Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at times. It can be described as a sense of unease, worry or fear about something, usually related to an uncertain outcome or threat. Anxiety becomes a disorder when these feelings become excessive, last for long periods of time, and interfere with daily life.

Some key things to understand about anxiety disorders:

• They are very common, affecting over 40 million adults in the U.S. alone each year. So if you struggle with anxiety, you're not alone.


• They develop from a complex mix of factors like genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life experiences.


• Symptoms can be emotional (feeling nervous or panicked), physical (increased heart rate, muscle tension), and behavioral (avoiding situations).


• There are several major types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias, and more. Each has specific symptoms.


• A variety of effective treatments are available, including therapy, medication, or often a combination of both. So there is hope!

If your anxiety makes it hard to function and lasts for months, it’s worth reaching out to a mental health professional for an assessment. A combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication can help dramatically reduce symptoms for most people.

The team at Hormone Health Clinic also finds that hormone imbalances often play a role in anxiety. We specialize in customized bioidentical hormone therapy to restore optimal levels of hormones like estrogen, testosterone and cortisol. Balancing your hormones can help ease anxiety while also improving your overall health and vitality!

I hope this overview gives you a better understanding of what anxiety disorders are. Please know that support and effective treatment options are out there if anxiety has become a major disruption in your life. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have in the comments!