Heart-racing anxiety is clearly an experience most people would like to minimize. It’s a natural part of the human condition that we all feel occasionally. When you have anxiety attacks every day, something is wrong.
Sometimes, there are physical reasons for feeling anxious, including hyperthyroidism and other endocrine system issues, low blood sugar, and some heart conditions. When these aren’t in play, you may be experiencing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a psychological condition that produces frequent episodes that may affect you daily.
Dr. Pradeep Thapar and the team at Premier Psychiatry specialize in treating anxiety and related disorders in Orland Park, Oak Lawn, Lombard, & Downers Grove, Illinois. Customizing treatment to the unique needs of every patient, our caregivers blend psychotherapy techniques and medications to help you gain control over your days again.
Signs of GAD
The way you experience anxiety may be similar to others, but it’s likely your collection of symptoms and their intensity will be unique to you. Signs of GAD often include:
- Feelings of anxiety that are out of proportion with outcome of the events over which you worry
- You have trouble managing uncertainty about certain things
- Overthinking unlikely events, usually toward multiple worst-case scenarios
- Feelings of danger about normally non-threatening situations
- Fear of making wrong decisions
- You’re unable to relax
- Feelings of being on edge without reason
- Mood changes and feelings of irritability
Anxiety often causes physical symptoms, too. These can include:
- Muscle tension and related aching
- Insomnia
- Feelings of nervousness
- You can be startled easily
- Intestinal or stomach issues, such as nausea or diarrhea
- Physical tics, like trembling or twitching
- Perspiration
- Fatigue
The frequency of your anxiety attacks and their symptoms is another factor in a GAD diagnosis. Daily anxiety episodes suggest that you may have GAD.
We can help
Successful treatment plans for GAD generally include a mix of medications and therapies. Naturally, the precise combination considers your condition, personality, and response to treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often beneficial for anxiety treatment, since it provides you with practical ways to redirect your mental energies to get past the thoughts that consume you when GAD hits. In some cases, CBT is effective enough on its own to reduce your anxiety symptoms to manageable levels.
When therapy alone isn’t enough, we may prescribe medications to alter some of the chemical pathways in your brain. Both antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications prove helpful in reducing anxiety reactions. Generally, we start with low doses of the safest drugs, changing these until we arrive at a level that works for you.
We’re here to help you through your anxiety condition. Contact Premier Psychiatry by phone or online to schedule a consultation. There’s no need to feel anxious on a daily basis, so book your visit today to find the relief you need.