Anxiety & Panic Disorder

What Are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety is your brain’s response to stress and alerts you of perceived or real danger ahead.

Everyone will experience anxiety at some point in their life. The difference is, each person has their own ways of coping or managing anxious feelings that may pop up

Feeling anxious once in a while is perfectly okay, but diagnosed anxiety disorders are different. This is when you experience constant and overwhelming anxiety and fear. Anxiety can be so disabling that it makes you avoid work, school, social gatherings, and other scenarios that might trigger a reaction. You can learn to manage or cope with your anxiety, it just takes time, practice, and professional assistance.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

There are several types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder – excessive, unrealistic worry with little or no rational reason.
• Panic Disorder – sudden, intense fear that triggers a panic attack.
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) – You obsessively worry about what others think of you, and you over-analyze every interaction.
• Separation Anxiety – Children aren’t the only ones who feel anxious when a loved one leaves, anyone can develop separation anxiety disorder under certain circumstances.
• Medication-induced anxiety disorder – Certain medications, substances, or withdrawal from drugs, can trigger anxiety disorder symptoms.

Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Your specific symptoms depend on the type of anxiety disorder you have, however, the most common symptoms are:

• Panic or fear
• Feelings of doom or danger
• Sleep problems
• Frantic and restless
• Cold, sweaty, numb hands or feet
• Shortness of breath
• Hyperventilation
• Heart palpitations
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Rumination
• Inability to concentrate
• Intensely or obsessively avoiding feared objects or places

Anxiety Disorder Causes and Risk Factors

Anxiety is another condition that does not appear to have a singular cause or risk factor, rather it involves a complex range of potential factors.

Causes of Anxiety Disorder

Some causes of anxiety disorders are:

• Genetics – Anxiety disorders can run in families.
• Brain chemistry – Some research suggests anxiety disorders may be linked to faulty circuits in the brain that controls fear and emotions.
• Environmental stress – childhood abuse and neglect, death of a loved one, or being exposed to violence. These memories leave an imprint on you that can surface later in life.
• Drug withdrawal or misuse – to escape overwhelming anxiety, some people turn to substances use for relief. Anxiety disorders often go hand in hand with alcohol and substance use.

What Is A Panic Disorder?

You can be clinically diagnosed with a Panic Disorder when you’ve experienced at least two panic attacks, during which you feel terrified and overwhelmed, even though you’re not in any danger.

What Are Panic Disorder Symptoms?

You’ll likely experience four or more of these symptoms:

• Pounding or fast heartbeat
• Sweating
• Trembling or shaking
• Shortness of breath
• Throat tightness
• Nausea or stomach cramps
• Headache
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Chills or hot flashes
• Temporary detachment from reality
• Loss of control

Panic attacks can last minutes or persist for hours. People are often so distraught that they mistakenly think they are having a heart attack or a stroke. It may not feel like it at the moment, but the attack will pass.

Anxiety Management Services Offered in New York

If you have questions about the Anxiety management services offered at MiDoctor, call our office to speak with a member of our team or schedule a consultation online today!