags that mental health professionals look for when diagnosing an anxiety disorder.
- Excessive worrying – This kind of worrying must also be severe and intrusive, making it difficult to concentrate and accomplish daily tasks.
People living with an anxiety disorder might notice that they make excuses for missing a social function or that they call into work often or, in extreme cases, they cannot work at all. Anxiety manifests itself differently in people. While there are some generalities, treatment is often personalized, usually combining talk therapy with medication. Some of the medications for anxiety are potentially addicting.
Some people turn to drugs and alcohol to escape their symptoms. This often happens because of the stigma attached to the disorder or lack of knowledge. Sometimes people with anxiety disorders have no idea why they feel the way they do, but they do know that when they drink or use, they feel better. Sometimes, this self-medicating behavior leads to addiction, which then creates a situation where it is necessary to seek help not only for the anxiety but the addiction as well.
Drug Toxicity
Drug interactions can be deadly. When a doctor prescribes a medication, the doctor or a pharmacist controls the dose and frequency of use. There is a carefully considered plan for treatment, and the drugs are only part of that. However, when people self-medicate, they control the dosage and frequency themselves, and often they lack the training and knowledge to make a considered decision about when enough is enough.
Some of the medications used to treat anxiety affect the body, just like alcohol. They suppress the central nervous system, which controls breathing and heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. When mixed, they can put vital bodily functions at risk, leading, possibly to death.
Find Relief from Anxiety Disorders at Fort Behavioral Health
Do you often worry about things others might consider insignificant? Are you often scared for no reason? Do you need a drink before leaving the house for a night with friends? If so, you might have a problem. At Fort Behavioral Health, we have trained people waiting to help you. You deserve to live a pleasant and healthy life. Call us today at 844.332.1807 or visit us online.
