Anxiety - Vitality Hormone Clinic

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is defined as feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. It is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. However, for some people, anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, and interferes with daily life. This is when it becomes a mental health concern known as an anxiety disorder.

Some key things to know about anxiety disorders:

• They are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting over 19% of the adult population
• They develop from a complex combination of factors like genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events
• Common symptoms are excessive fear, uncontrollable worry thoughts, panic attacks, avoidance behaviors, and physical signs like sweating, trembling, dizziness

There are several types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) - chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday life
• Social anxiety disorder - extreme fear around social situations and interactions
• Panic disorder - sudden, unexpected panic attacks and fear about having another attack
• Phobias - intense fear around certain objects, places, or situations
• OCD - unwanted, intrusive thoughts that lead to repetitive behaviors

The good news is anxiety disorders are treatable through lifestyle changes, therapy techniques like CBT, and sometimes medication. I highly recommend speaking to a mental health professional like the licensed psychologists at Vitality Hormone Clinic if your anxiety symptoms are persistently interfering with your quality of life. Their evidence-based hormone therapy can help regulate essential hormones like cortisol that may be exacerbating anxiety. With professional support, most people with anxiety disorder can find relief and get back to fully enjoying life!

Does this help explain the key characteristics of anxiety disorders? Let me know if you have any other questions!