Recover from Mental Health and Behavioral Health Conditions
Anxiety Treatment in Costa Mesa
Serving the Orange County Area
Safe & Sound Treatment Center in Costa Mesa is dedicating itself to providing quality mental and behavioral health care to those in the Orange County area.
Anxiety is among the most common mental health conditions that currently plague our communities. While it is common to feel occasional stress and anxiety, when they become a common occurrence that interferes with daily activities one should seek help.
Safe & Sound Treatment is here to help people overcome their fears, nervousness, and worries that trouble their everyday lives.
Understanding Anxiety Disorders
The American Psychiatric Association describes anxiety disorders as conditions that bring feelings of tension, worry, cloudy thoughts, and physical responses. They typically include reoccurring thoughts or concerns about certain situations, objects, or environments. And, they typically come with physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, trembling, twitching, sweating, or dizziness.
Anxiety is experienced differently by different people. How someone experiences their anxiety may classify their condition into any of the anxiety disorder subtypes.
- Generalized Anxiety — which is not caused by anything specific.
- Social Anxiety — which is caused by a fear of being judged in social situations.
- Panic Attacks — which may happen at unexpected times, causing a person to live in fear of their next attack.
- Phobias — which are caused by extreme fear of specific circumstances, activities, or objects.
- Separation Anxiety — which is caused by separation from someone or something of which the person has a strong emotional attachment to.
The causes for any of the above anxiety conditions can vary greatly. They may arise from a single experience or many over time.
- Stress — that might include traumatic events, consistent situations, or as a result of other circumstances that lead to worry.
- Genetics — and a family history of anxiety can make one more prone to negative responses to certain situations. Hormones or other genetically related factors can also play a role in how the brain reacts to stress.
- Drugs — whether illicit or prescribed may have side effects or cause dependency leading to anxiety.
- Medical Conditions — may cause overactivity in one’s nervous system or heart, resulting in anxiety. This might include heart diseases, respiratory problems,
These causes and symptoms should be addressed as soon as possible to avoid worsening one’s condition and perhaps leading to other related mental illnesses.
Treating Anxiety
Thankfully, anxiety disorders are treatable conditions that can be put into remission. A therapist and psychiatrist can help develop a treatment plan that is catered to one’s unique circumstances and symptoms.
At Safe & Sound Treatment in Costa Mesa, our professionals can create a customized plan for you or your loved one. Our treatment plans for anxiety will always include talk therapy and may include promoting lifestyle changes or medication if the client’s condition merits it.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is the go-to approach for many mental illnesses, and anxiety is one of them. Most people are able to improve their symptoms of anxiety in just 8 to 10 sessions with anxiety-focused therapy.
There are many different approaches to therapy in regards to anxiety. Though, the most common approach to treating anxiety is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT addresses negative patterns and distortions in the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. It helps people examine their negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to one’s anxiety and then encourages the client to replace those habits with healthier ones.
Medication
Medications may be used in more severe cases of anxiety, and are typically prescribed as an as-needed or temporary treatment. These medications will not cure anxiety, but they may help a person manage their symptoms more effectively as they go through psychotherapy.
Benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed classes of medications used to treat anxiety. They can help ease physical symptoms and even calm one’s mind. When used with psychotherapy, they can help break the connection between one’s triggers and their anxiety.
However, these medications must be used in a proper manner, otherwise, they can lead to benzodiazepine addiction and worsening of one’s symptoms.
In other circumstances, antidepressants may be useful in treating anxiety. But unlike the near-instant relief that benzodiazepines give, antidepressants may take 4 to 6 weeks to work.
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FAQ's
Common treatments for anxiety include psychotherapy, particularly CBT, medication, stress management techniques, and lifestyle changes such as exercise and mindfulness practices.
Therapy, especially CBT, has been proven to be highly effective for treating various forms of anxiety, providing long-lasting skills to manage symptoms.
Yes, many individuals successfully manage or overcome anxiety through therapy, lifestyle changes, and other non-medication approaches. Medication may be recommended in some cases for more severe anxiety or when other treatments have not been effective.
The duration of anxiety treatment varies by individual, depending on the severity of their anxiety and how they respond to treatment. Some may see improvements in a few weeks, while others may need longer-term therapy.
Dissociation can be a symptom of anxiety, manifesting as a feeling of detachment from oneself or one’s surroundings. While it can serve as a coping mechanism for intense anxiety, persistent dissociation may indicate a deeper mental health issue. It’s important to seek professional help if dissociation or anxiety significantly affects daily life.
