Anxiety

Anxiety services offered in Fairfax, Vienna and Sterling, VA, Washington DC, and North Bethesda, MD

Proper management of anxiety disorders requires an accurate assessment and compassionate treatment.  The Inspire Behavioral Health Team in Vienna, Fairfax and Sterling, Virginia offer expert diagnosis and care to people struggling with anxiety. Untreated anxiety disorders can result in poor outcomes at school and college, difficulties at work, depression, and suicidal thoughts. For help preventing and overcoming these problems, call Inspire Behavioral Health today or book an in-person or telemedicine appointment online.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a combination of worry, stress, and fear. It’s something most people experience when facing challenges or during difficult times. Anxiety can even be beneficial in small amounts — it makes you more alert, stronger, and faster when you’re anxious about giving a presentation or participating in a competition. However, some people develop anxiety disorders. These include:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

People with GAD feel nervous, stressed, and worried most of the time. Their fears and worries permeate everything in their lives, from choosing groceries to developing health problems.

Phobias

Phobias concern a specific thing rather than being all-inclusive like GAD. Fear of heights, spiders, flying, confined spaces, and snakes are common examples. The distress you feel with a phobia is out of proportion to the potential risk. But you can’t suppress the intense anxiety and might do anything to avoid seeing or experiencing whatever triggers your phobia.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a kind of phobia. The trigger is being with others, so your distress peaks in a crowd or at social gatherings. People with this disorder aren’t just shy — their fear is so intense they go to great lengths to avoid people, often becoming socially isolated. Anxiety disorders are among the most common and disabling mental health disorders. As many as 33% of the United States population experience anxiety at least once in their lifetime.

What symptoms does anxiety cause?

In addition to the overwhelming fear, stress, and worry, anxiety can cause physical symptoms, such as:

• Shaking
• Muscle tension
• Headaches
• Excessive sweating
• Pounding heart
• Dry mouth
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lightheadedness
• Fast breathing

Sometimes, these symptoms worsen suddenly and become a panic attack. You might have chest pain and difficulties breathing — people often seek urgent care or go to the hospital emergency room, fearing they may have suffered a heart attack. Panic attacks are so distressing that you’re likely to avoid anything that could trigger another.

How is anxiety treated?

The Inspire Behavioral Health team offers comprehensive treatment for anxiety disorders. Options include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Interpersonal psychotherapy
• Deep breathing
• Relaxation techniques
• Anti-anxiety medications

Unfortunately, only about one-third of people who develop an anxiety disorder receive the treatment they need. If you’re struggling with anxiety’s impact on your life and the people around you, it’s important to seek professional help. To achieve freedom from excessive anxiety, call Inspire Behavioral Health today or book an in-person appointment at our Vienna VA or Sterling VA Offices or a telehealth appointment online. At Inspire Behavioral Health we offer MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, PRIMARY CARE, PSYCHOTHERAPY, ADHD TESTING, TMS plus treatments for ADHD, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, PTSD, BIPOLAR and PANIC DISORDER.