Anxiety

Anxiety may be an everyday experience, but if it starts taking over your life, it becomes a considerable burden. If you feel anxious all the time or experience panic attacks, Katrina Zlataric, PMHNP-BC, and the team at KZ Psychiatric Services in Barnhart, Missouri, can help. Katrina has considerable experience in treating patients, so they overcome anxiety disorders and get their lives back. Call the office to schedule an appointment or request one online today. 

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a basic human emotion that everyone feels, often quite regularly. Most people experience feelings of fear and worry every day. Most of these worries are about events like making it to work on time or doing well on a test, rather than being life and death fears.

Feelings of stress and anxiety cause your body to release hormones that sharpen your responses, making you more alert. This can be highly beneficial when you want to put on a good performance or do well at an important event.

However, if the anxiety is constant and excessive, it starts to have adverse effects. At this point, instead of being your friend, anxiety has become a psychiatric disorder.

What are the symptoms of an anxiety disorder?

If you have an anxiety disorder, you’re likely to experience:

• Feelings of fear
• Constant uneasiness
• Panic attacks
• Intrusive, unwanted thoughts
• Obsessions
• Nightmares
• Ritualized behaviors
• Sleep problems
• Feeling out of control

Physical symptoms are also common in people who have anxiety disorders. Your heart might start racing or pounding, you might feel short of breath, your chest might feel tight, and you might have nausea or a fluttering feeling in your stomach. You might also feel lightheaded or dizzy.

Are there different types of anxiety disorders?

There are several types of anxiety disorders. The most widespread are:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Phobias

When you visit KZ Psychiatric Services about your anxiety disorder, Katrina reviews your medical history and talks to you at length about your anxiety to determine what type of anxiety you have and what’s causing it. This helps him prescribe the most effective forms of treatment.

How is anxiety treated?

There are two principal approaches to treating anxiety.

Medication

Medications can be very helpful in alleviating the worst symptoms. Anti-anxiety drugs like alprazolam (Xanax) can help take the edge off your fears and calm you down. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are also helpful for many patients who have anxiety. Other options include anticonvulsant medicines and low-dose antipsychotics.

Psychotherapy

Undergoing psychotherapy at KZ Psychiatric Services is key to recovery from anxiety. In addition to addressing underlying issues that are causing your anxiety, Katrina can help you understand your condition and find ways to manage your stress.

For help overcoming your anxiety disorder, call KZ Psychiatric Services or request an appointment online today.