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Anxiety Treatment

Anxiety is a normal emotion. Most people feel nervous in certain situations such as speaking in public, job interviews, or a tough exam. The brain’s response to these stressors often triggers the fight or flight system. This fight or flight response is essential to human survival and has enabled humans to rapidly respond to threats.

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Common Symptoms of Anxiety

Unfortunately, for 40 Million Americans who suffer from an Anxiety Disorder, as part of everyday life, this fight or flight system is activated more than they would like. For these individuals, anxiety disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety (SA), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will start to take over their world and interfere with daily functioning. These anxiety disorders can be a result of family genetics, brain chemistry, environmental conditions or stressful events. Anxiety affects men and women equally and can start early in life and continue until later in life. The sooner an anxiety sufferer gets effective treatment, the sooner they can regain control of their life.

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

Stress
Restlessness
Shortness of Breath
Difficulty Breathing
Racing Heart
Sweating
Muscle Tension
Chest Pain
Fatigue
Nausea
Trouble Sleeping

Mental / Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety

Excessive Worry
Irritability
Racing Thoughts
Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts
Feeling of Impending Doom
Irrational Fears
Difficulty Concentrating
Difficulty Making Life Decisions
Difficulty Handling Uncertainty
Depression

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a condition that is usually triggered by life situations and circumstances that create excessive anxiety and worry, usually for 6 months. Common concerns from someone suffering from GAD could be related to work, money, relationships family, health or other issues. Living with GAD without treatment can become a long-term problem and impact normal functioning. With proper treatment and support it is possible to overcome the symptoms of excessive anxiety and troubling thoughts. For more information, visit General Anxiety Disorder.

Anxiety Treatment Methods

Common therapy and treatment methods for anxiety and related disorders include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy (ET) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), combined with medication when appropriate. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is highly effective in treating anxiety disorders. CBT is an integration of two originally separate theoretical approaches to understand and treat psychological disorders: the behavioral approach, and the cognitive approach. Studies have indicated that CBT supports individuals in identifying, understanding, and shifting their thinking and behavioral patterns, which results in relieved anxiety and worry. As a result of receiving effective treatment, individuals suffering from anxiety can regain control of their lives once again.

Other Common Anxiety Disorders

It is not uncommon for an individual to suffer from multiple anxiety disorders. Treating co-occurring conditions simultaneously is important in finding balance and healing from anxiety.

The Gateway Institute is here to support you in getting the help that you need.