Anxiety Treatment Near Me

 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): People with GAD experience excessive worry and anxiety about various aspects of their life, such as work, relationships, and health, even when there is no immediate threat. They are more likely to experience fear and panic, but GAD is primarily anticipation of a perceived future threat. This can manifest as irritability, anger, isolation, tiredness, muscle aches and pains, headaches, sleep or concentration disturbances, fatigue, “meta-anxiety” (anxiety about anxiety disturbing their lives) and many more difficulties directly and indirectly related to generalized anxiety disorder. 

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): SAD, also known as social phobia, involves intense fear and avoidance of social situations due to a fear of embarrassment or judgment by others. You may feel “under the microscope” or find people to be scrutinizing you even if perhaps they are not actually doing so. You may feel fear about ordering food in restaurants, giving presentations, approaching strangers, speaking in groups, or have a tendency to avoid social situations. This can lead to a cycle of remaining at home and isolation which over time, due to lack of exposure, tends to worsen social anxiety.

Panic Disorder: This disorder is characterized by recurrent panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, and shortness of breath. These attacks can feel as though they are going to last forever although they tend to last under 30 minutes, and usually approximately 10 minutes. Distress is often exacerbated due to fear of having a panic attack even if you are not currently having a panic attack or distress that during the panic attack it feels as though it is unable to be controlled.

Specific Phobias: Specific phobias involve an irrational and overwhelming fear of a particular object or situation, such as heights (acrophobia), spiders (arachnophobia), flying (aerophobia), emetophobia (fear of vomit or vomiting), blood injection/injury phobia, and many more. People with one phobia often have two or more phobias. They can be treated with medications and cognitive and exposure-based therapies. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD, while no longer “officially” categorized as an anxiety disorder, can but does not always develop after experiencing a traumatic event and is characterized by symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of things that remind you of the trauma or associated events, being quick to anger in stressful situation, dissociation, derealization, depersonalization (feeling as though you are not real or the world is not real or as though you have lost your control or consciousness, as well as severe anxiety and depression. PTSD has many excellent evidence-based therapies such as TF-CBT, EMDR, and Prolonged exposure therapy, in addition to medications which can help with nightmares, flashbacks, depression and anxiety.

Separation Anxiety Disorder: This disorder is most commonly seen in children and involves excessive anxiety about being separated from a caregiver. It may also manifest about fear about events which will separate you from a caregiver such as disasters, illness, injury or death, being kidnapped, having an accident, or becoming ill. It may manifest as refusal to go to school or work, or to sleep without an attachment figure in the room or nearby. Repeated nightmares may occur involving the theme of separation and physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, nausea, or vomiting may occur when faced with separation. 

Treatment for anxiety disorders typically includes therapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT), medication (such as the right SSRI or other anti-anxiety medications), and lifestyle changes (such as stress management and relaxation techniques). The specific approach to treatment depends on the type and severity of the anxiety disorder.

Effective treatment options are available to help individuals manage and overcome anxiety disorders. Reach out today to find the best option for you. With multiple locations and telehealth options we can provide the necessary guidance, Anxiety Treatment, and support near you in Greater Portland Maine, and Miami, Florida and via telehealth throughout Maine and Florida.

Post reviewed and edited by Dr. Nicolas Sikaczowski, Board-Certified Psychiatrist.