Lifeskills Of South Florida provider of Residential Treatment, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Dual Diagnosis Therapy in South Florida

Anxiety Disorders

Worry. It’s part of life. We worry about making a good first impression. We worry about our jobs. We even worry about other people’s worries. However, if worry takes over your life to the point where you cannot relax and constantly fear the worst, you may have an anxiety disorder.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million adults each year. The cause and degree of anxiety can be confusing because everyone will feel anxious from time to time. Unlike nervousness that is precipitated by a stressful situation like a job interview, illness, or speaking in public, anxiety disorders can be all-consuming and can last up to six months or longer if left untreated.

The difference between a common case of the nerves and a clinical diagnosis of anxiety is that clinical anxiety can be severe and debilitating. For instance, people diagnosed with anxiety disorders may worry obsessively about their health for no apparent reason and may seek excessive medical reassurance or have “unreasonable” fears they cannot explain. Friends and loved ones may say that the individual is “a worry wart” or “overreacting” to a situation; however, the individual experiencing anxiety cannot just turn it off.

One of the most frightening symptoms of anxiety disorders are commonly referred to as “panic attacks.” These episodes can occur “out of nowhere,” even while an individual is sleeping. Sometimes the person experiencing the attack may hyperventilate, feel a painful sensation in the chest, and experience a sense of “dying.” Although the physical symptoms of panic attacks will not kill you, they can severely hinder your daily life.

Most people who have an anxiety disorder will often have an accompanying diagnosis like depression or chemical dependency. Anxiety disorders are rarely the sole diagnosis in a person’s mental health history. That’s why it is important to seek help from a trained professional who can accurately diagnose all of the accompanying conditions and prescribe the right course of treatment for you

Below is a list of some of the common symptoms of anxiety disorders:

(Because these symptoms in and of themselves do not always indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder, please contact your physician or mental health treatment provider in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis.)

Here’s the good news…. Anxiety disorders can be successfully treated, but must be accurately diagnosed first. The course of action must be individualized according to the causes and symptoms, and symptoms may be alleviated using a combination of two or more of the following treatments:

Behavioral Therapy to change unproductive behaviors and learn appropriate coping skills

Cognitive Therapy to change unproductive thinking patterns by sorting out unrealistic thoughts

Relaxation Techniques to relieve stress and to diminish the physical symptoms of anxiety

Medication to decrease the symptoms caused by neurotransmitter abnormalities

If you suspect that you or a loved one may have an anxiety disorder, please contact a professional mental health provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. The sooner you get help, the sooner you will be able to live a happier, healthier life.

What We Treat

Lifeskills South Florida is a place where second chances become new beginnings. Since 1991, we’ve offered residential, transitional and outpatient mental health treatment to men and women ages 18 and over who are facing the challenges of psychiatric disorders, trauma-based disorders and chemical addictions. Located near white sands and sunlit beaches in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Lifeskills provides a safe and caring environment for adults who are focused on long-term health, healing and recovery.