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High anxiety What you need to know about disorders WAVERLY HEALTH CENTER
Anxiety disorders can make people feel nervous, worried, ‘on edge,’ and afraid much of the time. Unlike being nervous about a stressful event like speaking in public, anxiety disorders last for at least six months and can get worse as time goes on. Anxiety disorders affect about two out of 10 adults in the United States each year. What are anxiety disorders? Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A person worries a lot about many different, normal daily problems for at least six months. Symptoms include: irritation, lightheadedness, breathlessness, startling easily, nausea, tiredness, need to go to the bathroom often, headache and hot flashes. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repeated behaviors (compulsions) that the person feels can’t be stopped or controlled, such as fear of get-
ting a disease or losing control, or compulsive handwashing and other actions. Panic Disorder: A time of intense fear that strikes often and without warning. Symptoms can include: chest pain, dizziness, fear of dying, upset stomach and other manifestations. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms that occur after going through a traumatic (scary) event such as rape or other crime, war, child abuse, natural disasters or crashes. These symptoms can include: nightmares, flashback, lack of emotion, anger and depression. Social Phobia (social anxiety disorder): feeling very nervous and self-conscious during normal social situations. Specific Phobia: an intense, irrational fear of something that does not put the person in much danger. A person with an anxiety disorder often has another mental or physical problem, such as alcohol or drug abuse. Sometimes the other problem needs to be treated before the anxiety disorder can be treated.
Treatments for anxiety disorders can include medications, with antidepressants and benzodiazepines sometimes prescribed. Behavior therapy to change behaviors that can make anxiety worse and manage triggers that can bring on symptoms of anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy to teach people how to understand and change the way they think and react to situations that cause them anxiety. “Anxiety itself can often be a barrier to getting help as people who are anxious become reluctant to share their struggle with anyone,” says Jennifer Schneiderman, LISW, GC-C, Behavioral Health Services, Waverly Health Center. “I hope we can continue to inform people that treatment is private and confidential and often successful. Once treatment is initiated we can work with people on learning how to control their anxiety rather than letting their anxiety control them,” she explains. If you think you have an anxiety disorder, talk to your health care provider right away.
Consider trying mental health first-aid THE WASHINGTON POST
hy is it that when we see W obvious signs of mental or emotional crisis in a friend, colleague or even a casual acquaintance, our first reaction is to withdraw? That pretty much defines the challenge facing the National Council for Behavioral Health,
which trains people in its Mental Health First Aid course. The goal of the eight-hour session is to help people recognize when someone is suffering from a mental health or substance abuse disorder and to encourage intervention. The best approach boils down to a five-letter acronym, ALGEE.
A: Assess for risk of suicide or harm. L: Listen non-judgmentally. G: Give reassurance and information. E: Encourage appropriate professional help. E: Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
Dr. Ann Rathe, FAPA psychiatry
Monte Phillips, LISW Jennifer Schneiderman, LISW, GC-C mental health counseling
312 Ninth Street SW Waverly, Iowa (319) 483-4074 | WaverlyHealthCenter.org