There are instances in life that can send our bodies into shock, often resulting in anxiety. While this response is natural, when the feelings are extreme or last for a long period, you may have an anxiety disorder. An anxiety disorder characterized by worrying about life events, situations, or even objects is called a Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Ketamine Infusions for Anxiety Treatment in Philadelphia
Ketamine is a common anesthetic in any treatment center used in surgery and medical procedures. Recently, the drug has shown positive effects when used in treatments outside medical procedures. Multiple trials have indicated Ketamine’s calming effects can boost one’s mood and even after the drug has left the patient’s system, the effects still last for up to 2 weeks.
Ketamine infusions are particularly effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially when traditional medicines do not seem to work. It is given by trained mental health professionals who assess and monitor your dose during the session. Ketamine therapy can be an effective treatment since it works quickly (less than 24 hours) and has minimal side effects.
Helping a loved one With Anxiety
Anxiety disorder is a common mental health condition currently affecting more than 18% of the United States population. It is hurting to see a loved one go through anxiety every day, but there are things you can do to help. When you notice your loved one facing anxiety issues, respond by showing the desire to see them get better. It is also recommended to respond based on love and acceptance. For instance, the following approaches may help someone with anxiety heal faster:
Destigmatize the Experience of Anxiety
People with anxiety disorders are often embarrassed by their symptoms. As a friend, you should reassure them that they can cope with their phobias no matter the social setting. However, do not tell them that it will never happen again. The fear of having an anxiety attack is often as dreadful as the attacks themselves.
Know When to Seek Help for Anxiety
If you notice your loved one’s anxiety attacks affecting their ability to work, interact with friends, enjoy life, or enjoy life, then it’s better to consider professional help. Encourage them to visit a mental treatment center or talk to a mental expert. If they are resistant, you can tell them it’s just one appointment like a regular checkup.
Five Main Types of Anxiety Disorders
Excessive anxiety can show itself in one of five types of disorders- General Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or Social Anxiety Disorder. Here is an in-depth explanation of the five major types of anxiety disorders.
Panic Disorder
A panic disorder manifests itself in terms of panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden feelings of short breath accompanied by a surge of fear in normal situations. While everyone at least has one or two panic attacks in their lifetime, panic attacks that occur several times indicate a possible panic disorder.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) tend to worry about all kinds of things that happen every day- family, health, or finances. They usually worry about something terrible happening in very unlikely situations. For instance, they might not want to drive because they’re worried about getting in an accident. While this is certainly possible, it is highly unlikely.
They often look for reassurance that awful things they fear will not happen. Such phobias are common for people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Other symptoms include muscle tension, frequent heart palpitations, and headaches.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by repeated unwanted thoughts or behaviors which lead to certain rituals like counting, checking, or handwashing several times. For instance, if you have OCD, you may wash your hands consecutively to prevent disease. Even after washing for three to four times, you may still be worried that your hands are not clean enough.
Performing these so-called “rituals” is just a temporary treatment to OCD symptoms and not performing them significantly increases anxiety.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurs after one has experienced life-changing events. Such events may include a serious accident, war, natural disaster, or physical or sexual abuse. PTSD causes one to relive these experiences in forms of daydreams, nightmares, or flashbacks. People suffering from PTSD may develop feelings of guilt, worry, and sometimes somberness.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Also social phobias, Social Anxiety Disorder manifests as overwhelming anxiety in everyday situations. One becomes extremely self-conscious and fears being judged by others. Social phobias can be limited to certain events such as being unable to speak at public gatherings, or extreme where one experiences symptoms of phobia almost every time they get around people.
Signs/Symptoms of Anxiety
The first step of recognizing anxiety disorders is looking at the signs and symptoms. Here are common signs/symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Fatigue
Getting easily fatigued is a symptom often associated with an anxiety disorder. Though surprising to most people, the hyperactivity involved during anxiety attacks can cause fatigue. It is important to note that fatigue can also be a symptom of other illnesses like depression. Fatigue accompanied by excess worry indicates a mental disorder.
Irritability
Irritability is also another common symptom associated with anxiety disorders. A recent study carried out in the University of Pennsylvania, more than 90% of people generalized with anxiety disorder experienced irritability issues during the peaks of their anxiety attacks.
Insomnia or Problems Falling Asleep
Suddenly waking up at night or failure to fall asleep are common feelings reported by persons with anxiety disorders. Proper treatment of anxiety can help improve sleep quality. While it is clear insomnia and anxiety are strongly linked, one can not tell if insomnia contributes to anxiety or vice versa.
Tense Muscles
While anyone can feel tense muscles at any time of the day, people with anxiety disorders tend to have them more frequently. Its association with anxiety is yet to be fully understood. Treatment of muscle tension with therapeutic medications can help reduce symptoms of anxiety disorder. Some studies show this method as effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Concentration Difficulties
Most people affected with anxiety illness report having problems concentrating. Some studies reveal that anxiety can scramble working memory- a type of memory that holds short-term information. However, difficulty in concentration is not enough to diagnose an anxiety disorder as it is also associated with other mental illnesses (ADHD, depression, etc).
Other common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Nervousness
- Hyperventilation
- Trembling
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Sweating
- Common Causes of Anxiety
Pinpointing the causes of anxiety can be complicated. It is usually a combination of factors like environment, genetics, among other things. However, some events or emotions have shown to have a clear influence to begin anxiety or worsen the symptoms. These common causes (triggers) are as follows:
- Underlying health issues
- Negative thinking
- Stress from emotional trauma
- Use of certain illicit drugs
- Relationship or family conflicts
- Medications
Treatment Options for Anxiety
Effective evidence-based treatment options help persons with anxiety disorders control their feelings. The kind of treatment will depend on the type of anxiety illness one is experiencing. The three common treatment solutions available in the treatment center are self-treatment, therapy, and medications.
Self-treatment
In mild anxiety symptoms, a person can manage at home without the need for visiting a treatment center. Mental health professionals will recommend several techniques and exercises to cope with the bouts of anxiety, such as:
- Relaxation and meditation techniques
- Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones
- Exercise
- Creating a support network of friends and family
Therapy and Counseling
Standard evidence-based therapy procedures like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or a mix of counseling and therapy also work as treatment options for anxiety.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps identify the destructive thought patterns that can cause anxiety attacks and change the scale of reaction towards such feelings. This helps people control the way they react to certain triggers.
A mental health professional can also help with psychotherapy evidence-based treatment that involves talking out situations exploring the triggers of anxiety and how to cope with them.
Medications for Anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety disorders can be reduced through several types of medication. These medications help manage both the physical and mental symptoms. They include:
- Benzodiazepines
- Antidepressants
- Tricyclics
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Buspirone
When to seek Help for Anxiety
Feeling anxious is normal but if you realize your anxiety affecting your everyday life, then you may consider visiting the nearest treatment center around Philadelphia. These signs could mean that it is time to get help from a doctor:
You feel like anxiety is taking charge in your relationship, work, and other parts of life.
You have trouble concentrating, sleeping, or relaxing.
You avoid places or situations in order to shelve your anxiety
You have suicidal thoughts. If you have this feeling seek help immediately
Does Ketamine for Anxiety Treatment Work?
Although initially used as a general anesthetic, Ketamine has shown enormous benefits in a wide variety of illnesses like Depression, migraines, PTSD, body dysmorphic disorder, bipolar disorder, and general anxiety disorder. Ketamine is a particularly useful drug for anxiety treatment that shows positive results after the first round. Furthermore, patients have reported the benefits of Ketamine in relieving anxiety symptoms up to four weeks after their initial treatment.
But once the side effects are gone, patients report improvements in interacting in events and gatherings along with the general desire to participate in social activities.
Evidence-based treatments suggest that Ketamine Treatments have minimal side effects, all of which fade after a couple of hours after treatment. These include minor confusion, forgetfulness, or disorientation. If you have suffered social anxiety disorder and other treatments haven’t been beneficial, consult anxiety therapists in the Philadelphia PA area or schedule consultation services with RestoratIV Wellness. Contact our Ketamine Treatment Clinic in Philadelphia, PA, or call us today with any questions you may have.