Everyone feels fear and stress at some point in life. Jobs, relationships, money concerns and other problems can dominate our thoughts and lead to anxiety. Nevertheless, if you worry about problems constantly, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.

When you suffer from panic attacks or experience extraordinary anxiety, your physical and mental health can deteriorate. Being attuned to your mental and physical condition when you feel anxious will help you recognize symptoms of an anxiety attack. What happens when you worry?

• Does your heart race?
• Do you feel sweat running down your hands and face?
• Do you think you are going to die when you panic?
• Do you have chest pains?
• Do you become short of breath?
• Do you feel off-balance or dizzy?

Sometimes it can be difficult to recognize you need help. Symptoms of anxiety disorders often occur when you become a teenager or adult. Panic attacks are often brief and intense. Anxiety attacks can occur infrequently, but their impact can create long term intense fear. This can restrict your participation in activities and limit where you are willing to go. Thus, your fears begin to overtake your life.

Ignoring panic attacks can make it difficult to regain control of your life and can lead to physical health problems. Anxiety disorders can facilitate headaches, nausea, changes in bowel or urination frequency, sleeping problems or muscle tightness. The combination of your mental state and physical health can make you tense, restless, irritable and jumpy.

Seeking help will allow you to control your anxiety, so you can enjoy life. Confidential, therapeutic treatment can help ease your anxiety. Expressing your worries and learning how to remain calm with relaxation techniques can help control your stress.

I vary my therapy and treatment based on your circumstances. I use cognitive therapy to help you identify thoughts and obsessions that may be irrational or destructive to you and that trigger your anxiety. This can help reduce your fearful and intrusive thoughts and control obsessive worrying. Exposure therapy, which is a form of behavior therapy, is used to eliminate anxiety reducing compulsions. Together we can develop strategies for dealing with anxiety, so you can become less anxious and regain balance in your life.

http://wwwapps.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders/panic-disorder.shtml

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/21/draw-line-between-anxiety-disorder-and-worrywart/