When should I seek help for an anxiety disorder?

Some anxiety is normal when you’re facing a stressful event, such as an exam or a big work presentation. But if anxiety consumes you or causes panic attacks, you may have an anxiety disorder. If you try to ease symptoms with alcohol or drugs, seek medical care — it’s best to find a healthier outlet. Immediate treatment is necessary if you’re anxiety symptoms are interfering with your daily functioning. Anxiety disorders include panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, adjustment disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. If you feel as though your anxiety is debilitating and it is impairing your life, please reach out for support.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Each anxiety disorder manifests slightly differently but shares similar characteristics. Symptoms that indicate you’d benefit from Dr. Padron’s help include:

• Overthinking plans and solutions

• Feeling overwhelmed with daily living/work demands

• Difficulty concentrating

• Worst-case thinking

• Restless feelings or feeling on the “edge”

• Inability to let go of worries

• Worrying about things that are out of proportion to a specific event

• Perceiving situations or events as threatening, especially when they aren’t

Anxiety can disrupt sleep, cause unusual muscle tension, and disturb digestion. You may even experience unexplained sweating or numbness in your hands and feet, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. You may suffer from an anxiety disorder at any age. It affects as many as 40 million people in the United States.

What is the treatment for anxiety?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered the gold standard treatment for many disorders, including anxiety-related disorder. Dr. Padron uses cognitive behavioral, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) strategies to help you process and co-exist with anxiety, while increasing tolerance to anxiety. She gets to know you on a personal level and processes the social, physical, cultural, and environmental factors that could be influencing your anxiety levels. Emphasis is placed on uncovering anxious thinking patterns while learning healthier coping skills. 

If anxiety is interfering with your work, relationships, and quality of life, contact Dr. Padron for a free 15-minute consultation.