Anxiety

One-third of teens and adults spend their days struggling with anxiety. If you can’t seem to shake worry and dread, it’s time to seek help from Stanley Okeyemi, PMHNP, at Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services. Stanley makes it easy for you to get a psychiatric evaluation and medication to ease anxiety by offering his services through telemedicine. Connecting online allows him to provide mental health care to people in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, Idaho, Connecticut, Nebraska, Florida, Iowa, and Arizona. Use online booking or call to schedule an appointment today.

When do I need help for anxiety?

Everyone feels anxious when they face an irritating, dangerous, or dreaded situation. In these circumstances, anxiety has an important role. Your anxious feeling triggers your brain to release hormones that give you a boost of energy to deal with the situation.

But anxiety that lasts too long or never seems to go away stops being beneficial. You should seek help when anxiety:

• Occurs frequently
• Becomes overwhelming
• Makes you adjust your daily life to avoid anxiety triggers
• Appears even when you don’t face or anticipate a dreaded situation

These are all signs that your anxiety needs treatment.

Are there different anxiety disorders?

There are eight primary anxiety disorders, but these are the five most common:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

If you have GAD, you have frequent anxiety over everyday issues like your job, family, and health.

Social anxiety disorder

This disorder causes anxiety when you have to attend social events, meet new people, or perform in front of others, such as giving a presentation at work or school.

Separation anxiety disorder

Children, teens, and adults can have separation anxiety disorder. The anxiety usually arises over the worry that harm will come to you or your family while you’re apart.

Specific phobias

This is an intense fear of a specific animal, object, or activity. Two examples include a fear of flying and spiders.

Panic disorder

You have this disorder if you have frequent, recurrent panic attacks.

What symptoms does anxiety cause?

All anxiety disorders may cause any of the following:

• Worry, fear, and dread
• Restlessness and nervousness
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Racing thoughts
• Difficulty concentrating

Panic attacks cause sudden, severe symptoms, including dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating, and chest pain.

How is anxiety treated?

Your Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services provider begins by learning about your anxiety symptoms, including when they occur and what triggers anxious feelings. They also go over your medical and mental health history, then do a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.

Your provider creates a customized treatment plan that may include medications, especially if you have severe anxiety or panic attacks. They may also recommend therapy to help you confront fears or teach you to recognize and change negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. 

Don’t live with ongoing anxiety. Call Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services or request an appointment online to learn about your treatment options.