Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal response to a stressful situation, such as taking a test or interviewing for a new job. When you feel anxious, you may worry, feel nervous, and either take steps to confront the challenge or move away from it. Anxiety is part of the fight-and-flight response that humans and other animals developed to help them survive threats.  

However, when your anxious feelings persist or worsen, or don’t resolve after a short-term stressor, you may have an anxiety disorder. Women, men, and adolescents with anxiety disorders have excessive worries about numerous parts of their lives that persist for six months or more.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Anxiety prepares you to face or flee a challenge. If you have an anxiety disorder, though, you stay aroused and experience symptoms such as:

• Tense muscles
• Fatigue
• Feeling restless or wound up
• Feeling on edge and overly alert
• Trouble concentrating
• Feeling and acting irritable
• Worrying persistently
• Trouble sleeping
• Sweating

Adolescents and teens with an anxiety disorder may be overly worried about being on time, fitting in with their peers, or obsess over potential catastrophic events, such as a nuclear war.

Why do I have anxiety?

Anxiety disorders tend to run in families and may be influenced by brain chemistry, culture, and the environment. Women are more likely to develop anxiety disorders, as is anyone who’s lived through a traumatic or negative event. You’re also more likely to develop anxiety if you suffer from a chronic disease or have other mental health disorders.

Why should I treat my anxiety?

Anxiety distracts your attention and saps your energy. Untreated anxiety can also lead to complications such as:

• Depression
• Headaches and migraines
• Digestive issues
• Chronic pain
• Illness
• Insomnia  
• Cardiovascular issues

Untreated anxiety interferes with your ability to focus and achieve your goals. 

How do psychiatrists treat anxiety?

Dr. Gonchigar at Capital Area Psychiatric Services takes an integrative approach to treating anxiety in all ages. She may recommend:

• Talk therapy
• Behavioral therapy
• Family therapy
• Medication

Dr. Gonchigar may also recommend a combination of treatments to help you or your child let go of stress and anxiety and focus on goals. If your child needs special accommodations at school, she coordinates that, too. 

To get relief from anxiety, contact Capital Area Psychiatric Services for an evaluation and treatment by phone or online form.