Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal feeling that every person experiences, especially during stressful situations like exams, interviews, press conferences, business presentations, or a first date. Mild levels of anxiety are common and normal for everyone. However, if you feel anxious all day or experience constant worry, it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder, which can harm your health. Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings — they involve excessive fear or nervousness. They are among the most common mental illnesses, affecting about one-third of the global population and around 34% of people in the United States.

Types of Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder : 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a condition characterized by ongoing, excessive worry that disrupts daily life events and activities. Someone with continuing stress and tension may feel easily tired and often struggle with concentration, muscle tightness, headache, or sleep problems.

Panic Disorder :

Panic Disorder is mainly characterized by repeated, unexpected panic attacks, sudden feelings of intense fear or terror that occur repeatedly and without warning. Physical symptoms of a panic attack may include chest pain, rapid heartbeat or palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness, stomach discomfort, and trembling.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia):

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a condition in which a person experiences intense fear and discomfort in social situations due to worries about being judged by unfamiliar people (new people). This anxiety often causes people to avoid social gatherings, public speaking, or even everyday interactions like meeting new people or eating in front of others. Physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling, or a racing heart may appear during these situations.

Phobia: 

A phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that can cause significant distress and is not harmful. Patients know that their fear is excessive and that their fear is unreasonable, yet they are unable to control it. The fear can be so overwhelming that it causes significant anxiety and leads to active avoidance of the feared situation. Examples are fear of water, fear of interviews, fear of dogs, or fear of water and height.

Obsessive‑Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by unwelcome and repetitive thoughts (obsessions) accompanied by the urge to perform specific actions (compulsions) in order relieve anxiety. Common obsessions include fear of germs, doubts about the physical safety of oneself or others, and needing things to be perfectly symmetrical and high-capacity. Compulsions may include cleaning or checking rituals, a need for symmetry and order or counting. Unfortunately, while these rituals are somewhat of a salve, anxiety doesn’t just go away. Those with OCD typically understand that their behaviour is irrational but have been unable to overcome the compulsion. Symptoms can be managed and daily life improved with both cognitive-behavioral therapy (especially exposure and response prevention) and medication.

Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as an accident, assault, or natural disaster. Symptoms can include re-experiencing the trauma through nightmares or flashbacks, avoiding reminders of the event, and heightened reactions like irritability or being easily startled. Treatments, which can include therapy and medication, are available to help manage symptoms and improve daily life. 

Common Symptoms

Anxiety symptoms can be physical, emotional and behavioural. They vary in intensity and combination from person to person.

Physical signs

• Rapid heart rate, palpitations
  
• Sweating, trembling
  
• Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
  
• Muscle tension, headaches
  
• Stomach upset, nausea, diarrhoea
  
• Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep)

Emotional signs

• Feelings of dread or impending doom
  
• Persistent worry or fear, even without an obvious trigger
  
• Restlessness or feeling “on edge”
  
• Irritability, difficulty concentrating
  
• A sense of losing control

Behavioural signs

• Avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety (social events, phobias)
  
• Procrastination or indecision
  
• Rituals or repetitive behaviours (in some types)
  
• Over-checking, constant reassurance-seeking

Recognition of these signs is important—if you see a pattern lasting more than six months (in some disorders) and interfering with your life, that is a signal to seek assessment.

Risk Factors

Anxiety disorders do not have one known cause, but rather several risk factors that increase the likelihood you will develop the condition. Some are associated with genetics or brain chemistry; others with lifestyle and environment.

If you have a family history of anxiety or other mental health disorders, it may increase your chances of experiencing the same. Cracks in neurochemicals (hormones or neurotransmitters) may also be a reason why your brain works the way it does when it comes to stress and fear. The amygdala, the area of the brain that controls fear, is frequently involved in stimulating anxiety responses.

• Other risk factors include:
• Lack of regular physical activity
• Use of drugs or alcohol
• Chronic stress or traumatic experiences

Some medical problems, like thyroid issues, might cause anxiety. Physical symptoms associated with anxiety disorders, such as palpitations or shortness of breath, should never be ignored, and you should visit your physician as soon as possible for evaluation. 

Since anxiety disorders can’t be diagnosed with a specific test, your doctor will need to conduct a comprehensive interview (or may use a questionnaire) to evaluate your symptoms. They’ll also follow diagnostic criteria, like the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5, to ensure an accurate diagnosis. And if an anxiety condition is diagnosed, effective treatment will start right away to enable you to manage your symptoms.

Treatments

The first and most important step in treating anxiety symptoms is to see your doctor to ensure there are no underlying physical conditions causing them. If an anxiety disorder is confirmed, a mental health professional can recommend the right and most effective treatment plan.

Some examples to treat anxiety include:

Therapy:

There are many different types of therapy to help reduce anxiety and boost self-confidence. Therapy provides a safe and supportive space to express thoughts, explore emotions, and learn practical ways to handle stress. It can help individuals build confidence, change unhelpful behaviours, and develop coping skills for challenging situations.

Among all therapeutic methods, one of the effective for treating anxiety is systematic desensitisation and exposure therapy. This method prescribes a gradual and safe way to face the situations or objects that trigger fear, often under the guidance of a trained therapist. The continued process helps the brain learn that these fears are not as dangerous as they seem. Over time, repeated processes reduce the urge to avoid or escape and build emotional resilience. This enhances their psychological control and allows the individual to function normally, reclaiming their daily routines and activities.

Support groups: 

Support groups bring together people who share similar struggles, like living with anxiety, to connect and support one another. These groups may focus on anxiety disorders or general mental health. Sharing your thoughts and experiences in a safe, judgment-free space can ease loneliness and offer comfort. Hearing how others cope or what treatments helped them can also provide new ideas for managing your own anxiety. Whether in person or online, support groups offer emotional strength and remind you that you’re not alone.

Medication: 

Another option to treat anxiety is through prescribed medication. A few key points (always to be specified by a qualified clinician) include:

First-line: Selective-serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) — supported for GAD, panic, social anxiety.

Examples: escitalopram, duloxetine, venlafaxine.

Benzodiazepines: Xanax (alprazolam), clonazepam, diazepam (valium) and lorazepam (Ativan): Rapid acting, good for immediate relief: CAUTION – cases of dependence; withdrawal; rebound anxiety At not a good choice for long-term, sole treatment.

Emerging Treatments: New brain-circuit and neuromodulation approaches in research. For example, activating the mGluR2 receptor in specific brain circuits shows promise.

Your doctor can help you determine the medication and dose that’s right for you. Do not change or discontinue (suddenly stop) your medication without consulting your doctor because this can lead to withdrawal symptoms or a return of anxiety. They will monitor how you are doing to see whether the treatment is helping and not causing any problems.

Lifestyle Changes: 

You can help alleviate anxiety by making healthy lifestyle choices. Research shows that things like exercise, meditation and yoga can help enhance mood and overall well-being. A balanced diet and the right nutritional supplements can also help to maintain psychological equilibrium, lessening anxiety symptoms and improving everyday functioning.

Other helpful suggestions are to do things for yourself, do things you love and be around people or places you feel secure or safe. There is no one path to overcoming anxiety, but countless people have found recovery through a variety of treatment options and healthy habits. It might take some time to figure out what works best for you, but with the proper support and determination, change is definitely within reach.

Clinically Proven Anxiety Treatments for Lasting Emotional Stability

At our clinic, we provide personalized anxiety treatment for taking back your life. We practice a blend of scientifically proven therapies, medication management and lifestyle support to help address the root causes of anxiety and restore emotional balance long-term.

Whether you are struggling with anxiety in the short term or managing an anxiety condition, our licensed practitioners will design a course of treatment customized to fit your unique needs and goals. We are here to support you in managing symptoms and enhancing your emotional health.

To learn more about our approach and available treatment options, visit our Psychiatry & Behavioral Health page or schedule an online consultation with one of our specialists today.