How do I know if I have an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety that doesn’t dissipate afterward, gets worse over time, or interferes with your daily life, may be a sign you have a disorder, such as a generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or social anxiety disorder.
What are the symptoms of an anxiety disorder?
Each type of anxiety disorder has its own set of symptoms.
The symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder include:
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Problems concentrating
- Irritability
- Tense muscles
- Sleep problems
- Rumination (thinking the same thoughts over and over)
Panic disorder may manifest as:
- Intense fear that arises suddenly and repeatedly
- Feeling out of control during an attack
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Avoiding places where a prior attack occurred
- Worrying about the next attack
Social anxiety disorder symptoms include:
- Agoraphobia (avoiding public spaces)
- Feeling anxious or self-conscious around others
- Avoiding social situations
- The fear of being judged
- Difficulty making and keeping friends
- Blushing, sweating, trembling or vomiting when around others
- Separation anxiety
What are the risk factors for anxiety disorders?
While you can develop an anxiety disorder at any age, you’re at greater risk when you’re shy, female, divorced or widowed. Other risk factors include:
- Having parents or other biological relatives with mental health issues
- Demonstrating elevated levels of cortisol (stress hormone) in your saliva
- Having suffered abuse, neglect, or extreme trauma as a child or adult
How are anxiety disorders treated?
Dr. Kermani favors caring, supportive care, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a first-line treatment for anxiety and other mood disorders. He prescribes medications to control symptoms in moderate to severe cases when needed.
Dr. Kermani spends an extended period of time with you, talking to you in depth to reveal your sources of conflict and anxiety, using CBT to eliminate negative thoughts, and treating you as an individual with unique needs.
He works with you to design a treatment plan that alleviates your symptoms and provides you with new cognitive and behavioral tools so you can manage your moods in the future.
To get started on the road to controlling your anxiety or other mood disorder, contact Dr. Kermani for a consultation. He can be reached by phone.
