Anxiety and Panic Disorders

Facts about Anxiety Disorders:

  • Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting as high as up to 23 % of Americans.
  • Anxiety disorders may develop from a complex set of risk factors - including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.
  • Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only about one-third of people suffering from an anxiety disorder receive treatment.
  • Anxiety disorders are commonly misdiagnosed.
  • Anxiety disorders can mimic physical illnesses - causing fatigue, restlessness, sleep problems, insomnia, muscle tension, sweating, nausea, cold hands, difficulty swallowing, jumpiness, gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea.

Anxiety disorders fall into following categories:

  • A. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
  • B. The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
  • C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months).

Anxiety symptoms:

  • restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
  • being easily fatigued
  • difficulty concentrating
  • irritability
  • muscle tension
  • sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)

Panic attacks symptoms:

  • palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
  • sweating
  • trembling or shaking
  • sensations of shortness of breath
  • feeling of choking
  • chest pain or discomfort
  • nausea or abdominal distress
  • feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
  • derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
  • fear of losing control or going crazy
  • fear of dying
  • paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
  • chills or hot flushes

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Persistent, intrusive thoughts which preoccupies one mind against will and often cause compulsions - ritualistic, repeatitive actions.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Exposure to traumatic event which causes prolonged multiple symptoms including nightmares, insomnia, intrusive recollections, flashbacks, tension, avoidance of traumatic memories provoking events, places.

Phobias:

- Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): Extreme anxiety about being judged by others or fear intimidation by people, avoidance of public events or presentatios

- Intense fear reaction to a specific object or situation (such as elevators, spiders, dogs, heights etc.)

Anxiety disorders are treatable and often even curable conditions. They usually respond to medications (possible options include dozens of choices), psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral,relaxation training, biofeedback, rational-emotive and other modes). All the above in use by our Stress Relief of New York staff. Other options such as alternative treatment with natural remedies (see Brain Chemical Imbalance Testing and Correction program), acupuncture, Chinese medicine are also available .