Treatment for Anxiety in Concord, NC—Counseling and Therapy

Anxiety is a word that is thrown around a lot, but defining it can be difficult because it can look so different in each person. Here are a few examples of what anxiety may look like…

• Penny’s kids are home for the holidays. Tonight, they are meeting up with friends from their high school. Even though they are not kids anymore, Penny cannot help but worry about them. She is channel surfing to distract herself, but it is not working. Her mind keeping going toward every crazy drunk-driver who might be on the roads this New Year’s Eve.
• Wyatt is starting a new job soon. He just graduated from college, and he feels like that was a minor miracle. Wyatt is worried about this new job. As his start date is approaching, Wyatt is having more and more difficulty eating and sleeping. Questions are constantly running through his head. Can he do this job? What if he gets fired? What if his boss doesn’t like him? What if his coworkers do not like him? And on and on the questions and doubts scroll.
• Sweet Leah is a third grader who cannot bring herself to touch her lunch. She is a model student and a good friend. Leah is kind and courteous and perfect. At the beginning of the year, Leah was in the middle of every recess game. Now, she sits on the side and watches her friends play. Leah’s parents and teachers are concerned, but they are not sure what to do.

To some degree, worry is a normal emotion. It rises when there is potential danger or when people may need to take action. It falls when the threat has passed. Anxiety, however, is a completely different experience. Anxiety does not naturally rise and fall—it is a constant companion. Anxiety disorders are present realities in people’s lives that can persist for months and even years. They are some of the most common mental health disorders. Anxiety disorders are also treatable.

The mental health professionals at Thriveworks Concord understand anxiety—how it functions and how to treat it. We have helped many clients find the healing they need.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is not a singular disease It can show up in many different ways. Panic Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and Social Anxiety disorder are only a few examples of anxiety disorders. When most people talk about anxiety, they are talking about what The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) calls Generalized Anxiety Disorder (DSM-5 300.02 [F41.1]). This is now the DSM-5 describes GAD:

• Feeling worried and anxious for the majority of the day, on most days, and for at least six months.
• The worry and anxiety will be constant and occur in different areas of life such as home, work, school, and more.
• Difficulty managing these feelings.
• Three of the following symptoms will be present (children may only have one symptom to be diagnosed with anxiety):
  • Sleep disruptions (either hypersomnia or insomnia)
  • Difficulty staying on task or concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness
  • Muscle tension
  • Fatigue
• These symptoms, in order to be diagnosed as anxiety, will disrupt an individual’s daily life.
• These symptoms, in order to be diagnosed as anxiety, cannot be attributable to a medicine, drug, or different mental or physical health problem.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder can develop in people who are very young as well as people who are very old as well as any age in between. In teens, the focus of their worry may be friends, family, school, or romantic relationship. In adults, the focus of their worry may be finances, family, or work. In either case, the underlying feelings are still the same.

Physical and Emotional Effects of Anxiety

“If you don’t think your anxiety, depression, sadness and stress impact your physical health, think again. All of these emotions trigger chemical reactions in your body, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system. Learn how to cope, sweet friend. There will always be dark days.” —Kris Carr

Anxiety takes an emotional and physical toll. Some of those effects include…

• Disrupted Appetite – Some people over-eat when they have an anxiety disorder. Others under-eat. Weight fluctuations, of course, often follow. Whether people gain or lose weight, the fluctuation can put their health at risk.
• Irregular Sleep Patterns – Just like disrupted appetite, many people experience disrupted sleep. Some people want to sleep all the time. Others develop insomnia.
• Fatigue – Any illness can drain people of energy, and anxiety is the same. When people have an anxiety disorder, it can take immense effort simply to function in their daily lives.
• Difficulty Focusing – Clear thoughts may be normal for most people, but they are rare for anyone struggling with anxiety. It can be more difficult to make decisions as well.

Scheduling an Appointment for Anxiety at Thriveworks Concord

There are approximately 40 million people in the United States who have an anxiety disorder. As you read about anxiety, did anything sound familiar to you? If you did, you are not alone. Thriveworks Concord has appointments available for anxiety. When you contact our office, you may be meeting with your therapist the following day. We offer evening and weekend sessions. We also accept many different insurance plans. We know that fighting anxiety is hard. Reaching out for help should not be. Call Thriveworks Concord today. Let’s work together.