Anxiety disorders are behavioral health conditions that cause constant, uncontrollable fear or worry in everyday situations. The feelings associated with anxiety disorders go beyond day-to-day stress or nervousness because they can keep you from living a full, productive life.
There are several types of anxiety disorders according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Fortunately, it’s possible to manage the symptoms of these conditions with the help of professionals.
Maple Heights Behavioral Health provides comprehensive, personalized care for people who are struggling with anxiety disorders. Our highly experienced team is committed to helping patients find the path to healing that is right for them.
Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
Determining whether someone is struggling with an anxiety disorder depends on lots of different factors. The anxiety disorder signs and symptoms that you display usually depend on things like which anxiety disorder you might have developed, your family history, and whether you’ve experienced trauma. Each anxiety disorder has distinct symptoms, but you might be struggling with one of these conditions if you’re exhibiting some of these signs and symptoms:
- Trouble controlling feelings of worry
- Feeling restless, on edge, or wound up
- Unexplained pain like headaches or stomachaches
- Difficulty concentrating on everyday tasks
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Always feeling tired even after getting a full night’s sleep
- Feelings of dread or impending doom
- Chest pains or pounding or racing heart
If you think you’re showing signs and symptoms of anxiety, it is important to get a professional assessment. This is the best way to find out whether you can benefit from getting expert support for an anxiety disorder.
Common Causes of & Risk Factors for Anxiety Disorders
There is no single reason why someone might be suffering from an anxiety disorder. However, there are certain factors that can put someone at higher risk for developing one of these illnesses. The following are common causes and risk factors for anxiety disorders:
- Having family members who have also struggled with anxiety disorders
- Experiencing a traumatic event like abuse, violence, the death of a loved one, or a prolonged illness
Anxiety Disorder Statistics
The National Institute of Mental Health reported the following statistics on anxiety disorders in the United States:
- Around 19.1% of adults struggled with an anxiety disorder at some point in the last year.
- Of the adults who had an anxiety disorder in the past year, 22.8% suffered from anxiety disorder symptoms that severely disrupted their daily lives.
- Women (23.4%) are more likely than men (14.3%) to struggle with anxiety disorder symptoms.
Potential Effects of Anxiety Disorders
Without professional support, trying to live with an anxiety disorder can be incredibly challenging. The effects of anxiety disorders can damage nearly every aspect of your life, including your physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, and career. These are the potential effects of anxiety disorders:
- Trouble concentrating at work or maintaining a job
- Ongoing financial troubles, bankruptcy, or homelessness
- Strained relationships with friends, family, or coworkers
- Difficulty building and maintaining close relationships
- Feelings of loneliness and isolation
- Frequent doctor visits and growing medical bills
- Substance abuse or development of a substance use disorder
- Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempt, or death by suicide
While the effects of anxiety disorders can be serious, help is available. By reaching out for professional support, you can start to heal from any harm you might have suffered from your struggles with an anxiety disorder.
What Happens if Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder Return?
Getting professional help for an anxiety disorder can be essential to improving your health and overall quality of life. But if you find that the anxiety disorder symptoms return later, it doesn’t mean that you’ll never be able to manage them.
There are lots of reasons why the symptoms of an anxiety disorder might come back, and none of them have to do with your ability to sustain long-term healing. While getting professional support, you likely learned healthy ways to cope with anxiety disorder symptoms should they return, so draw on the strategies and skills you learned during that time.
However, if the feelings and behaviors related to the anxiety disorder become too intense, reach out to your care team. They are here to support you whenever you need them.
Common Underlying or Co-Occurring Disorders
Living with an anxiety disorder is tough enough. However, anxiety disorders frequently co-occur with substance use disorders and other behavioral health conditions.
When you seek care at Maple Heights Behavioral Health, we conduct a thorough assessment of your current situation to make sure that you receive care for any underlying conditions you might be struggling with.
Don’t let the effects of an anxiety disorder keep you from living the life you deserve. Contact Maple Heights Behavioral Health to learn more about how our compassionate team of experts can help you get on the path to a better tomorrow.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Maple Heights Behavioral Health.