Anxiety-related disorders are the most common mental health issues in America. These disorders can be debilitating, eating into our quality of life by making us afraid in our day-to-day life. These disorders include (but are not limited to):

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Phobias
• Panic Disorder
• Agoraphobia

While everyone experiences worry at some point or another, those struggling with anxiety disorders are frequently in a hyper aroused state and experience such symptoms as:

• Rapid pulse
• Nervousness
• Sweating
• Hyperventilation (rapid breathing)
• Trembling
• Weakness
• Sleep problems

When individuals are experiencing these symptoms and their doctor cannot identify any physical reason for it, an anxiety evaluation will help determine what kind of anxiety you are experiencing and what, if any, treatment would be beneficial.

What Is Anxiety?

Simply put, anxiety is our body’s reaction to a person, place, or thing that causes us fear or distress. Everyone experiences anxiety at some point or another but those with an anxiety disorder are experiencing an overwhelming sense of fear, danger, and stress, most of the time or, in some cases, when presented with specific triggers such as certain times of year or certain events/people.

What Is An Anxiety Evaluation?

Anxiety disorders have similar physical symptoms to some physical ailments so it’s important to speak to your doctor and rule out any medical conditions that could be causing your symptoms.

Once that is done, an anxiety evaluation can help determine what type of anxiety you are experiencing. An anxiety evaluation will assess the type of anxiety you are experiencing by addressing issues such as:

• How long you have been feeling this distress
• How often you feel nervous or afraid.
• Sleep patterns
• Drug/alcohol consumption
• Family history of anxiety-related disorders
• Difficulty concentrating

As with any condition, knowing what you are working with, helps determine the best treatment for it. For some, medications might be suggested to help manage the anxiety and others might benefit from one-on-one counseling to deal with the symptoms. In many cases, both medication and therapy are best.

With Dr. Alex Anastasiou, you will find a gentle listener who knows exactly the right questions to ask and can determine the best anxiety treatment options for you. Dr. Alex is a board-certified psychiatrist and can not only give you an anxiety evaluation, but also prescribe medications if necessary and work with you to help you move through your anxiety.

If you (or someone you love) are experiencing excessive worry and nervousness, contact Dr. Alex today to start living a more peaceful life every day.