Anxiety Treatment
For some people anxiety is mainly felt in the body and they experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, sweaty palms, a racing heart, or muscle tension. For others, they feel like they can’t get away from their worries and they often think that the worst is going to happen in any given circumstance. Sometimes people get so scared and feel like they are going to die — this can be a symptom of having a panic attack. The danger feels imminent and there is a sense of urgency in getting to a place of safety but it feels out of reach. At Hope Springs Psychiatry I do a full psychiatric evaluation and we talk specifically about what anxiety looks like for you. What makes it more tolerable? What makes it worse? Medication management may be able to allow your brain to more readily absorb therapeutic techniques or it could help you get through your day a little bit easier.
If you are nervous about medications
I frequently have people who struggle with anxiety tell me that they are afraid to take medications. This is understandable because there is uncertainty with trying anything new and this is something that anxious minds would like to escape. Not knowing what the side effects will be or what exactly it will feel like to take medication can be anxiety provoking. The good news is that not everyone experiences side effects and even if they do, it often doesn’t last long-term. Most of the time side effects dissipate after about two weeks. If at any point you decide that you don’t want to take the medicine, I can help you safely taper off of it. I work with you as a team and we carefully monitor the improvement or worsening of symptoms. In the beginning, I typically see patients every two weeks. Together, we can adjust the frequency of appointments to best meet your needs and ensure you feel supported throughout treatment. If you think that you could benefit from medication as a tool to help you, you can schedule an appointment today. Making an appointment doesn’t commit you to taking medication, it just opens the door to a deeper discussion on how to assist in managing your symptoms.
Living with anxiety
What I wish every person with anxiety knew is that it can look different for everyone, but oftentimes people will agree that it keeps them from living their best life. What if it didn’t have to feel like your brain gets stuck in a negative direction? What would it look like if you were able to fall asleep at night without overthinking about what you could have done differently or what you should be doing? Anxiety is extremely common, and just because you experience it doesn’t mean that you necessarily have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. You are a person, not a label.
