Anxiety Disorders

According to the American Psychiatric Association, anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorder. While experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life, some people experience repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that peak within minutes (panic attacks).

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.

Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.

Anxiety disorders affect 25.1% of children between 13 and 18 years old. 

Anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations and require interventions. The two-pronged approach of psychotherapy and medication management has the best therapeutic outcomes.

“Love is a butterfly, which when pursued is just beyond your grasp, but if you sit down quietly, it may alight upon you.”  
—Nathaniel Hawthorne

Symptoms Vary and May include:

  • Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
  • Hyperactivity
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Muscle tension
  • Difficulty controlling feelings of worry

Types of Anxiety:

  • Separation anxiety disorder
  • Selective mutism
  • Specific phobia
  • Social anxiety disorder/social phobia
  • Panic disorder
  • Agoraphobia
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder
  • Anxiety disorder due to another medical condition

Risk Factors:

  • Genetics
  • Trauma
  • Stress
  • Ineffective coping skills
  • Medical Conditions
  • Psychiatric DIagnosis (i.e., depression)
  • Substance Use Disorder

Like many other mental health conditions, anxiety can be harder to treat if you wait. If you are experiencing symptoms, please do not wait. Reach out. You can schedule through the patient portal.

Treatment Standards

Symptoms vary from person to person. The goal is to reduce the psychological and autonomic symptoms and other comorbidities, including major depression and alcohol and drug abuse. Some estimates show that 60% of those with anxiety will also have symptoms of depression, and the numbers are similar for those with depression also experiencing anxiety.

The evidence has shown that the two-pronged approach has the best long-term recovery outcomes. With psychotherapy and behavioral interventions, psychopharmacology treatments include using a variety of selected medications based on presenting symptoms and which neurotransmitters are involved in the particular area of the brain that we are targeting. Rating scales are incorporated into your treatment to provide measurable data.