Anxiety

As women, we often carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, facing endless responsibilities and expectations. Anxiety disorders can leave us feeling overwhelmed and trapped in a cycle of worry and fear. Whether it's the constant nagging of generalized anxiety or the crippling panic attacks of panic disorder, it’s time to meet with Dr. Tamara McDonald, DNP, at Mind and Body Medicine in Boise, Idaho. Dr. McDonald offers comprehensive psychiatric and mental health care, diagnosing the cause of your anxiety and providing integrative treatment. Contact me today to schedule an in-person or telemedicine appointment for help overcoming your anxiety.

When should I seek help for anxiety?

Anxiety and dread are natural responses to challenging, irritating, or dangerous situations. Your anxiety serves an important purpose because it triggers a reaction in your brain, and your brain sends a surge of hormones, giving you the energy to face or escape the challenge.

Your body, mind, and feelings should calm down after the situation is over. Anxiety becomes more than your natural response when you:

• Have constant or frequent anxiety
• Have severe anxiety that disrupts your life
• Feel anxious without a known or anticipated challenge
• Change your daily life to avoid the event or place triggering your anxiety
• Experience anxiety that’s out of proportion to the triggering event
• Difficulty concentrating, making it challenging to stay focused amidst distractions
• Irritability, often heightened by the pressures of balancing various roles
• Muscle tension, a physical manifestation of the tension we carry in our bodies
• Sleep disturbances, such as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep due to racing thoughts and worries

What symptoms will I have with an anxiety disorder?

Each type of anxiety disorder has certain symptoms, but all types cause the following general symptoms:

• Fear, worry, and dread
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty concentrating
• Racing heartbeat
• Irritability
• Excessive sweating

You may also have a panic attack, an intense reaction that occurs suddenly and causes chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and sweating.

What type of anxiety disorder could I have?

Each anxiety disorder has many symptoms. This list gives you just one characteristic of each disorder:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (constant worry over everyday issues and situations)
• Panic disorder (unexpected and recurring panic attacks)
• Agoraphobia (fear of leaving the place where you feel safe)
• Specific phobia (intense fear of an object, activity, or animal)
• Social anxiety disorder (fear of new people, social events, or performing in front of others)
• Separation anxiety disorder (extreme anxiety when apart from family or caregivers)

Separation anxiety is a common problem in children, but it also affects adults.

What does feeling better look like?

Feeling better when dealing with anxiety means experiencing a sense of calm and inner peace amidst life's challenges. It means regaining control over your thoughts and emotions, and learning effective strategies to manage anxiety symptoms. Improved mental well-being in relation to anxiety can lead to:

• Reduced frequency and intensity of anxious thoughts and worries, allowing you to approach life with greater confidence and clarity.
• Enhanced ability to cope with stressors and triggers, enabling you to navigate difficult situations with resilience and adaptability.
• Improved sleep quality and relaxation, promoting a sense of restfulness and rejuvenation.
• Increased engagement in activities and social interactions, as you feel more comfortable and confident in various situations.
• Stronger sense of self-efficacy and empowerment, fostering a belief in your ability to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

Don’t lose any more of your days to anxiety. Call Mind and Body Medicine today or use online booking to request an in-person or telemedicine appointment.