Anxiety disorders are considered a mental illness, which affects a large number of people. It can take many forms, which include social phobia and generalized anxiety. These are not just simple anxiety, but rather anxiety disorders, as they have a significant and negative impact on daily life.
But then, what are the symptoms, causes, and factors that contribute to anxiety disorders? And above all, can this mental illness , which is disabling for a large number of people, be treated?
❓ What is anxiety disorder?
Most of us experience some level of anxiety in stressful situations. It’s a normal reaction. However, when it comes to an anxiety disorder, the anxiety we’re talking about is persistent and intense. So much so that even if there is no concrete reason directly affecting the person, the anxiety manifests itself and is reflected in the person’s daily life.
Unlike normal occasional anxiety, an anxiety disorder can affect a person’s emotions, physical health, social life, and even personal relationships. Sometimes, emotions such as stress and tension can also contribute to the emergence of anxiety.
However, we expect these feelings to disappear over time. In the case of an anxiety disorder, it can become chronic. If left untreated, it can worsen and lead to physical health problems such as depression disorder, panic attacks, and even high blood pressure.
⚠️ When does anxiety become an illness?
Anxiety becomes an illness when it prevents you from living normally and poisons your daily existence. People with anxiety disorders will ruminate excessively, constantly. They will be more tired, have difficulty concentrating because they are obsessed with the object of their anxiety. The latter becomes invasive, day and night, and can cause sleep disturbances. Anxiety disorders are very difficult to live with and are invasive, which is why it is important to seek help.
Anxiety disorders can also lead to cardiovascular disease risks. When you’re anxious, you release cortisol, a hormone that increases your heart rate. In this case, anxiety becomes dangerous for your health.
🌀 What are the types of anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders can manifest in different ways, each with different symptoms. Feelings of fear and anxiety are common to all types of anxiety disorders, but the way these feelings manifest can vary. The most common types of anxiety disorders include:
🧩 Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Involves constant and excessive worry about various aspects of life, such as work, health, or social interactions, often without any obvious cause. The symptoms may include:
- ✓ Excessive worry about everyday events or activities;
- ✓ Difficulty controlling feelings of worry;
- ✓ Restlessness or feeling “on edge”;
- ✓ Trouble falling or staying asleep;
- ✓ Fatigue or feeling easily tired;
- ✓ Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank;
- ✓ Muscle tension or aches;
- ✓ Irritability;
- ✓ Feeling of impending doom or danger;
- ✓ Difficulty relaxing.
💓 Panic disorder
It is characterized by sudden and intense panic attacks, accompanied by symptoms such as:
- ✓ Sudden, intense fear or discomfort;
- ✓ Heart palpitations or accelerated heart rate;
- ✓ Sweating;
- ✓ Trembling or shaking;
- ✓ Shortness of breath or feeling smothered;
- ✓ Feeling of choking;
- ✓ Chest pain or discomfort;
- ✓ Nausea or abdominal distress;
- ✓ Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint;
- ✓ Chills or hot flashes;
- ✓ Numbness or tingling sensations;
- ✓ Feeling detached from reality or oneself;
- ✓ Fear of losing control or “going crazy”;
- ✓ Fear of dying.
👥 Social anxiety disorder
This is a fear of social situations where the person fears being judged or embarrassed in front of others. Symptoms include:
- ✓ Intense fear of social situations;
- ✓ Worry about being judged or embarrassed;
- ✓ Avoidance of social interactions;
- ✓ Physical symptoms like sweating, trembling, or blushing;
- ✓ Rapid heartbeat in social situations;
- ✓ Difficulty speaking or making eye contact;
- ✓ Fear of being the center of attention;
- ✓ Feeling self-conscious in everyday interactions;
- ✓ Nausea or upset stomach before social events;
- ✓ Overthinking past social interactions;
- ✓ Low self-esteem related to social performance;
- ✓ Panic attacks in social settings.
🎭 Specific phobias
These involve an extreme fear of a particular object or situation, such as:
- ✓ Intense fear of a specific object or situation;
- ✓ Avoidance of the feared object or situation;
- ✓ Physical reactions such as sweating, trembling, or rapid heartbeat;
- ✓ Feeling panic or anxiety when exposed to the phobia;
- ✓ Difficulty functioning normally in daily life due to fear;
- ✓ Overwhelming urge to escape the situation;
- ✓ Distress that lasts six months or more;
- ✓ Recognition that the fear is excessive or unreasonable;
- ✓ Anxiety triggered by thoughts of the phobic object or situation;
- ✓ Interference with work, school, or social activities;
- ✓ Nausea, dizziness, or shortness of breath when confronted with the phobia;
- ✓ Avoidance behaviors that limit daily activities.
🔄 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Involves unwanted and persistent thoughts (obsessions) that the person feels compelled to perform and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to get rid of these thoughts. The symptoms include:
- ✓ Recurrent, unwanted thoughts or urges (obsessions);
- ✓ Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety (compulsions);
- ✓ Feeling compelled to perform rituals even when they know they are excessive;
- ✓ Anxiety or distress when unable to perform compulsions;
- ✓ Difficulty controlling thoughts or behaviors;
- ✓ Time-consuming rituals that interfere with daily life;
- ✓ Intrusive fears of harm, contamination, or making mistakes;
- ✓ Repetitive checking, counting, or arranging items;
- ✓ Excessive concern with order, symmetry, or exactness;
- ✓ Distress that affects work, school, or social relationships;
- ✓ Recognition that obsessions or compulsions are irrational, yet feeling unable to stop;
- ✓ Avoidance of situations that trigger obsessions.
🌪️ Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A condition that develops after exposure to a traumatic event, PTSD causes intense fear, flashbacks, and emotional distress. The main symptoms include:
- ✓ Flashbacks or intrusive memories of the traumatic event;
- ✓ Nightmares related to the trauma;
- ✓ Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to reminders of the trauma;
- ✓ Avoidance of places, people, or activities that trigger memories;
- ✓ Negative changes in thoughts and mood, including guilt or blame;
- ✓ Persistent fear, horror, anger, or shame;
- ✓ Feeling detached or estranged from others;
- ✓ Difficulty experiencing positive emotions;
- ✓ Hyperarousal symptoms like irritability, anger outbursts, or reckless behavior;
- ✓ Difficulty sleeping or concentrating;
- ✓ Exaggerated startle response;
- ✓ Feeling constantly “on guard” or alert.
👉 Schedule your consultation today and start living with greater peace and balance
💡 Take the First Step Toward Relief from Anxiety
At Everts Psychiatry & Family Medicine, we provide comprehensive care for anxiety disorders, combining therapy, medication, and lifestyle strategies tailored to you.
Call: (469)-868-6250🧠 Symptoms of Anxiety
There are many symptoms of anxiety. We can distinguish two types:
🧩 Mental symptoms
A person suffering from anxiety disorders will experience a number of psychological symptoms:
- ✓ Fear and anxiety about life events, even those that do not pose a risk;
- ✓ Chronic fatigue;
- ✓ Irritability;
- ✓ Difficulty concentrating;
- ✓ Sleep disorders;
- ✓ Chronic sadness;
- ✓ Voluntary isolation to avoid suffering, particularly in cases of social anxiety;
- ✓ A decrease in self-esteem caused by ruminations and an inability to take action;
- ✓ Hyperactivity to escape one’s thoughts and escape the present to feel like one has some control over one’s anxiety.
💪 Physical symptoms
Anxiety is often somatized. This is why there are many physical symptoms caused by anxiety disorder:
- ✓ Muscle pain;
- ✓ Palpitations caused by racing heart;
- ✓ Tremors;
- ✓ Dizziness;
- ✓ Sweaty hands;
- ✓ Stomach aches and gastric disorders;
- ✓ Feeling of suffocation, that the chest is tight;
- ✓ Knot in the stomach, in the throat/
- ✓ Frequent urge to go to the toilet;
- ✓ Spasmophilia.
→ These symptoms are not exhaustive. There are others depending on the individual and the type of anxiety. However, if you recognize yourself among these symptoms, you can make an appointment for the best anxiety treatment.
🔍 Causes of anxiety disorders
The causes of anxiety disorders are not fully understood, but the following factors may be involved:
- ✓ Environment (such as experiencing a traumatic event or stress);
- ✓ Genetic factors (including a family history of an anxiety disorder);
- ✓ Physical condition (e.g., overactive thyroid, heart failure);
- ✓ Medications, drugs, or other substances (e.g., caffeine, corticosteroids, cocaine).
Did you know?
- ➣ Anxiety disorder is the most common type of mental disorder.
- ➣ A person with an anxiety disorder has a greater risk of depression than another.
💡 Anxiety caused by a medical condition or medication
Anxiety can be caused by a medical condition, or taking or stopping (withdrawing) medication. Medical conditions that can cause anxiety include:
- ✓ Heart problems, such as heart failure or heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias)
- ✓ Hormonal (endocrine) disorders, such as an overactive adrenal gland ( hyperadrenocorticism ) or thyroid gland ( hyperthyroidism ), or a hormone-secreting tumor called a pheochromocytoma.
- ✓ Lung (breathing) disorders, such as asthma , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and sleep apnea.
It is normal for people to experience some degree of anxiety when they have a medical condition that they fear will impact their health or cause their death. There is no right answer to the question of how much anxiety is reasonable or excessive for a given person or condition. Drugs, medications, and other substances that can trigger anxiety include:
- ✓ Alcohol
- ✓ Stimulants ( e.g. amphetamines )
- ✓ Caffeine
- ✓ Cannabis (marijuana) in some people
- ✓ Cocaine
- ✓ MDMA (ecstasy)
- Many prescription medications, such as corticosteroids
- ✓ Certain over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines and decongestants
- ✓ Some over-the-counter weight-loss products, such as those containing guarana (a herbal product), caffeine, or both.
Withdrawal from alcohol or sedatives, such as benzodiazepines can cause anxiety as well as other symptoms, such as insomnia or agitation.
An anxiety disorder can be triggered by environmental stresses such as the breakup of a significant relationship or exposure to a life-threatening disaster. However, many people develop an anxiety disorder in the absence of any identifiable trigger.
When a person reacts strongly to stressors or becomes overwhelmed by events, an anxiety disorder can develop. For example, some people find speaking in front of a group exhilarating. But others dread it, becoming anxious and experiencing symptoms such as sweating, fear, rapid heartbeat, or trembling. Some people may avoid speaking, even in front of a small group.
Anxiety often runs in families. According to doctors, this tendency may be partly hereditary, but partly probably acquired by living with anxious people.
💡 Find Relief from Anxiety Linked to Health Conditions
If your anxiety is connected to a medical condition or medication, you don’t have to manage it alone. At Everts Psychiatry & Family Medicine, we provide expert evaluations and personalized treatment plans to address both the root cause and the symptoms of anxiety.
- 📍 102 E. Danieldale Rd. Suite 101 Duncanville, TX 75137
- 📞 (469)-868-6250
- ✉️ Info@evertshealth.com
👉 Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward balance and peace of mind.
📉 How anxiety affects performance
Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, worry, or unease that is part of the normal human experience. It is also present in many mental health conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias. Although each of these disorders is different, they are all characterized by distress and dysfunction specifically related to anxiety and fear.
The effects of anxiety on performance can be represented by a curve. As anxiety levels increase, performance increases proportionally, but only up to a certain point. If anxiety increases beyond this point, performance decreases.
Before the peak of the curve, anxiety is considered adaptive because it helps the person prepare for a crisis and improves their performance. After the peak of the curve, anxiety is considered maladaptive because it causes distress and impairs performance.
⚠️ What are the risk factors?
There are many causes that explain the onset of an anxiety disorder. However, in some cases, no real cause can be found. The risk factors are usually multiple.
| 🧩 Category | ⚠️ Risk Factors | 🔎 Examples / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🧬 Genetic & Biological | Family history of anxiety or mental health conditions | Having parents or siblings with anxiety disorders increases risk |
| 🌍 Environmental & Life Events | Trauma, major stress, or loss | Abuse, accidents, disasters, relationship breakup, job stress |
| 🩺 Medical & Substance-Related | Health conditions or substance use | Thyroid issues, heart disease, asthma, alcohol, caffeine, stimulants |
🔯How to treat and prevent severe anxiety?
🩺 Diagnosis of Anxiety Disorder
A general practitioner can diagnose anxiety disorder by asking the patient questions. However, to have appropriate monitoring and treatment, it is advisable to consult a psychiatrist and a psychologist, in order to have medication treatment if necessary and adequate psychological monitoring. When anxiety becomes bothersome and you feel like you can’t live normally, it’s important to seek help to maintain your mental health.
💊 Possible Treatments for Anxiety
There are several possible treatments for anxiety. Generally, a combination of the two is recommended:
🧠 Behavioral Therapy
The first treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps identify patterns of negative thoughts and provides the tools to combat them. Behavioral therapy may be accompanied by antidepressant medication in some cases.
🔎 How CBT Helps with Anxiety
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to help people identify negative thinking patterns that lead to anxiety and replace them with healthier ways of thinking and coping.
💊 Medications for Managing Anxiety
Antidepressants (such as SSRIs and SNRIs) and anti-anxiety medications (such as benzodiazepines) are often prescribed to help regulate brain chemistry and reduce symptoms.
🏃 Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Anxiety
Regular physical activity, mindfulness meditation, and a healthy diet can significantly reduce anxiety levels. Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption can also be beneficial.
🎯 Exposure Therapy for Phobias and PTSD
This method is used particularly for phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. It involves gradually exposing the person to similar situations in a controlled environment so that they become immune to their fears and are no longer affected by them.
🤝 Support Groups and Emotional Care
Talking to others who are experiencing similar difficulties can provide emotional support and practical coping strategies.
👨⚕️ Who to Consult for Anxiety Support?
In any case, it is essential to consult a mental health professional, a psychiatrist and a psychologist, in order to have a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The ideal is to see several professionals in order to find the practitioner who is right for you.
Everts Psychiatry & Family Medicine offers psychological support to help you manage an anxiety disorder. You can make an appointment online, or call us (469)-868-6250 to know more details about our mental health services.
❓ FAQs: Effective Treatments for Anxiety Disorders
What is an anxiety disorder?
An anxiety disorder is when worry or fear becomes constant and intense. It interferes with daily life.
How do I know if my anxiety is serious?
If anxiety stops you from living normally, causes sleep problems, or affects health, it may be a disorder.
Can anxiety be cured?
Anxiety can’t always be fully cured, but it can be managed with therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.
What are the main types of anxiety disorders?
The main types include GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias, OCD, and PTSD
What are common symptoms of anxiety?
Symptoms include restlessness, racing thoughts, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and trouble concentrating.
What causes anxiety disorders?
Causes can include genetics, trauma, health issues, or substance use. Often it’s a mix of factors.
Can lifestyle changes reduce anxiety?
Yes. Regular exercise, good sleep, mindfulness, and a healthy diet can lower anxiety symptoms.
What therapy works best for anxiety?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective therapies for treating anxiety.
Do medications help with anxiety?
Yes. Doctors may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to reduce symptoms.
Where can I find anxiety treatment in Duncanville TX?
At Everts Psychiatry & Family Medicine, we provide therapy, medication management, and personalized anxiety care.
📍 102 E. Danieldale Rd. Suite 101 Duncanville, TX 75137
