When Does Anxiety Warrant Medical Intervention?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in America, affecting 40 million adults each year. Anxiety is treatable, but unfortunately, 63.1% of individuals with anxiety aren’t receiving the treatment they need.
Dr. Jean Ann Beaton and our compassionate team here at Dupont Private Health want you to know that you can thrive with the right anxiety treatments 一 and we offer anxiety treatment to patients in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC.
In this article, Dr. Beaton sheds light on what anxiety is and when it warrants medical intervention.
Understanding anxiety
Although many people refer to “anxiety” as a singular term, the reality is that anxiety is a group of mental health problems characterized by extreme worry or fear. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, phobia-related disorders, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are all different types of anxiety disorders.
The three most common types of anxiety disorders include GAD, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. GAD alone affects 6.8 million adults each year, according to data from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Any of these anxiety disorders can develop as a result of many factors: personal brain chemistry, genetics, experiencing traumatic events, and various life experiences.
Common signs of anxiety disorders
It’s normal to feel worried or fearful on occasion. In fact, some anxiety can be good and can help keep you out of harm’s way. For instance, the approach of a growling dog can create a fearful response in you, initiating you to avoid the dog and a potential injury.
Problems arise when you’re always in a state of fear or worry, even if there isn’t a threat in your environment. To use the dog example, just thinking about a dog could cause panic in someone who has a fear of dogs.
Signs and symptoms of anxiety can include:
Feeling nervous
Feeling tense or restless (even jittery)
Having an impending sense of doom
Having trouble falling asleep or staying sleeping (insomnia)
Rearranging your schedule or life to avoid things that make your anxiety worse
Being unable to control your worries
Anxiety can also cause physical symptoms including sweating, headaches, muscle tension, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal problems, and shaking. Panic attacks can also cause an increased heart rate and rapid breathing.
Anxiety symptoms can be mild, but they can also be severe. If your anxiety symptoms interfere with your ability to lead a normal life at home, at work, in social settings, or at school, your anxiety may warrant medical intervention.
When to seek medical intervention
You don’t need to wait until anxiety gets worse before seeking treatment. Untreated anxiety can affect your physical health. For instance, nights of insomnia can wreak havoc on your physical and mental wellness. Here are a few signs that it’s time to seek medical intervention for your anxiety:
Your personal and/or work life is suffering because of it
You have physical symptoms (like insomnia or gastrointestinal upset)
You can’t “turn off” the worry no matter what you do
You make life decisions based on your anxiety
You have turned to substance abuse in the attempt to reduce symptoms
You have had suicidal thoughts
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a suicide prevention network of over 160 crisis centers that be reached 24/7 by calling the toll-free hotline 1-800-273-8255.
Getting the anxiety treatment you need
Here at Dupont Private Health, Dr. Beaton implements a holistic approach to help you manage your anxiety. Your lifestyle-based treatment plan is individualized to meet your specific mental and physical needs and may include anti-anxiety medication and talk therapy.
Dr. Beaton also focuses on lifestyle modifications including diet modification, regular exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management. Studies show that exercise can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and boost your mood because exercise releases endorphins.
All of these lifestyle components play an important role in your overall health, and we’re here to support you in all aspects of your health care from physical health to mental health.
To learn more about anxiety and to explore your treatment options, call our Dupont Circle office in Washington, DC, at 202-315-5075. You can also book an appointment by requesting an appointment online.
