When Does Anxiety Warrant Professional Help?

If you’ve ever felt nervous about a problem at work, a test, or an interview, you’re not alone. These are typical responses to certain situations and your body’s way of helping you focus your attention and avoid danger.

However, there are times when these reactions can become intense, excessive, and persistent. When that occurs, they can even interfere with your daily life.

So how do you know what’s “normal” anxiety and what can benefit from professional help?

Dr. Oluranti Adepoju and her team at Revive Holistic Psychiatry in Weymouth, Massachusetts, understand the challenges that come with mental health conditions. Not only can they vary from person to person, but they can also vary in severity.

Do you often feel anxious? Here are a few signs you could have an anxiety disorder.

Recognizing an anxiety disorder

Most people have a lot to be anxious about, whether it’s their general health, finances, or the latest news headlines. However, when worry starts to make it difficult to get through the day, it’s often a sign of an anxiety disorder.

There are several anxiety disorders, ranging from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) to panic disorders and phobias. Each condition has its own unique characteristics, but these disorders typically share some similarities.

First, the feelings you experience go beyond general fear or nervousness. Instead, they interfere with your ability to function, cause an overreaction, and leave you unable to control your responses in a situation.

Additional signs of an anxiety disorder often include:

• Restlessness or nervousness
• Problems focusing
• Excessive sweating
• Increased heart rate
• Shaking or trembling 
• Disrupted sleep
• Chronic fatigue or muscle tension
• Panic attacks

It’s also common to have anxiety along with other mental health disorders, like depression.

Understanding your risk of an anxiety disorder

Approximately 40 million Americans have anxiety disorders. Their widespread nature makes them the most common mental health condition in the country.

They can begin at any stage of life, however they often surface in childhood and into early adulthood. Nearly 30% of adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point.

While anyone can develop anxiety disorders, certain factors can increase your risk of these conditions, such as:

• Stressful or traumatic events
• Personality traits like shyness or behavioral inhibition
• Medical conditions like heart arrhythmias and thyroid problems
• A family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions

Anxiety disorders also occur more frequently in women. This could be due to hormonal fluctuations. However, experts also suspect women are less likely to seek treatment, which causes their condition to worsen.

Sadly, trying to ignore an anxiety disorder can cause numerous complications, from headaches and chronic pain to substance misuse, digestive issues, and social isolation. 

It can also interfere with your ability to function at school or work, lead to poor quality of life, and increase your risk of suicide.

How an expert can help

Fortunately, anxiety disorders can respond to treatment.

Dr. Adepoju takes a personalized, whole-body approach to treating mental health conditions at Revive Holistic Psychiatry.

It all starts with a comprehensive assessment so Dr. Adepoju can better understand your condition and unique needs. Then, she tailors a treatment strategy to ease your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

In most cases, the best approach for anxiety disorders involves medication and psychotherapy. Together, they can help reduce symptom severity while also providing techniques to manage your reactions.

If you think you could have an anxiety disorder, play it safe and check with an expert like Dr. Adepoju. Contact Revive Holistic Psychiatry by calling 617-855-9944 to schedule a consultation today or book online anytime.