Anxiety Treatment Atlanta GA

What Exactly Is Anxiety?

It is natural to feel nervous and anxious when faced with certain situations or new experiences in life. This type of anxiety is your body’s natural way of preparing you for that specific situation. In most cases, the anxiety or uneasiness subsides in a matter of hours. However, there are cases where the uneasiness doesn’t go away and you may feel overwhelmed by a state of perpetual fear and dread; this is where the anxiety becomes a disorder.

Anxiety disorder is a serious mental health condition that affects more than 10% of Atlanta city residents. Just like so many other mental disorders, anxiety can bring your life into a complete halt if left untreated. Fortunately, there are numerous behavioral health centers in Atlanta that offer a variety of anxiety treatment options. But before we can dive into anxiety treatment and coping mechanisms, let’s take a look at some of the most common symptoms of anxiety.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety is characterized by uncontrolled stress, perpetual fear, irritability, and restlessness. The physical effects of anxiety include palpitations, fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, headaches, nausea, sweating, and in some cases, stomach aches. Other symptoms that might point to anxiety include feeling jumpy all the time, poor concentration, frequent nightmares, and trembling.

If you experience any of these symptoms for prolonged periods of time, make sure you contact your doctor or consult with the nearest health care provider. The severity of the symptoms can vary greatly depending on the type of anxiety disorder. In most cases, individuals with very severe anxiety end up needing specialized care in an inpatient treatment center.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), there are several types of anxiety disorders that affect millions of Americans every day. Below are some of the most common anxiety disorders in Atlanta, Georgia:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):

This is by far the most common type of mood disorder that plagues thousands of Atlanta City residents. GAD is often characterized by a person’s inability to shake off feelings of extreme fear and/or dread towards a certain incident or situation. While it might seem normal to get worried or feel apprehensive every now and then, people struggling with generalized anxiety disorder endure feelings of dread and fear for days on end. In most cases, people suffering from the disorder end up avoiding their daily routines out of fear.

Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD):

Another very common type of anxiety disorder in Atlanta, GA is Separation Anxiety Disorder. This psychological condition mostly affects small children who are afraid of being separated from their parents or caregivers. Children that suffer from this mental health disorder are not able to engage in normal activities like other children. If left untreated, the child might not be able to develop and foster healthy relationships with other kids which can have a direct negative impact on them later on in life.

Atlanta mental and behavioral health professionals also believe that adults who are faced with the possibility of being separated from their home or from individuals with whom they share a strong emotional connection are also susceptible to separation anxiety disorder.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a widely publicized mental condition that causes an individual to become excessively obsessive about particular thoughts. This eventually leads to compulsive behavior like checking and rechecking the door locks repeatedly before leaving one’s residence due to the fear of break-ins. This condition also affects a significant number of people in the city of Atlanta.

Social Anxiety:

Social anxiety, also known as Social Phobia, is another life-changing mood disorder that is very prevalent in Atlanta, GA, and the United States at large. People who are diagnosed as struggling with Social Anxiety tend to be extra-conscious about the impression that they make on other people. As such, they live in constant fear of embarrassing themselves in front of other people and hence can’t stand being around crowded places.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

This is a form of anxiety that is common in individuals who have been through extremely traumatizing events at one point or another in their lives. War veterans and victims of violent crimes are the two main groups of people who are predisposed to post-traumatic stress disorder. People suffering from this form of anxiety in Atlanta report symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, and feeling helpless.

Effective Anxiety Treatment

Although there are different types of anxiety disorders as we have seen, it can be argued that in a way, they all have a common denominator and that is excessive and pointless fear. And the good news is, anxiety is treatable regardless of the type or severity. However, anxiety treatment can be very challenging so you have to be willing to walk the extra mile. The first step in anxiety treatment is accepting that you have a problem and that you need help. It is also worth noting that different people respond differently to various treatments. Below are some of the most popular remedies and treatments for anxiety in Atlanta.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a clinical and evidence-based therapy that is used in the treatment of a variety of mental conditions in Atlanta, Georgia including anxiety disorders. CBT focuses on using different techniques to change the thoughts and behaviors of the affected person from negative to a positive. If executed correctly, the treatment can completely get rid of all the negativity, irrational thoughts, and fears that bring about anxiety.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is yet another evidence-based treatment that is closely linked to both cognitive behavioral therapy and neurolinguistic programming. This type of treatment typically involves deliberately exposing the patient to an environment similar to that which causes their anxiety in a bid to help them get over their fears and phobias.

This treatment can be very effective in reprogramming the brain to associate previous fears with a positive or neutral outlook. However, if not conducted with precision, exposure therapy can lead to a deterioration of the condition.

Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)

Neurolinguistic programming has several similarities to CBT as it focuses on changing the thought processes of the patient in order to change reactions and behaviors. Neurolinguistic programming also focuses on improving one’s perception of different situations among other things.

Music Therapy

Music therapy is an evidence-based anxiety treatment that uses the essence of music to relieve stress and mild anxiety. Basically, music helps promote a relaxed mood through the body and effectively eliminates the tension caused by anxiety. The use of music to treat mental conditions goes as far back as ancient Greece. It was also a very common ritual in most Native American cultures.

Prescription Medication

There are many prescription drugs that can be used to calm the symptoms of severe anxiety and effectively bring a sense of sanity to the patient. Most anxiety prescriptions are designed to re-establish a balance in the thought processes and reactions of the brain. Anti-anxiety medication can have very severe side effects and are mostly prescribed for short periods of time as the patient seeks or undergoes other forms of treatment. Some of the most commonly used anti-anxiety agents include antidepressants, tranquilizers, and beta-blockers.

Complementary Techniques

These are natural techniques and remedies that can be used hand in hand with courses of therapies for even better results. They include activities like breathing exercises, cardiovascular exercises, meditation, yoga, dietary adjustments, herbal supplements, and other lifestyle changes.

Complementary Medicines

For some people, using anti-anxiety prescriptions may feel like rubbing salt into the wound considering the life-changing risk factors associated with such medication. Complementary medicines or herbal medicine offer a safer alternative to doctor-prescribed medication. However, the efficacy of these herbal medicines is debatable. Some of the most popular herbal remedies for anxiety in Atlanta, Georgia include St. John’s Wort, Kava Kava, Passiflora, Chamomile, Valerian, Argentum Nitricum, Vitamins, Lavender, and Oats. Most of these products are available in health food stores throughout Atlanta City. However, you should consult your doctor whenever possible before using any of the above products for medicinal purposes.

Complementary Therapies

Just like there are conventional therapies recognized and used in modern medicine, there are also alternative forms of therapy that can be used alongside or instead of conventional anxiety treatments and therapies depending on the patient’s preferences. These alternative therapies include such things as aromatherapy, acupuncture, reiki, and hypnotherapy.

Ketamine for Anxiety Treatment

Billed as one of the best treatments for anxiety, ketamine has gained a lot of popularity in Atlanta, Georgia, thanks to its effectiveness in the treatment of severe mental conditions. Apparently, Ketamine has powerful antidepressant characteristics that make it well equipped to fight severe symptoms in people suffering from chronic mood disorders. Its anesthetic characteristics also play a major role in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain.

According to recent medical studies, ketamine has a success rate of between 75 to 80% and is well suited for patients with treatment-resistant mood disorders including anxiety and depression. Unlike most anti-anxiety medications, ketamine has no long term side effects and delivers relief within a few hours of its administration.

Do you suffer from treatment-resistant anxiety? Don’t let this condition ruin your life. Maintaining the integrity of your mental health is paramount! At the Invictus Clinic, we offer free consultations and affordable ketamine treatment for anxiety in Atlanta to help you regain control over your life.