Understanding anxiety
Anxiety is a normal response to stress, but when worry becomes constant, overwhelming, or starts limiting what you do, it may be an anxiety disorder.
Common symptoms
Anxiety can show up in the mind and body:
- Excessive or hard-to-control worry
- Restlessness, irritability, or feeling on edge
- Racing heart, sweating, trembling, or muscle tension
- Sleep problems
- Avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety
- Panic attacks in some people
Common types
Anxiety includes several conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. Each has its own patterns and treatment focus.
Treatment options
Evidence-based treatments include therapy (especially CBT and exposure-based approaches), medications such as SSRIs or SNRIs, and skills like relaxation training, mindfulness, and breathing exercises. Lifestyle changes—especially sleep and caffeine reduction—can also make a big difference.
How I can help
I help patients identify the type of anxiety they are experiencing and build a treatment plan that reduces symptoms without over-medicating. We focus on practical tools and steady progress.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace a clinical evaluation.
Schedule an anxiety evaluation on Headway