Everyone can relate to feeling stressed or having worried thoughts from time to time (i.e. anxiety).
However, for many, stressful feelings and worried thoughts become excessive and constant, making them feel miserable and defeated every day and constituting anxiety. In addition to persistent forms of anxiety, some people can have more intense episodes like panic or anxiety attacks. Over time these different forms of anxiety can wear people down, leading to episodes of depression.
What Is Anxiety?
While everyone experiences some degree of nervousness or worry, some have persistent and intense feelings that can span months or years often with no single discernible cause.
This can cause difficulties in many aspects of life such as work, school, and in social interactions. People experiencing anxiety will usually start avoiding people or locations that cause them distress, leading to feelings of being stuck or isolated.
When anxiety gets to the point that it is difficult to cope with everyday life, it can constitute a stand-alone anxiety disorder, or represent a symptom of other conditions such as “anxious depression”.
Do I Have Anxiety Disorder?
Everyone handles stress differently, but it’s important to see if you have any of the following signs of an anxiety disorder. These signs include:
- Restlessness
- Feeling “wound up” or “on edge”
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Extreme fatigue
- Muscle tension
- Sleep problems
- Uncontrollable worry that interferes with your everyday life.
What Causes Anxiety?
There’s no one cause for anxiety. There are many factors that combine and influence each other to produce the condition.
Some possible causes include:
- Trauma
- Buildup of smaller stressful situations
- Other mental health issues
- “Type A” personality (Certain personality types are more prone to anxiety disorders.)
- Genetics (You’re more likely to have anxiety problems if a parent or a sibling also has them.)
- Thyroid problems
- Chronic pain
- Certain medications
- Drug or alcohol use
Raleigh Psychiatric Associates Offer Relief From Anxiety
When you have anxiety or panic attacks, your world becomes much smaller. You want to avoid things that you once managed easily. You may feel embarrassed or consumed by constant worry.
You don’t have to feel this way.
Not sure if you have an anxiety disorder or something else? That’s okay, too. By speaking with one of our professionals, we can help you better understand and find relief from anxiety that might be interfering with your life.
We recognize that there is no one solution that will work for everyone, and our mental health specialists are ready to work with you and tailor a plan that will be successful.
Some of our goal-oriented treatment strategies include:
- Medication
- Psychotherapy
- Supportive counseling
- Lifestyle coaching
Our psychiatrists and mental health professionals are available to provide treatment in Raleigh, Cary and surrounding Triangle areas. Contact us today.
Doctors Who Specialize in Anxiety Treatment
All of our skilled doctors at Raleigh Psychiatric Associates are experienced in helping patients struggling with anxiety. Take a look at our provider’s page to learn more about each of our specialists.