Anxiety disorder is far different from the occasional anxiety that we may experience due to day-to-day challenges. The former causes intensive and persistent worry accompanied by fear and other anxiety symptoms when performing routine tasks. The condition is episodic; it can manifest itself suddenly and usually triggers intense feelings of fear that reach their peak within minutes and overwhelm the person.
The feeling is difficult to control and can cause several short-term and long-lasting adverse effects on your mental health. For example, patients tend to avoid public places or situations that can trigger feelings of severe anxiety, which affects their mental well-being, professional achievements, relationships, and other spheres of life.
According to the research conducted by ADAA, about 6.8 million American adults suffer from a generalized anxiety disorder, 6 million from panic disorder, and a further 15 million from social anxiety disorders. This is a brief review of the major types of this condition:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): The condition involves excessive and unrealistic worry without any reason.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: The condition causes an intense fear of being around people in a social setting or in a one-on-one talk. It is often accompanied by thoughts related to being judged by others.
- Panic Disorder: Caused by a sudden intense fear due to a traumatic experience or situation. Patients may break out in sweat and have chest pain and palpitations.
- Phobias: An intense fear of objects or situations such as heights or flying. This is unlike normal fear.
- Separation Anxiety: Patients feel extremely fearful and anxious when a close person leaves too long from sight.
- Selective Mutism: This type of anxiety has an association with patients who do not talk in social settings but do it naturally among loved ones.
- Medication-induced Anxiety Disorder: As the name suggests this disorder is caused by abusing medicines whose major side effect is anxiety.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder
Common symptoms a psychiatrist will check for include:
- Overthinking
- Panic attacks
- Fear
- Uneasiness
- Sleep issues
- Shortness of breath
- Hyperventilation
- Palpitations and
- Dizziness
Medications for Anxiety Disorder Treatment
An individual has to begin treatment that focuses on the improved management of anxiety as it could lead to severe conditions, like heart illness and others.
There are several types of anxiety medications that are commonly prescribed. Our mental health experts will tell you about all the pros and cons of drugs used for such conditions and will prescribe the most suitable one for you.
Non-Narcotic Treatments
Patients struggling with substance abuse can acquire a prescription for either of the two non-narcotic meds:
SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
They are the most prescribed medication for anxiety, which we also stock in our healthcare center. SSRI’s approach to making patients feel better is by increasing serotonin levels in the brain:
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
Benzodiazepines
Also known as tranquilizers, these drugs help to calm the patient down by increasing inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. We prescribe the following Benzodiazepines for anxiety care:
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
At our clinic in Miami, our doctors know how anxiety can disrupt your life and affect social engagement. That’s why we thoroughly look over your medical history and provide a consultation to determine if a prescription should be recommended to help you reduce the symptoms.
To learn more about using prescription drugs for anxiety, call our clinic in Miami at (786) 422-9327 or click below to schedule an appointment today.
Starting from November 11, 2023, getting controlled substances prescribed via telehealth requires patients to receive a referral letter from a primary care physician (PCP). Learn more here. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Adults and children may refer to this therapy method. Counseling sessions with a psychologist in combination with medication and self-help relaxation techniques proved to be highly effective in treating anxiety disorder.
A counselor or therapist will devise a plan of techniques or medications to help you cope with the condition, making living with it more comfortable and finally eliminating the symptoms. CBT carries no risk of side effects or negative response as it only works on identifying irrational and negative thinking patterns and behaviors and modifying them. It may also include additional practices like meditation, mindfulness, and others.
Causes of Anxiety Disorders
Patients around Miami might experience anxiety disorders from the following:
Trauma
Extreme stress from traumatic experiences, such as vehicle accidents, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse, might result in anxiety disorders.
Depression
Depression is a mood condition marked by feelings of melancholy, despair, or helplessness. Depressed people struggle to cope with small and major challenges at work and at home. and have a risk of developing other mental health problems.
Brain chemistry
The brain contains hormones influencing how we react to stress. Certain substances can affect brain activities and cause anxiety disorders when present in large quantities. Also, some antidepressants and antipsychotics change the chemical balance in the brain so that they can induce anxiety as one of their adverse effects, and specific anxiety medication is needed.
Genetics
According to NCBI, people have a 30% chance of acquiring genetic susceptibilities to anxiety disorders from their parents. The heritability of this condition through genes often flares up later in life.
Anxiety Treatment in Miami and the Other States
Contact a licensed anxiety specialist: Miami-based doctors and professionals in other states are ready to help you manage and treat anxiety. They know how this illness can disrupt the quality of life and can assist you to make your life calm and fulfilling again.
Mango Clinic offers a variety of psychiatric and psychological services. Our doctors thoroughly examine the medical history of every patient and provide personalized psychotherapy consultations as well as prescriptions for the best-suited medications. Start the treatment today to see clinically significant results in a few weeks.