• Feeling fatigued or weak
• Experiencing a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom
• Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
• Having an increased heart rate or rapid breathing (i.e., hyperventilation)
• Sweating, trembling
• Difficulty concentrating and controlling worry
• Having difficulty sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Types of Anxiety & Mood Disorders

Anxiety and stress disorders run the gamut, but some of the more common disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety, adjustment disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

The NIMH explains that a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by an ongoing feeling of anxiety or dread that can interfere with daily life. People with GAD experience frequent anxiety for months or even years. Symptoms of GAD include:(1)

• Being irritable
• Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
• Being easily fatigued
• Having difficulty concentrating
• Having headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or unexplained pains
• Experiencing difficulty in controlling feelings of worry
• Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

People with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) experience uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (i.e., obsessions), engage in repetitive behaviors (i.e., compulsions), or both. The NIMH notes that OCD behaviors run the gamut and range in severity, but common obsessions might include:(3)

• Fear of germs, losing control of one’s behavior, and/or forgetting, losing, or misplacing something
• Aggressive thoughts towards oneself or others
• Desire for symmetrical placement of objectives
• Taboo or unwanted thoughts involving harm, religion, or sex

Common compulsions include:(3)

• Repeatedly checking things (e.g., ensuring the lights are off, the door is locked, etc.)
• Compulsive counting, cleaning, and/or handwashing
• Obsessively ordering or arranging items in a precise way
• Repeatedly saying silent mantras

OCD symptoms most often start between late childhood and young adulthood, but you can develop the disorder at any point in your life, and obsessions and compulsions can change over time.(3)

Social Anxiety Disorder

People with social anxiety disorder experience an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. These fears of social situations may feel so powerful that they seem beyond the individual’s control.

The NIMH explains that those with social anxiety disorder may experience:(1)

• Blushing, sweating, trembling, or pounding/racing heart rate
• Stomach aches
• Rigid body posture 
• Speaking with an purposefully soft voice
• Trouble making eye contact and/or being around 
• Self-consciousness or fear that people will judge them harshly 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The NIMH explains that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, frightening, or dangerous event.(4) It is normal to have a range of reactions to such traumatic experiences, but for most people, they fade with time. If you have experienced trauma and your reactions remain intense, you may be diagnosed with PTSD.(4)

Anyone can develop PTSD, but it most commonly happens in people who have experienced or witnessed the following:(4)

• Combat
• Physical or sexual assault
• Abuse
• An accident
• A disaster

People have also developed PTSD after learning that a friend or family member experienced trauma.

Symptoms of PTSD include:(4)

• Flashbacks (i.e., reliving the traumatic event)
• Recurring memories or dreams related to the event
• Distressing thoughts
• Physical signs of stress
• Acute reactions to loud noises

Thoughts and feelings can trigger these symptoms, as can words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event.

Adjustment Disorders

An adjustment disorder is an excessive emotional or behavioral reaction to a stressful event or change in a person’s life. The Cleveland Clinic notes that while adults can experience adjustment disorders, they are most often diagnosed in children and adolescents as a response to events such as a family move, a parent’s divorce or separation, the loss of a pet, or the birth of a sibling.(5) A sudden illness or restriction to your child’s life due to chronic disease may also result in an adjustment response.

Symptoms, duration, intensity, and effect can vary by age. Adolescents are more likely to act out; whereas, adults usually exhibit depressive symptoms.

Therapy & Treatment Options for Anxiety & Mood Disorders in Delray Beach

Anxiety disorders are generally treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both. At Bishop Health, we offer the most up-to-date approaches to treating anxiety. We will work with you to develop a personalized course of treatment that will help relieve your symptoms and improve your ability to function. We provide stress and anxiety disorder treatment in Delray Beach, FL, that is second to none.

Psychotherapy

Sometimes called “talk therapy,” psychotherapy can be tailored to your specific needs to help relieve your anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches you different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations to help you feel less anxious and fearful. CBT is the most common form of therapy used for anxiety and is known as the “gold standard” for treatment.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) uses strategies such as mindfulness and goal setting to reduce discomfort and anxiety. Compared to CBT, ACT is a newer psychotherapy treatment, so less data on its effectiveness is available.

Medication

Medication can help relieve symptoms of anxiety and stress disorders, enabling you to better cope with everyday occurrences. The most common types of medications used to combat anxiety disorders are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications (such as benzodiazepines), and beta-blockers.(1)

Antidepressants

Antidepressants treat depression and anxiety by improving the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or stress. Not all antidepressants work for everyone. So you may need to try several before finding one that improves your symptoms and has manageable side effects.

Since it takes several weeks for antidepressants to start working, it’s important to be patient. Do not stop taking antidepressants without talking to your healthcare provider, as you need to taper off them gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Your provider can set up a program to decrease your dose safely. 

Antidepressants may also cause increased thoughts of suicidal behavior in children, teens, and adults under 25, especially when first taking them or when the dosage is changed. For this reason, it’s important to closely monitor those taking antidepressants.(1)

Anti-Anxiety Medications

Anti-anxiety medications — the most common being benzodiazepines —  can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, or extreme fear and worry. 

Benzodiazepines take effect more quickly than antidepressant medications, but you may build up a tolerance to these medications and need higher and higher doses to get the same effect. Some people become dependent on them.

To avoid these problems, healthcare providers usually prescribe benzodiazepines for short periods of time.

Like antidepressants, benzodiazepines can cause withdrawal symptoms or the return of anxiety if you stop taking them abruptly. Work with your healthcare provider to decrease your dose slowly and safely.(1)

Beta-Blockers

In addition to treating high blood pressure, beta-blockers can help relieve the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat, shaking, trembling, and blushing, when taken for short periods. They can also be used as needed to reduce acute anxiety and to prevent some predictable forms of performance anxieties.(1)