Anxiety: Types & Treatments

The key to treating anxiety is to first understand it.

Anxiety is the most common form of mental illness in the United States, with nearly 20 percent of the population living with this affliction.

Fortunately, a wide range of treatments have been proven effective, and a new class of drugs is now available that is proven to provide relief even for those that did not respond to generic medications for anxiety such as SSRIs.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety tends to vary between each individual case, but there are a few basic types of anxiety disorders most cases can be identified as:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):

Characterized by consistent worry and tension, even when there doesn’t appear to be a cause.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

Characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts (known as obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (known as compulsions). These compulsions, sometimes called rituals, are performed in an attempt to prevent these obsessive thoughts or make them subside. The compulsions typically only offer temporary relief, however, and can further contribute to anxiety.

Panic Disorder

Characterized by repeated episodes of intense fear that bring on physical symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, or abdominal distress.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

Brought on after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or traumatic event.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia):

Characterized by intense anxiety and self-consciousness in everyday social situations. It may be limited to only public speaking, but some people may experience symptoms whenever they are around other people.

Agoraphobia:

Characterized by avoidance of places or situations that trigger feelings of anxiety or panic.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

Anyone suffering from an anxiety disorder may find themselves having difficulty functioning in their everyday life and may fall behind at work or at school. Anxiety disorders can also affect relationships with your loved ones or your physical health.

Although symptoms can vary from case to case and disorder to disorder, some of the most common symptoms include:

• Feelings of nervousness
• Feelings of restlessness
• Increased heart rate
• A sense of impending doom
• Hyperventilation
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble concentrating
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Avoiding things that trigger your anxiety

People with high stress or childhood trauma may be more likely to develop an anxiety disorder, as well as people with a family history of anxiety or other mental health disorders. Anxiety disorders can bring a higher risk of developing depression or heart disease, and some may turn to substance abuse to try to alleviate the symptoms of their disorder.

Learning to manage the symptoms of anxiety disorders can be a life-long challenge for some people. However, treating anxiety is often possible with psychotherapy or medications, as well as general lifestyle changes.

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

There may not be a single cause when it comes to developing an anxiety disorder, but research indicates it may be caused by a variety of biological and environmental factors, including but not necessarily limited to:

• Differences in individual brain chemistry
• Genetics or family history
• Childhood and development
• Temperament and personality

Infusion Therapy for Treating Anxiety

Ketamine, first developed and approved by the FDA as an anesthetic, is a promising innovation in the field of anxiety treatment. When infused at a low dose into the bloodstream, research shows that Ketamine may be up to 80% effective at providing relief for anxiety disorder symptoms.

One benefit to treating anxiety disorders with ketamine is its ability to sometimes bring relief to symptoms within minutes or hours, rather than the weeks or months required by most anxiety medications.

If you among the millions of Americans suffering from an anxiety disorder, ketamine therapy may offer rapid and lasting relief. Give us a call at  512-387-5920, 512-200-7311 or fill out our consultation request form online to find out if ketamine therapy for anxiety is right for you.