Anxiety - Vitality Medical Center

Anxiety is a common mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of apprehension, worry, and nervousness. It involves both physical and psychological symptoms that can range from mild to severe and debilitating. Some key features of anxiety include:

• Excessive or unrealistic worry about everyday situations
• Racing thoughts and rumination over possible worst-case scenarios
• Feeling tense, restless, or on edge
• Difficulty concentrating and mind going blank
• Irritability and trouble sleeping
• Physical symptoms like increased heart rate, sweating, stomach issues

Anxiety is the body's natural response to stress, but sometimes the nervous system gets stuck in overdrive. Anxiety disorders refer to conditions where anxiety symptoms are ongoing, all-consuming, and interfere with daily life:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves persistent, exaggerated worry about everyday life
• Social anxiety disorder involves extreme fear around social situations
• Panic disorder involves sudden, overwhelming panic attacks
• Phobias are intense fears around specific objects or situations

There are a mix of biological, environmental, and psychological factors that contribute to anxiety disorders, including:

• Genetics and family history
• Trauma or negative experiences
• Medical conditions or brain chemistry imbalances

The good news is anxiety disorders are among the most treatable mental health conditions. Often a combination of therapy and medication provides relief. Key treatments include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify negative thought patterns and replace them with more balanced thinking
• Exposure therapy to gradually face fears in a safe, controlled way
• Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, yoga
• Medications like anti-anxiety meds and antidepressants

Learning to manage anxiety takes work, but overcoming it can allow you to live life to the fullest! The first step is speaking to a mental health professional at Vitality Medical Center for proper diagnosis and treatment options catered to your unique situation. Relief is possible with the right support.