When Does Anxiety Require Medical Intervention?

Anxiety is a normal emotion, and most of us feel it at some point in our daily lives. It may be butterflies before a first date or the jitters while waiting for an important call. However, when anxiety gets so bad that it begins to interfere with your daily life, it’s time to seek medical help.

The skilled psychiatrists at Carolina Wellness Psychiatry in Chapel Hill, North Carolina can help you navigate the scary symptoms of anxiety. With their expertise in treating general anxiety disorder, you will be on the road to recovery in no time.

Symptoms of severe anxiety

Anxiety can affect you in numerous ways, and your symptoms, as well as their severity, may fluctuate over time. In severe cases, anxiety can make a normal life almost impossible.

Some of the symptoms you may experience include:

•  Sleep disturbances
•  overwhelming fear
•  Restlessness
•  Unspecified panic
•  Poor concentration
•  Obsessive thoughts

Anxiety can also manifest itself with physical symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, diaphoresis, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These symptoms may make you feel like you’re having a heart attack, which is a common feeling in those with panic attacks that stem from severe anxiety.

Other anxiety disorders that may affect you

General anxiety disorder is the most common diagnosis with severe anxiety symptoms. The doctors at Carolina Wellness Psychiatry may diagnose you with it if you’re worried more days than not for six months or more, or if you have multiple symptoms.

However, there are also other disorders associated with anxiety. Some of these include obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and phobias.

No matter which anxiety disorder you’re diagnosed with, there is a treatment that is right for you.

What treatments can you expect for anxiety?

There are many types of treatment for anxiety disorders. The doctors at Carolina Wellness Psychiatry will take a detailed medical history to learn about your specific anxiety symptoms and will draw up a plan of care they feel will help you the most.

One of the primary treatments for anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) involves targeting specific thoughts and behaviors that characterize your anxiety and teaching you skills to manage the symptoms. CBT also targets the physical symptoms associated with anxiety.

Another form of treatment is medication therapy. Medications used to help treat anxiety may be antidepressants, such as SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), or anxiolytics such as buspirone, among others. Our doctors will work with you to figure out if medication therapy is a treatment option that can help you, and if so, which drug or drug combination will be the most effective.

Additional treatments you may find helpful to ease your anxiety symptoms include:

•  Physical exercise
•  Relaxation techniques
•  Meditation and yoga
•  Stress management

If you are ready to dump your anxieties and start living the life you want, call Carolina Wellness Psychiatry at 919-446-3232 or book an appointment online today.