If you regularly have excessive, intense fears about everyday activities and situations, then you can benefit from anxiety treatment. People who have an anxiety disorder typically experience sudden feelings of intense fear or anxiety that can culminate in a panic attack.
Anxiety can interfere with a person's daily life and it can be tough to control without treatment. It can lead to the person withdrawing from things that that would be beneficial to them to avoid the negative feelings. Anxiety disorder often starts during the teenage years and continues into adulthood if treatment is not administered.
Common types of anxiety disorders include social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder and specific phobias. A person can have more than one type of anxiety disorder at the same time.
There are also unclassified types of anxiety disorders that can be just as inhibiting to a person's quality of life.
There is still much to be learned when it comes to the causes of anxiety disorders. Some people inherit the disorder, while the condition is triggered by traumatic experiences for others. Anxiety can also be caused by a health problem. For some, the symptoms of anxiety are actually the first signs of a serious health issue.
Risk factors for anxiety disorder include:
A mental health provider can help diagnose your anxiety. A psychological evaluation will be administered to pinpoint the cause of your disorder. The two main treatment options used are psychotherapy (talking therapy) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).
CBT is particularly effective since you learn new skills that help you cope with your fears and you are gradually exposed to it to comfortably build your confidence. Medication can also be used to manage anxiety disorder.
You do not have to let anxiety take over your life.