What is anxiety?
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, like when you have to speak in front of a crowd or are about to make an important decision. This type of anxiety is temporary. When persistent, uncontrollable feelings of worry or fear interrupt your daily life, that’s a sign of an anxiety disorder.
Dr. Adair treats many types of anxiety disorders, including:
Generalized anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) causes excessive feelings of worry about everyday things like your health, work, or social interactions. GAD is long-term, which means you experience anxiety most days for at least six months.
Panic disorder
Panic disorder involves recurrent episodes of intense terror that arise unexpectedly and peak within minutes. These episodes (panic attacks) cause physical and emotional symptoms that can make you feel out of control.
Phobias
Phobias involve intense fear of specific objects or situations. Common phobias include social situations (social anxiety disorder), heights, flying, and blood. Although it’s normal to experience some fear in these situations, phobias cause excessive and irrational worry.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder you have. Common signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders include:
- Feeling nervous or tense
- Sense of impending doom
- Feeling out of control
- Increased heart rate or heart palpitations
- Sweating
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
- Trembling or shaking
- Restlessness, edginess, or irritability
- Feeling weak or tired
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep problems
If you have a specific phobia or if certain situations trigger your anxiety, you may go out of your way to avoid these triggers.
How is anxiety treated?
First, Dr. Adair spends time discussing your specific anxiety symptoms and how they affect your life. Then, he develops a personalized treatment plan to manage your anxiety, so you can lead a happy, productive life.
Dr. Adair practices integrative psychiatry, blending conventional and complementary methods in his treatment plans.
Depending on your needs, he may recommend medication management along with psychotherapy. He uses a variety of psychotherapies. For longer-term patients, he uses Jungian psychotherapy techniques, including sandplay therapy, dream analysis, and active imagination.
To learn how to free yourself from the grips of anxiety, call the office of Frank Adair, MD today.
