Anxiety Specialist

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a common mental health challenge that affects your mood and thought patterns. It’s a condition characterized by feelings of fear or worry in situations that don’t bother most other people. Feeling anxious from time to time is common, but if constant fear or worry negatively affects your quality of life, see the experts at Cracked Open Therapy for an evaluation. 

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Common symptoms you might experience with anxiety include:

• Ongoing fear
• Constant worry
• Sense of panic or doom
• Rapid breathing
• Sweating
• Trembling 
• Feeling tired or weak
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Substance misuse

If you have anxiety, you may find yourself avoiding people or situations that trigger anxious feelings.

What are the risk factors for anxiety?

Anxiety is a common condition that affects many adults and children. Your risk of developing it increases with the following:

• Past trauma
• Ongoing stress
• Drug or alcohol use
• Family history of anxiety
• Other mental health conditions

Different types of anxiety exist. Your Cracked Open Therapy specialist lets you know which type of anxiety disorder you have and the best way to treat it.

How does my provider diagnose anxiety disorders?

To find out if you have anxiety, Cracked Open Therapy experts discuss your medical history with you. They ask a series of questions about your symptoms, lifestyle, habits, and desired outcome. During a psychiatric assessment, they ask more detailed questions about your emotions and thought patterns.

What are common treatments for anxiety?

Some of the many treatment options available for anxiety at Cracked Open Therapy include:

Healthy habits

Adopting healthy habits can diminish anxiety symptoms. Eat nutritious foods, get regular exercise, maintain a healthy weight, keep stress levels low, and get plenty of sleep. Avoid smoking, drinking, and using recreational drugs.

Counseling

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other types of counseling teach you ways to better cope with anxiety and thrive at work, school, and in interpersonal relationships.

Medications

Taking certain medications can reduce unpleasant anxiety symptoms, help you stay calm, and improve your quality of life.

Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR uses bilateral eye movements and focuses on traumatic events to help you better cope with anxiety and past trauma.

If anxiety symptoms overwhelm you and you’d like relief, call the Cracked Open Therapy office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.