We all feel anxious at times—butterflies before an interview, tension in traffic, panic in the face of danger. Common symptoms of anxiety include nervousness, irritability, uneasiness, jumpiness, feelings of apprehension, rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, stomach-ache, nausea, faintness, and breathing problems. Feelings of anxiety are often mild and manageable, and usually don’t last very long. But sometimes anxiety can present serious problems. A high level or prolonged state of anxiety can be very incapacitating, making the activities of daily life difficult or even impossible.
Anxiety disorders include:
- Agoraphobia
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Attacks
- Panic Disorder
- Phobias
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
These conditions can be helped. In many cases, treatment plans combine therapy and medication. A good example would be someone whose anxiety level is so high, they feel too distressed to talk and so can’t receive much benefit from therapy. Antianxiety medications (mild tranquilizers) help to calm and relax the anxious person and relieve their troubling symptoms. Once their symptoms have been relieved sufficiently enough to allow them to better respond to therapy, they can be well on their way to recovery.
Antianxiety medications include
Link: Find a Therapist
Link: Find a Clinical Trial for Anxiety
