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Anxiety Q & A

What does anxiety feel like?

Anxiety is the fear, worry, or nervousness you feel when facing a stressful event, such as giving a presentation in front of a group of people or interviewing for a job you really want. This type of anxiety is typical and is part of your body’s stress response.

Anxiety helps your body cope with the event by boosting energy and improving focus. It may also cause sweating and shaking. Once the event is over, your anxiety goes away.  

When is anxiety a problem?

Anxiety is a problem when your fear and nervousness worsen and continue long after the stressful event, affecting your ability to manage your daily responsibilities. Ongoing anxiety is also a problem when it affects your concentration and ability to make decisions. 

If you have overwhelming feelings of anxiety that are taking over your life, you may have an anxiety disorder. Wendy is a skilled psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who diagnoses and treats anxiety disorders. 

What are some types of anxiety disorders?

Wendy classifies anxiety disorders into types based on symptoms and cause. Types of anxiety disorders include:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

People with GAD have ongoing and excessive fear and worry about everyday things like money, work, or school. The anxiety is so severe it may cause physical symptoms like an upset stomach or neck pain.

Phobias

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder that causes excessive fear of an object or situation. For example, fear of needles, fear of dogs, or fear of flying are phobias. 

Panic disorder

Panic disorder is when you have frequent, unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack causes extreme emotional and physical symptoms that last several minutes. Wendy specializes in treating panic disorder. 

What treatments can improve my anxiety?

Wendy conducts a thorough psychiatric evaluation before making any specific treatment recommendations. She takes time to get to know you so you can better understand the origin of your anxiety and determine your diagnosis.

Wendy meets you where you are in your mental health journey, providing the best tools that help you grow and thrive. Treatment for anxiety may include medication management, psychotherapy, or both. 

Anxiety disorders are common and don’t go away on their own. For expert care, call the office of Wendy Ann Reiss, MSN, PMHNP-BC, today or click the online booking button to schedule a consultation.