Anxiety Specialist

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is your body’s natural reaction to stressful situations. You may feel anxious before big events or if you’re under a lot of stress. It’s your body’s way of boosting your energy so you can respond to the situation.

However, if you have an anxiety disorder, you may experience unexplained feelings of fear or unsettledness, even in otherwise calm situations. You may also have persistent or intrusive thoughts that affect your feelings and actions.

Under the umbrella of anxiety disorders are conditions like panic disorder and phobias. A panic disorder causes sudden periods of intense fear even when there’s no danger, and phobias describe an intense fear of a particular object or event.

The underlying cause of an anxiety disorder isn’t well understood, but your genetics, brain chemistry, and environment may contribute to the condition. Your risk for having chronic anxiety includes having close family members with the disorder, experiencing traumatic events, or having a chronic medical condition.

When should I seek treatment for anxiety?

While some amount of anxiety is normal, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Waterside Psychiatry if you have:

• Persistent sadness and depression
• Uncontrollable anxious thoughts
• Changes in behavior
• Thoughts or actions of self-harm or suicide

Anxiety can also cause physical symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and palpitations. For some, the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms of an anxiety disorder can be severe and disabling.

The team at Waterside Psychiatry offers diagnostic evaluations for anxiety in adolescents and adults through a confidential online telehealth platform. They can design a treatment plan to help you manage your anxiety and live a high-quality and productive life.

How is anxiety treated?

Your treatment plan for an anxiety disorder may include lifestyle changes, dietary improvements, and mindfulness and relaxation techniques.

The Waterside Psychiatry team also offers resources for psychological counseling services, like psychotherapy (talk therapy) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), to help you recognize your anxiety triggers.

Some people may also benefit from medications that relieve persistent anxiety and its physical symptoms. The team can prescribe the best medication for your needs after listening to your symptoms and reviewing your medical history. They also continue to monitor your success with treatment during routine follow-up visits through the telehealth platform.

If you’re unable to manage intrusive thoughts or other symptoms of anxiety, call Waterside Psychiatry today to schedule a consultation or book an evaluation online.