Anxiety

Anxiety is a serious health condition that can alter the course of your daily routines. The team at DeNova in Lexington, Winchester, or Richmond, Kentucky, offers effective and compassionate care for anxiety. If you’re ready to find balance and improved emotional stability, schedule an appointment online or over the phone today.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is an essential part of human survival. It’s the force that powers your fight-or-flight response and makes you jump out of the way of oncoming traffic or tighten your grip on the steering wheel when a gust of wind hits your vehicle.

Anxiety causes your heart to beat faster, your breathing to quicken, and triggers the release of hormones like adrenaline. For some, however, anxiety creeps into scenarios where it’s not justified. This is known as an anxiety disorder and it can create a range of negative health consequences.

What are some examples of anxiety disorders?

Some people suffer from general anxiety disorder, a condition marked by long, unpredictable bouts of worry about many different things. It’s the most common type of anxiety disorder, and sufferers are often frustrated by an inability to identify the source of their anxiety.

Other anxiety disorders include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Panic disorder
• Specific phobias
• Agoraphobia
• Social anxiety disorder
• Separation anxiety disorder
  

Each of these disorders can be treated through a variety of methods.

What causes anxiety?

It isn’t always possible to determine the exact cause of anxiety. Some potential causes include:

• Relationship problems, work strife, and family issues
• Differences in brain chemistry
• Traumatic events like combat, an auto accident, or domestic violence
• Genetic predisposition
• Withdrawal from drugs or alcohol
• Certain health problems or medications
  

Your provider at DeNova works with you to determine the cause of your anxiety and checks for medical issues that might be making matters worse.

What can be done to treat anxiety?

There are many different ways to treat anxiety. Medications might play a role in your treatment process, but every effort is made to find a path toward relief that doesn’t rely on pharmaceutical intervention.

Talk therapy is a great way to improve your experience with anxiety. One approach, called cognitive behavioral therapy, works by teaching you to identify thoughts that aren’t in line with reality, and then determine how to respond to those thoughts in a healthy manner.

You can also improve anxiety by finding healthy ways to process stress. Some men and women find it helpful to engage in exercise or athletic pursuits to keep their anxiety at bay, while others turn to meditation or yoga.

If you’re tired of letting anxiety rule your life, call DeNova today to book a visit or spend a few moments on the online scheduling page.