Anxiety Help Los Angeles
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Anxiety disorders are common among Americans, in fact, they affect 19.1% of the US adult population every year. An estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience any anxiety disorder at some time in their lives.
Although occasional feelings of worry or tension are common, when these feelings become constant, this could be a sign of an anxiety disorder. People with anxiety disorders experience fear, nervousness, and worry in their everyday lives. These feelings can interfere with their daily activities and can cause the individual to avoid necessary actions that could trigger them.
Solace Treatment is an outpatient recovery program in Los Angeles County that specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders. We recognize that individualized care will be important in the person finding recovery from this disorder and are prepared to create a customized treatment plan.
Anxiety
Disorders
Anxiety disorders differ in the objects and situations that induce them, but share features of excessive fear or worry and related behavioral disturbances. Anxiety disorders may cause interference with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. These disorders are often associated with both physical symptoms as well as emotional reactions.
The physical symptoms of anxiety often include heart palpitations, sweating, headaches, and insomnia. The emotional symptoms often associated with anxiety disorders include feelings of dread, apprehension, irritability, and anticipating the worst.
Types
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5) is used to classify and diagnose mental health disorders. According to the DSM-5 there are different types or classifications of anxiety disorders.
Types of anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – People with this disorder feel extremely worried or nervous even when there is little or no reason to worry. These feelings begin to interfere with how you live your life and the frequent anxiety may go on for months or maybe even years.
- Social Anxiety Disorder – A common type of anxiety where the individual feels symptoms of anxiety or fear in situations where they may be judged or evaluated by others. The fear of social situations may become so intense that it may get in the way of going to work, school, or doing everyday activities.
- Panic Disorder – This disorder causes sudden feelings of intense fear when there is no danger, also known as panic attacks. Often this disorder is associated with physical symptoms such as fast heart beat, difficulty breathing, and sweating. The fear of having a panic attack can start to take over the individual’s life.
- Agoraphobia – Causes people to avoid places and situations that may cause them to feel trapped, helpless, panicked, embarrassed, or frightened. This condition can become so severe that the individual has trouble with relationships and performance at work or school.
- Specific Phobia – An intense, repetitive, and irrational fear of a specific object, situation, activity, or person that is usually much greater than the actual danger. People with this condition will often go out of their way to avoid the item or circumstances they fear.
- Selective Mutism – Causes an individual to not be able to speak in certain situations due to severe anxiety while they are able to speak in other situations. This condition most commonly occurs in children.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) – Causes excessive worry and even dread of real or anticipated separation from an attachment figure that manifests with inappropriate intensity or the inappropriateness of age and context. This disorder is most common in children.
Causes and Risk Factors
The causes of anxiety disorders are unknown but likely involve a combination of factors including genetics, environmental, psychological, and developmental. Anxiety disorders can run in families, suggesting that a combination of genes and environmental stresses can produce the disorders.
Factors that can increase an individual’s risk for developing an anxiety disorder include:
- Trauma – both children and adults who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event are at higher risk for developing an anxiety disorder
- Stress due to illness – health conditions or serious illness can cause anxiety disorders due to worrying about your treatment and your future
- Stress buildup – whether from a big event or several small life situations, stress can increase your chances of developing an anxiety disorder.
- Personality – Certain personality traits increase risk for anxiety such as being a perfectionist, being easily flustered, timid, lacking self-esteem, and wanting to control situations and people.
- Other mental health disorders – Having more than one mental health disorder can increases your risk for developing anxiety or multiple forms of anxiety disorders
- Family history of mental health disorders – Having blood relatives that have mental health conditions and/or anxiety disorders may increase your risk for developing an anxiety disorder
- Drugs and alcohol – Self-medicating to help with your anxiety or developing substance abuse because of your anxiety may occur. If you find yourself abusing substances, treatment may be necessary for both disorders otherwise known as dual diagnosis treatment.
Treating
Anxiety
Each anxiety disorder has its own set of symptoms, meaning each has a separate set of treatments. Based on your diagnosis and individual needs, a customized treatment plan can be developed to best help you find recovery. Treatment for anxiety disorders often includes therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that is often used to help treat anxiety disorders. This therapy helps to change an individuals thoughts and behaviors by first recognizing the thoughts and behaviors that need to be changed. The goal of this therapy is to gain an understanding of behaviors and motivations so the individual can feel better about themselves.
Problem-solving skills are taught in order to help cope with difficult situations. Solace Treatment uses CBT therapy to help treat symptoms of anxiety and to help gain a new perspective on the individual’s thoughts and behaviors.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is often a tool used to help patients with anxiety disorders. Our patients are able to constructively interact with a mental health professional present to help better their social skills, conflict resolution, and gain a support network. Individuals with anxiety disorders in a group setting can learn that they are not alone with their condition and learn more about themselves.
Experiential Therapy
To help patients with the physical symptoms of their anxiety disorder, our outpatient treatment center in Whittier practices experiential therapy. At Solace Treatment, we provide our clients with the opportunity to participate in yoga, hiking, art therapy, and meditation to help clients relax and feel in control of their bodies.
Medication
Using medication to treat anxiety disorders only can treat the symptoms of anxiety disorders and is not a cure. Not all patients will need medication as a form of treatment for anxiety and each individual will be assessed by a mental health professional to determine the best form of treatment. If medication is needed, this treatment will be used in addition to psychotherapy and group therapy.
To treat the physical symptoms of anxiety, these medications may be prescribed:
- Benzodiazepines – Sedatives that can help with short-term anxiety, but they can be addictive so need to be taken cautiously
- Buspirone – Treats both short-term and long-term anxiety by affecting chemicals in the brain that help to regulate mood.
- Antidepressants – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin Norepineprine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), Monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and Tricyclics are all antidepressants that can be used to treat anxiety disorders
- Beta-blockers – most often used to treat heart conditions, but can be helpful in relieving physical symptoms of anxiety
Solace's Anxiety Treatment
In Los Angeles
At Solace Treatment, we understand that anxiety disorders can disrupt the way you live, think, and act. These disorders can begin to affect and interfere with work, school, and relationships.
Our goal is to help our clients find relief from their anxiety by providing tools and education. Our mental health professionals are prepared to help with the physical and mental symptoms associated with anxiety disorders.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an anxiety disorder, reach out to Solace Treatment today. Our team of professionals can answer any questions you may have and help you understand our program.
