Anxiety disorders affect 40 million American adults. It’s normal to have occasional mild anxiety, but if your anxiety feels overwhelming or unmanageable, you may have a treatable condition called an anxiety disorder. The team of experienced mental and behavioral health experts at Texas Behavioral Health in Pearland, Pasadena, Friendswood, and River Oaks, Texas, are here to guide you as you overcome anxiety to feel your best. Click online scheduling or call the location nearest you today for help.

What is an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorders are a group of psychiatric disorders that occur when anxiety is serious enough to cause problems in your daily life. Nearly all men and women have minor anxiety from time to time, but in most case,s it’s manageable and goes away quickly. In anxiety disorder sufferers, the anxiety is persistent, feels out-of-control, and can even be disabling.

Anxiety disorders include:

Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Panic attack
Separation anxiety disorder
Selective mutism
Specific phobia
Social anxiety disorder
Agoraphobia
Substance- or medication-induced anxiety disorder
Anxiety disorder caused by an underlying medical condition

Some other conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can also include severe anxiety. No matter what type of anxiety disorder you have, it’s a treatable condition.

What are the signs that I have an anxiety disorder?

Some of the most common signs of anxiety disorders are:

Nervousness or restlessness
Feeling of impending doom
Rapid heart rate
Hyperventilation
Shaking or trembling
Inability to focus due to worry
Insomnia
Stomach pain or other gastrointestinal issues

Anxiety disorders are unique to the sufferer, so you might have just one symptom or many different symptoms at once.

If you suspect you have anxiety disorder, it’s important to get a professional evaluation and diagnosis as soon as possible. The mental health professionals at Texas Behavioral Health are highly experienced and trained in all types of anxiety disorders, and they’re here to help.

How are anxiety disorders treated?

For most patients, a combination of psychotherapy and medication is effective for anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, is often helpful for anxiety disorders because it teaches you specific coping tools to reduce your anxiety while gradually learning to manage the situations that you’re fearful of.

Medications for anxiety disorders include antidepressants and antianxiety medications. For short-term symptom relief, some patients also need sedatives that take effect right away during serious anxiety attacks. Sedatives are only a temporary solution until the long-term treatments take effect.

With help from Texas Behavioral Health, you can get past your anxiety to fully enjoy your life again. Use the online scheduler now or call the office nearest you for your appointment today.