Anxiety Psychiatrist | Treat Your Anxiety With the Help of a Psychiatric Professional Therapist

Anxiety disorders are some of the most common psychiatric disorders that mental health professionals treat on a daily basis. An increasing number of children, young people, and adults are now struggling with anxiety disorder, which comes in many forms and can require very different treatment plans in order to relieve symptoms.

Consistent feelings of anxiety and panic can affect daily life, and can be difficult to control. You may avoid certain places and situations to avoid feeling these emotions. Children and teens may experience symptoms that persist into adulthood.

Keep reading to find out more about what anxiety disorder there is, how these can negatively impact your life, and how proper psychiatric treatments and medication from an anxiety psychiatrist can help.

Common Types of Anxiety Disorders | Psychiatry Disorders

There are many different types of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders can manifest itself in a number of ways. This can sometimes make it difficult for an individual to recognize the symptoms and realize that it is an anxiety disorder that is affecting their lives.

Here are some of the most common anxiety disorder around and some of the accompanying symptoms of anxiety:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Adults who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder feel apprehensive most days of their life and find it very difficult to find mental relaxation. According to Mayo Clinic Health, people suffering from this anxiety disorder find they always have something to worry about and may also have heart palpitations as a physical manifestation of the anxiety disorder.

Social Anxiety

This is a very common form of anxiety and effective treatment will look different for each patient. Social anxiety can affect one's comfort levels during social interaction and may cause panic, stress, or fear. The right treatment for this anxiety condition may rely on a combination of habit-forming relaxation techniques and medication.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder based on mental distress following traumatic or stressful events or shocking life experience. PTSD can require long term psychotherapy and psychiatry treatment including medications to ensure that symptoms are monitored and, over time lessened.

Panic Disorder

This type of anxiety centers around a patient who is often filled with fear and worries and can be flooded with intense anxiety. This gives way to health conditions such as panic attacks or feelings of intense fear. A panic attack due to anxiety can cause serious harm to a patient's mental and physical well-being. The most important differential parameters indicative of panic disorder are the somatic/physical symptoms involving a panic attack including but not limited to: shortness of breath and hyperventilation, chest discomfort/heaviness, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, tingling in the fingers/toes/head and a fear of losing control, dying, or "going crazy," to name a few.

Other Mental Disorders to Consider

Oftentimes, anxiety disorders coexist with other mental health issues. Here are the two most common mental health disorders that may occur at the same time as anxiety:

Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is not an anxiety disorder in itself. However, many anxiety patients who have a proper diagnosis of bipolar also have a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder and therefore this needs careful treatment and medication too.

Depression
There is an anxiety and depression association because the two mental health issues are often linked. The possibility of having depression, including different forms of depression such as postpartum depression, increases when patients also suffer from anxiety. This makes it imperative that a patient's psychiatrist treat anxiety disorders as well as depression.

Proven Psychiatric Treatments for Anxiety

Treatment for anxiety disorders diagnosis should be sought from a mental health provider in order to improve your mental health and physical health as anxiety can have a negative effect on both. There are some proven successful treatments for anxiety that may be beneficial for you or a loved one who suffers from anxiety-related mental health conditions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This is a type of therapy that relies on behavioral awareness and changes to relax the patient and provide them with coping techniques to curb feelings of intense anxiety. This type of therapy can be effective without the use of prescription medications which makes it an attractive option young adults in particular, though it has been shown useful across nearly all demographics. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be very effective in preventing panic attacks for anxiety patients and your doctor or psychologist may find it the best first step when treating anxiety.

Talk Therapy

Many people find talk therapy appointments especially beneficial as it allows a doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist to work with the patient to understand why anxiety may affect them. Talk therapy can also lead a doctor to be able to diagnose you with anxiety because you are able to explain your symptoms and the effect being anxious is having on your day-to-day life.

Relaxation Techniques

Life anxiety disorders are treated this way by psychologists or psychiatrists are usually milder but may still affect you negatively. Similar to cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques provide patients with the tools needed to prevent anxiety from erupting into a panic attack or otherwise interrupting life. A therapist or psychologist will often work with their patient, both adults, and children, to find the best and most effective techniques for them to treat their anxiety.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

During your personal appointment, psychiatrists may prescribe this type of medication to treat multiple mental health disorders, for example, depression or anxiety as they are effective to treat excessive worry and social anxiety. This is an example of a drug or type of medication that is used to treat various forms of anxiety and depression.

Medications

Many anxiety patients rely on medications to help treat their anxiety as they will quickly offer short-term relief from the symptoms of anxiety. While this is a great option for many patients, it is also a good idea to try to treat your anxiety through other methods of psychotherapy as well to avoid the danger of becoming reliant on your medication.

In all cases of anxiety, it is beneficial to have an official diagnosis through a personal appointment. Not just for informational purposes, but also to allow the patient to receive effective treatments, the right type of medications, and therapy. Most people afflicted with anxiety find it beneficial to seek both psychotherapy and the assistance of psychiatrists in order to receive different types of support and services and medications.

When to See a Trusted Psychiatrist

There is no limit to the number of anxiety disorders you can have under different conditions. Anxiety disorders are the result of a medical condition that requires treatment. Treatment is available whatever the cause of your anxiety may be. Consult your doctor if any of these conditions persist:

When you feel like you worry too much, it negatively impacts your work, your relationships, or other areas of your life
It is upsetting for you to feel fear, anxiety, or worry, and hard to control
In addition to anxiety, you feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or suffer from other mental health concerns
A physical health problem could be the cause of your anxiety
Consider emergency treatment if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors

It is possible that your feelings of anxiety will not go away on their own, and they may become worse over time if you do not seek help. Speak to your doctor or a mental health provider as soon as possible. The earlier you get help and select a treatment, the easier it will be to cure.

How Professional Psychiatrists Can Help You

If any of the above resonates with you, and you suffer from a mental illness related to anxiety disorders, it may be time to see a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists will not only be able to diagnose your anxiety disorders, but they can also help you better understand where your anxiety comes from by exploring your family history and any trauma that might have occurred.

Finding the right psychiatrist to treat your anxiety may seem difficult, but with the introduction of telepsychiatry and psychotherapy, it has become much easier to treat your mental health issues. The American Psychiatric Association has approved and validated telepsychiatry as just as effective a form of psychological treatment as traditional in-person treatment options.

Dr. Ronald Lee, MD of Luminous Vitality BH is a Boston-based psychiatrist who can help patients throughout the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He can help you manage and treat your anxiety disorder with compassion and years of experience in psychiatry. Book an appointment today!

Request an Appointment

Request an initial appointment by clicking the link to register for the patient portal.

You are NOT financially committed to anything until you enter your payment information AND your appointment is confirmed!!

Click here for a consultation

Locations We Serve