Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common anxiety disorder in which you worry excessively and constantly about various things, even when there is no apparent reason for such worry.

People with GAD often anticipate disaster and feel anxious about things like their health, money, family, relationships, work, and school. This constant worry can also lead to many physical symptoms:

• Disrupted sleep
• Tense muscles
• Concentration problems
• Restlessness

Living with a constant state of anxiety, worry, fear, and dread can be challenging. It is a long-term condition that can develop at any age but is more common in adults.

Panic disorder occurs when you experience repeated and unexpected panic attacks, which are brief periods of intense anxiety that strike suddenly. During a panic attack, you might experience overwhelming fear, a sense of losing control, and strong physical reactions, such as:

• Trembling
• Excessive sweating
• Difficulty breathing 
• Racing heartbeat 

These attacks can be triggered by prolonged stress or occur out of the blue. When panic attacks happen, you might feel like you are having a heart attack or even dying.

A phobia is an uncontrollable, irrational, and lasting fear of certain objects, animals, activities, or situations. 

A person with a phobia spends a long time trying to avoid their triggers or endure them with significant anxiety and distress. There are several types of phobias:

• Simple phobia or phobia of specific things: This is the most common form of phobia, which involves excessive fear of a particular object or situation. Common triggers include:
  • Animals 
  • Blood
  • Heights
  • Injections
• Social phobia or social anxiety disorder: This involves a fear of social situations where one may be humiliated, embarrassed, or judged by others. It can lead to difficulty in forming social relationships.
• Agoraphobia: This is a fear of being in public places where it would be difficult or embarrassing to make a sudden exit. It can be a movie theater, a concert, or a bus or a train. 

Separation anxiety is intense anxiety and excessive fear that one experiences when being separated from attachment figures, such as parents or caregivers. 

While some degree of separation anxiety is typical in young children, it can also affect adults. Separation anxiety can cause extreme distress and lead to challenges in relationships and daily activities.

Various medications, such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and beta blockers, can effectively relieve symptoms of anxiety. 

At Agentic Mental Health, we use pharmacogenomic testing to analyze your unique genetic profile and identify medications that are most likely to be effective for you. This allows us to create an individualized treatment plan with appropriate medication and dosage for you.

Psychotherapy or talk therapy provides a safe space to explore the emotional aspects of your anxiety. It involves discussing your feelings and thoughts with a therapist to process them and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Our therapists actively listen to your concerns to understand your triggers and provide guidance to develop strategies that help you overcome and manage anxiety.

Incorporating mindfulness practices like exercise, yoga, and meditation can significantly reduce anxiety and stress. These activities promote awareness of thoughts and emotions such that you don’t become overwhelmed by them. 

By regularly practicing mindfulness, you can improve your overall mental well-being and reduce symptoms associated with anxiety disorders.