Anxiety

Feeling anxious, scared, and worried all the time or experiencing panic attacks could well be symptoms of an anxiety disorder. If you feel overwhelmed by anxiety, contact the Heath Counseling and Consultation Services team in Jacksonville, Florida. Their highly skilled counselors can help you address the causes of your anxiety and find effective ways to reduce your symptoms. Call the office today for expert solutions to anxiety, or book an in-person or telehealth appointment online.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a reaction to stress that makes you feel scared or worried. Most people experience periods of anxiety as part of the normal range of human emotions, but sometimes it gets out of control.

Feeling anxious about a visit to the dentist or a job interview is natural, but these feelings pass when the event is over. If you have an anxiety disorder, you always remain in a state of heightened stress.

When you’re under stress, your body releases hormones that prepare you to run faster or defend yourself from harm (the fight-or-flight response). While this is great if you’re in physical danger, feeling anxious or stressed all the time means your body is constantly releasing these hormones, making your symptoms worse.

Anxiety also causes problems like poor sleep quality, appetite changes, and physical aches and pains.

Are there different kinds of anxiety disorders?

There are several kinds of anxiety disorders, including:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

GAD causes overwhelming feelings of worry and fear about everything in your life, from your health and relationships to what to wear or eat each day.

Phobias

Phobias are irrational fears of something specific, such as spiders, heights, or clowns. While you may feel fine most of the time, any exposure to the subject of your phobia brings on intense anxiety attacks. These fears can affect your behavior; for example, you might be unable to travel if your phobia relates to flying.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a phobia that causes an intense fear of social situations. It makes contact with others — especially strangers or crowded events — severely distressing and could lead to isolation.

Panic disorder

Panic attacks are extreme responses to severe anxiety. They cause sudden, intense fear that may immobilize you and cause physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations, excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting, and chest pain. Anyone with anxiety can have a panic attack, but people with panic disorder have them frequently.

How is anxiety treated?

The Heath Counseling and Consultation Services team offers understanding and support to patients with all forms of anxiety.

They use techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to examine how faulty logic harms your ability to manage daily life. With your therapist’s help, you can change these flawed thoughts.

To arrange a discussion about your anxiety, call Heath Counseling and Consultation Services today or schedule an appointment online.