Mercy Options Anxiety Disorders Myths Mental illness is not: Hopeless Something to fear Untreatable Something you have to justify to others
We’re Here to Help MERCY OPTIONS 113 S. Franklin St. Janesville, WI 53548 Outpatient Mental Health (608) 756-5555 (800) 341-1450 Outpatient Addictions (608) 754-2264
A personal deficit
MERCY HOSPITAL JANESVILLE Weakness Failure Something to be ashamed about Something you have to go through alone
1000 Mineral Point Ave. Janesville, WI 53548 Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (608) 756-6508 WINGS (608) 756-6530 Detox and Day Treatment (608) 756-6545
Something to leave untreated Something that discriminates against age, race, social status, religion or sex
MERCY OPTIONS COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION TREATMENT SERVICES healing in the broadest sense #619299_06/07
MercyHealthSystem.org
What are Anxiety Disorders? Anxiety is a part of life. We sometimes wonder how we’ll pay our bills, lose sleep about how our morning presentation will go, think about how rush-hour traffic on the interstate will be, or worry if our headaches signal some life-threatening condition. For most of us, those thoughts are relatively mild and fleeting. But individuals with an anxiety disorder experience excessive, unrealistic, and sometimes debilitating worry and fear that can last for months and years. Anxiety disorders are serious but treatable medical illnesses that affect an estimated 19 million Americans. The disorders can arise from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality type and traumatic life events.
Types of Anxiety Disorders There are two main types of anxiety disorders. Individuals can experience one or both of the disorders at once. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) — Having GAD means always anticipating disaster and worrying excessively about common problems like health, money, family or work. Sometimes, the source can be hard to identify. Whatever the reason, most people with GAD recognize that their anxiety is out of proportion to the situation.
Common symptoms include: • Inability to relax or concentrate • Being easily startled • Having trouble falling or staying asleep • Physical concerns like fatigue, headaches, sweating, muscle aches and tension, trembling and twitching, nausea, difficulty swallowing, clammy hands, and stomach discomfort with diarrhea. Social phobia — Individuals with social phobia experience overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations, usually arising from the fear of being judged or watched by others, or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or ridicule. They often start worrying days or weeks in advance of a dreaded situation, and might avoid it altogether. Social phobia can be limited to one type of situation, such as public speaking, but can be so broad that individuals experience symptoms almost anytime they’re around other people. Symptoms can include: • Heart palpitations • Faintness • Blushing • Profuse sweating • Nausea • Difficulty talking
Specific phobias — These are intense, irrational fears related to a specific object (dogs or spiders) or situations (riding an elevator or driving over bridges) that pose little or no danger. These irrational fears can lead to avoidance of common, everyday situations, and diminished quality of life. For some people, even thinking about these things can bring about a panic attack or severe anxiety.
Treatment of Anxiety Disorders Therapy and medication can be very helpful to alleviate symptoms before they become disabling. A visit to your mental health provider or family physician is needed to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Steps to Help Yourself Do your best to remain active – Choose an activity you enjoy and make it part of your regular routine. Avoid being alone too much – Seek out family and friends you can talk to and who will listen. Do not set difficult goals or take on added responsibility – Break larger tasks into smaller ones that you can accomplish. Avoid making major life decisions – Try taking it one day at a time. Go easy on yourself – Don’t expect too much, too fast. Treat yourself with kindness and respect. Follow your doctor’s orders – Take your medication as prescribed, eat right and keep your appointments.