Home Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety is a typical human emotion that everyone experiences at times. Many people feel anxious before delivering a speech, taking a test, or making an important decision. When anxiety is accompanied by physical symptoms and interferes with daily life, an anxiety disorder may be present.

Anxiety disorders include:

Panic Disorder People with panic disorder have panic attacks [link] that strike suddenly and repeatedly. Some people experience panic with no warning while others are able to identify triggers.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) People with OCD are plagued by recurrent thoughts or fears that cause distress and that may cause them to perform certain rituals or routines.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening thoughts and memories of a traumatic event, and tend to be emotionally numb.

Social anxiety disorder Social anxiety disorder involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations.

Phobias are an intense fear of a specific object, such as spiders, or anxiety over a situation such as flying in an airplane.

Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive worry when there is little or nothing to provoke the anxiety.

Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder, but may include:

• Trembling, twitching, feeling shaky
• Backache, headache
• Muscle tension
• Shortness of breath, hyperventilation
• Easily fatigued
• Exaggerated startle
• Flushing or paleness
• Heart pounding or racing
• Sweating
• Cold hands
• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Numbness or painful tingling sensation
• Feeling of dread
• Difficulty concentrating
• Always on guard
• Problems sleeping
• Decreased sexual interest
• “Lump in the throat”
• Upset stomach “butterflies”

If any of these symptoms are constant and overwhelming, you may benefit from discussing this matter with your primary care physician or making an appointment for an evaluation through Dr. Westerback’s psychiatric office by calling (805) 497-1618.