Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults. That’s 18% of the population! Despite how common they are, there is still a lot of misunderstanding about anxiety disorders and how to treat them.
Anxiety disorders involve excessive and persistent worry about possible events, either real or imagined. They can be classified into four categories: depression and anxiety disorder, panic attacks, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
People with anxiety disorders often have trouble sleeping, and they may have difficulty concentrating or remembering things. They may feel like their heart is racing or can’t catch their breath, and they may experience physical symptoms like sweating or trembling.
Anxiety disorders can have physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. These symptoms may differ from one person to another.
The most common physical symptom is trembling or shaking. This can happen when people are faced with something that triggers their anxiety. Mental symptoms of an anxiety disorder include:
There are different types of anxiety disorders:
Generalized anxiety disorder is a mental illness characterized by constant worry and tension, even when there is little to provoke them.
People with generalized anxiety disorder have persistent and excessive anxiety about everyday life events and activities. They may also experience physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, nausea, irritability, or difficulty concentrating.
The symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder can be treated with therapy or medications such as antidepressants, beta-blockers, or benzodiazepines.
Panic disorder is a mental health condition that causes sudden and repeated panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of fear, terror, or impending doom. It can cause physical symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea. Panic disorder can also cause mental symptoms such as fear of dying or going crazy. Panic disorder can be treated with medication and therapy. Sometimes you may need to visit a 24-hour ER near you for assistance if the heart palpitations and shortness of breath are severe.
Post-traumatic stress disorder can occur after a traumatic event.
A person with post-traumatic stress disorder may have flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. They might also feel depressed or have trouble sleeping.
Post-traumatic stress disorder can also cause physical symptoms like muscle tension and headaches.
A traumatic event triggers acute stress disorder. It can be short-lived and may resolve on its own, or it can last for months.
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a mental health condition triggered by an event leading to extreme stress and anxiety. The disorder develops when the individual’s response to the event goes beyond what would be considered normal or healthy.
Social anxiety disorder is characterized by an excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations.
The fear of social anxiety can be so overwhelming that it can significantly impair a person’s ability to function in their day-to-day lives. The person may experience extreme discomfort and panic attacks when faced with the prospect of being in public, interacting with others, or performing public speaking.
Separation anxiety is a type of anxiety disorder that manifests when one is separated from a person or place that provides feelings of safety and comfort.
It’s characterized by excessive worry about losing something or someone you love and the fear of being abandoned. It can also cause physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches, panic attacks, and muscle tension.
Anxiety treatment is different for everyone, but many options exist. Some treatments include medication and therapy, while others are more alternative such as yoga or meditation.
A family doctor or psychiatrist can treat most cases of anxiety. Still, some people need to visit the emergency room in Houston for anxiety disorder due to the severity of their symptoms.
It is common for people to experience anxiety sometimes, but it can be a sign of an anxiety disorder if the symptoms persist for more than six months.
If you have been experiencing severe symptoms of an anxiety disorder, visit Ascent Emergency Room for assistance.
Are you looking for an emergency room in Houston, TX? At Ascent Emergency Room, we care about your health and their emergency needs. We are located just a little away from you and provide exceptional and comprehensive emergency care appointments for the surrounding Houston area: