When you feel threatened, under pressure, or are facing a challenging situation, the body’s natural fight or flight response is triggered, causing you to feel anxious. Feeling anxious before a job interview, first date, or entering a new situation is normal and can be beneficial. A certain level of anxiety can help you be alert, better prepared, or motivated to solve a problem. However, you might have an anxiety disorder if your anxiety is persistent or overwhelming and interferes with your relationships or ability to manage everyday tasks.
Harmony Hills provides comprehensive, evidence-based, holistic treatment for mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders. Our anxiety treatment program allows clients to step away from daily life stressors to overcome anxiety symptoms. Here, you have around-the-clock support from highly-qualified physicians and psychiatric nurse practitioners. Reach out to our team at 855.494.0357 to learn more.
What Is An Anxiety Attack?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 40 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder. Rates of anxiety disorders have steadily increased over the last two decades and have dramatically spiked since the beginning of COVID-19. Chronic anxiety can lead to other mental health issues, including depression, substance use disorders, and suicide.
Anxiety is part of the normal range of emotions. For most, anxiety is temporary and goes away on its own. Anxiety becomes problematic when it is very intense, lasts for weeks or months, and interferes with daily functioning. An anxiety attack involves intense or excessive fear typically related to a specific event or situation. An anxiety attack differs from a panic attack, though the two are often confused.
Anxiety symptoms vary significantly between individuals and can be mild, moderate, or severe. However, common anxiety symptoms can include:
- Persistent feelings of dread or apprehension
- Anticipating the worst
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling on edge, jumpy, or nervous
- Disrupted sleep
- Avoiding people, places, or things to prevent anxiety
- Restlessness and irritability
Anxiety attacks also have several physical symptoms: sweating, trembling, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, muscle tension, headache, gastrointestinal distress, and feeling dizzy or faint. These physical symptoms often cause sufferers to believe they are related to a medical illness, causing them to seek medical attention consistently.
What Are the Causes of An Anxiety Attack?
Anxiety attacks typically result from feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Frequent causes of an anxiety attack can include:
- Family or relationship problems
- Financial pressure or difficulties
- Divorce or separation
- Pressure at work or school
- Parental concerns
- Death or bereavement
- Stress about world events
- Sleep deprivation
- Life transitions, such as a move
Anxiety attacks can also be linked to medical conditions and other risk factors, such as phobias, substance use disorders, and other mental health disorders. Anxiety disorders tend to run in families, so there appears to be a genetic component. Further, people with specific personality characteristics, such as being extremely shy or having low self-esteem, appear more prone to anxiety disorders.
Discover Anxiety Treatment at Harmony Hills
The course of treatment for anxiety disorders is determined by the severity of the anxiety and how it impacts daily functioning. For people with mild anxiety, lifestyle changes can effectively manage symptoms. Lifestyle changes include a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, exercising, practicing yoga and meditation, and avoiding alcohol, drugs, caffeine, and nicotine.
Individuals with moderate to severe anxiety will benefit from an anxiety treatment program. Anxiety disorder treatment includes medication and psychotherapy. Some of the therapies available for anxiety treatment at the Harmony Hills include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
A goal-oriented therapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors to promote positive mental health.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
A specialized therapy that helps individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences through bilateral stimulation techniques.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
A comprehensive therapy that combines individual therapy, group skills training, and coaching to help individuals manage emotions, improve relationships, and develop coping strategies.
Medication Management Therapy
A collaborative approach between a healthcare provider and an individual to ensure the safe and effective use of medications to manage mental health conditions.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
A therapeutic approach that recognizes and addresses the impact of trauma on an individual’s mental and emotional well-being, focusing on creating a safe and supportive environment for healing.
Individual and Group Counseling
One-on-one counseling sessions and group therapy sessions that provide a supportive and confidential space for individuals to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Lifestyle Management
A holistic approach that emphasizes self-care, stress management, and healthy habits to promote overall well-being and mental health.
Get Help Today
Anxiety does not usually go away altogether, but it can be effectively treated. You can learn how to manage your symptoms to no longer negatively impact your daily functioning. Through our anxiety treatment program, you will learn the coping skills to calm your anxiety before it takes control. Contact us at 855.494.0357 to discover the benefits of anxiety treatment.
