Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a mental health disorder that causes persistent feelings of worry and fear, even when there’s no imminent danger. Children and adults can develop an anxiety disorder, especially if they have a family history of anxiety or experience trauma.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) describes excessive worries about everyday issues, including relationships, health, money, and career. Symptoms of GAD occur daily for at least six months.

Other conditions that fall under the anxiety umbrella include phobias, which describe intense fears of objects, people, or events. Panic disorder is another type of anxiety disorder that triggers sudden, unexpected episodes of extreme fear when there’s no actual threat to your safety.

James Camp, NP, LLC, specializes in the management of anxiety disorders in adolescents and adults. James offers strategies you can use to prevent anxiety and panic attacks, including lifestyle changes, therapy, and medications.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Anxiety symptoms can vary from person to person and range from mild to debilitating. Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at James Camp, NP, LLC, if you experience persistent worry and fear or intrusive thoughts that you can’t manage on your own.

Anxiety can also cause physical symptoms that make you feel like you’re having a heart attack or other medical emergency. Physical symptoms of anxiety can include:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath

James completes a physical exam and psychological evaluation to diagnose an anxiety disorder. He may also order blood tests to rule out underlying medical issues that can trigger anxiety symptoms.

How is anxiety treated?

Your treatment plan for anxiety might include therapy, lifestyle changes, and medications.

James Camp, NP, LLC, provides customized care plans to manage your anxiety or panic disorder in the long term. James may initially recommend lifestyle strategies like:

• Limiting caffeine and alcohol
• Getting daily exercise
• Eating a nutritious diet
• Following a healthy sleep schedule

You may also benefit from therapy, where you learn how to recognize negative thought patterns and behaviors. James also provides tools you can use, including deep breathing exercises to calm anxious feelings.

James can prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to prevent anxiety or panic attacks. He also offers medication management services to monitor your use of the medicines over time.

Call James Camp, NP, LLC, today to schedule an anxiety evaluation for yourself or your child or book a consultation online.