Anxiety Treatment Kennesaw, GA

Anxiety Treatment Center in Kennesaw

Occasional feelings of panic and anxiety undoubtedly are a natural part of everyday life, but people who have a diagnosed anxiety disorder feel it a whole lot more persistently. Anxiety conditions are believed to affect as much as 40 million adults annually. Unfortunately, probably not even 40% of those cases are obtaining treatment for their anxiety. Anxiety might not be able to be “cured” with treatment in many instances, however, the symptoms can be managed with low dose Ketamine Infusions for Anxiety Treatment in Kennesaw, GA.

Types Of Anxiety That May Require Treatment

Anxiety tends to vary between each individual case, but there are a few basic types of anxiety disorders most cases can be identified as:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Characterized by consistent worry, anxiety, and tension, even if there is nothing to bring it on.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts (known as obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (known as compulsions). These compulsions, sometimes called rituals, are performed in an attempt to prevent these obsessive thoughts or make them subside. The compulsions typically only offer temporary relief, however, and can further contribute to anxiety.
• Panic Disorder Characterized by repeated episodes of intense fear that bring on physical symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Brought on after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or traumatic event.
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) Characterized by intense anxiety and self-consciousness in everyday social situations. It may be limited to only public speaking, but some people may experience symptoms whenever they are around other people.
• Agoraphobia Characterized by avoidance of places or situations that trigger feelings of anxiety or panic.

What Are The Symptoms Of Anxiety?

Anyone suffering from an anxiety disorder may find themselves having difficulty functioning in their everyday life, and may fall behind at work or at school. Anxiety disorders can also affect your relationships with your loved ones or your physical health as well.

Although symptoms can vary from case to case and disorder to disorder, some of the most common symptoms include:

• Feelings of nervousness
• Feelings of restlessness
• Increased heart rate
• A sense of impending doom
• Hyperventilation
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble concentrating
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Avoiding things that trigger your anxiety

People with high stress or childhood trauma may be more likely to develop an anxiety disorder, as well as people with a family history of anxiety or other mental health disorders. Anxiety disorders can bring a higher risk of developing depression or heart disease, and some may turn to substance abuse to try to alleviate the symptoms of their disorder.

WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?

Depressive Disorders are very complex, and the medical community is still unsure about what exactly causes them. The most likely answer, research indicates, is that it is caused by a variety of factors both internal and external, such as differences in biology, differences in brain chemistry, changes in hormones, and genetic history. Continue reading for a deeper dive into these causes.

Differences in Biology

Research shows that people suffering from depression may actually have physical changes within their brains. While the exact significance of these differences is still not known, this may aid research in the future.

Differences in Brain Chemistry

Neurotransmitters are chemical substances within the brain, oftentimes referred to as the body’s “chemical messengers”. Research is still ongoing but indicates that changes to the function and effect of the neurotransmitters in the brain (and how they interact with neurocircuits) may play a role in both the onset of depression and also how it is treated.

Hormone Changes

Hormone changes may come about during pregnancy (or after delivery), or from thyroid problems, menopause, or other conditions yet undiscovered.

Family History

Depression is much more prevalent in those whose blood relatives also suffer from this disorder. Research into what genes are involved is still ongoing.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF DEPRESSION?

While this condition most often begins in teenage years or the 20s and 30s, it can happen to any person at any given time. It is more often diagnosed in women than in men, but it may be that women are more likely to go out and seek treatment than men.

Factors that increase the risk of developing this disorder may include:

Personality traits such as low self-esteem or a lack of independence
Traumatic events like abuse, the loss of a loved one, or stress from finances
Family or personal history of other mental disorders
Alcohol or drug abuse
Serious illness or chronic aches (such as cancer, strokes, and heart diseases)

WHAT ARE THE COMMON COMPLICATIONS OF DEPRESSION?

Depression usually gets worse the longer it goes without being treated, and it can soon take a toll on a person’s emotional and mental health. Examples of complications from this condition include:

Obesity, which may also lead to diabetes or heart disease
Physical illness
Pain or chronic aches
Alcohol or substance abuse
Anxiety disorders
Panic disorders
Social phobia
Work or school problems
Relationship troubles with loved ones
Social isolation and withdrawal
Suicidal ideations or attempts
Self-mutilation or self-harm

HOW CAN I PREVENT DEPRESSION?

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent a person from developing this disorder or becoming depressed. That said, there are some steps everyone can take to reduce the risk.

Control Stress Reducing stress can strengthen your resilience and boost a person’s self-esteem as well.
Build a Support Net Your close family and friends may be of great comfort to you in your times of need.
Get Treatment The sooner a person seeks treatment, the less risk they stand of worsening symptoms

WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEPRESSION EXIST?

Depression manifests itself differently in every person, but can generally be divided into the seven most common forms: Clinical Depression, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Depression, Postpartum Depression, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and Atypical Depression.

Clinical Depression

Also known as Major Depressive Disorder, this is the standard form of depression. It is characterized by these key features:

Lack of interest in hobbies
Changes in sleep
Fatigue
Changes in weight
Depressed mood
Feelings of self-hate and guilt
Feelings of worthlessness
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Also known as Dysthymia, this is a type of depression that is long-term (or chronic). People suffering from dysthymia may experience periods without feeling depressed, but these typically last for less than two months. Symptoms can include:

Lack of interest in hobbies
Feelings in sadness
Feelings of self-hate and guilt
Feelings of hopelessness
Changes in appetite
Anger
Irritability
Low self-esteem
Trouble concentrating

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder, sometimes referred to as Bipolar Depression or Manic Depression, is a mood disorder that features periods of elevated mood referred to as mania. Most people suffering from Bipolar Disorder can also suffer from intense episodes of major depression between the manic episodes.

Bipolar Disorder brings along a litany of physical and mental symptoms, such as:

Fatigue
Insomnia
Unexplained aches
Lack of self-esteem
Irritability
Indecision
Anxiety
Disorganization

Postpartum Depression

A type of depression usually brought on by the significant changes in hormone levels during pregnancy or after childbirth. Postpartum Depression is more than just the “baby blues”, and should be treated by a mental health professional for best results. Symptoms can include:

Feelings of sadness
Mood swings
Trouble bonding with the baby
Social withdrawal
Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
Changes in appetite
Lack of interest in hobbies
Anxiety and panic
Thoughts of self-harm
Thoughts of harming the baby
Suicidal ideations or thoughts

Premenstrual Dysphoric Depression

Related to Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), symptoms may include:

Fatigue
Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Stress and anxiety
Mood swings
Bouts of crying
Irritability
Trouble concentrating
Food cravings and binge eating

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Thought to be caused by disturbances in the circadian rhythm of the body, this type of depression may come about with changes in the seasons.

Atypical Depression

Depression that does not follow the typical set of characteristics the disorder usually is thought to. These alternative symptoms may include:

Weight gain
Excessive eating and sleeping
Fatigue
Strongly reactive moods
Sensitivity to rejection

HOW DOES SLEEP AFFECT DEPRESSION?

The complicated relationship between sleeping and depressive conditions is still being explored by medical science. Sleep problems may feed into depressive symptoms or vice versa. Continue reading to learn about a few sleep ailments that tend to appear alongside a depressive illness.

Insomnia

Some research indicates that people suffering from insomnia have a ten-fold risk of developing depression as well. Additionally, people with a depressive condition may experience some symptoms of insomnia, such as difficulty getting to sleep, difficulty staying asleep, and sleepiness during the daytime.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can also be linked to those with a depressive illness. Since OSA is the most common form of sleeping-disordered breathing, it is speculated that people with depression can be up to five times more likely to develop OSA.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Since this is thought to be brought on by changes in the body’s circadian rhythm, a disrupted sleeping schedule may agitate this type of depression or bring it about entirely.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT HELP WITH DEPRESSION

Depressive disorders are best treated with the help of your primary health provider, but certain natural lifestyle changes can also be very useful when combined with a treatment like Ketamine infusion.

Treatment Plan: Developing a healthcare plan and sticking to it is essential. Do not skip Ketamine infusion sessions, psychotherapy sessions, or taking your medications. These treatments may take months at a time, and you may still feel depressed at times. Have patience and trust your primary health provider. Recovery can take a long time.

Educate Yourself: Learn as much as you can about your depressive illness to learn how to best combat it. Your family and friends should also educate themselves about the nature of your symptoms so they can learn how to understand and help you.

Watch for Warning Signs: Working with your therapist or healthcare provider may help you learn what triggers your symptoms. You can then formulate a plan so you know what to do next if symptoms spring up.

Avoid Alcohol and Drug Abuse: While alcohol or drugs may help reduce symptoms, in the long run, they will only worsen your symptoms and make your illness harder to treat.

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself: Eat a healthy diet, practice regular physical activity, and try to maintain a consistent sleeping schedule. Even walking, jogging, gardening, swimming, or bicycling can give you enough physical activity to start to lessen your symptoms.