Anxiety

Constant fear, worry, and anxiousness are symptoms of an anxiety disorder that you don’t have to live with daily. At New Horizon Mental Health and Wellness LLC in Sioux City, Iowa, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Dorcas Kamau, PMHNP-DNP, offers medication management and therapy to reduce anxiety and help rediscover calmness. Schedule an in-person or virtual mental health evaluation with Dorcas by phone or request one online today.

What is anxiety?

Feeling anxious every now and then is normal, but people with anxiety disorders experience persistent worry that negatively interferes with their quality of life. If you’re always worried, scared, or avoid everyday situations due to fear, see Dorcas at New Horizon Mental Health and Wellness LLC to determine if you have anxiety and get the treatment needed to overcome life’s challenges.

Which symptoms can anxiety cause?

Anxiety disorders can cause the following:

• Nervousness
• Feeling tense or restless
• Fear of social situations
• Increased heart rate
• Sense of doom, panic, or impending danger
• Rapid breathing
• Trembling
• Sweating 
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Trouble concentrating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Problems controlling worry
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Avoiding things that trigger anxiety symptoms 

Your symptoms may appear during childhood or adolescence and continue into adulthood when not addressed. 

What are examples of anxiety disorders?

Common anxiety disorders include:

Generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder encompasses excessive or persistent worry about seemingly normal situations. 

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia causes fear and often avoidance of things that make you feel panicked, trapped, embarrassed, or helpless. 

Panic disorder

Panic disorder involves episodes of intense anxiety and even terror. You might develop shortness of breath, a pounding heartbeat, or chest pain that resembles a heart attack. 

Medical condition anxiety

Physical health issues, such as a chronic disease or terminal illness, can also cause anxiety.

Selective mutism

Selective mutism is a condition that may affect children. It’s characterized by not speaking in certain situations, such as at school or when in the company of certain people.

Separation anxiety 

Separation anxiety also affects children, causing them to feel anxious when separated from their parents. 

Phobias

Phobias cause extreme anxiousness when you’re exposed to a specific situation or object.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder causes fear, embarrassment, or nervousness in social situations.

Substance-induced anxiety disorder

Anxiety can also appear because of misusing drugs, toxin exposure, taking certain medications, or going through drug withdrawal. 

What can cause anxiety?

The exact cause of your anxiety might not be clear, but its risk factors include traumatic life events, a family history of anxiety, medical issues, and stress. Drug or alcohol misuse and specific personality traits can also contribute to anxiety. 

How is anxiety treated?

Dorcas diagnoses anxiety after completing a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation in person or via telehealth. She offers cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), other forms of psychotherapy, medication management, and lifestyle coaching to help you overcome anxiety symptoms. 

Schedule an in-person or telehealth anxiety evaluation at New Horizon Mental Health and Wellness LLC by phone or request one online today.