Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Disorder and Substance Abuse Treatment Center
We offer Anxiety Disorder Treatment in Los Angeles, California.
A normal, sometimes beneficial reaction to a stressful situation is anxiety. This kind of common “worry” or “fear” is natural and often pushes a person to be better prepared for a challenging event or circumstances.
However, a person that is consumed by intense feelings of worry or experiences fears so extreme their behavior and relationships are adversely affected might have an Anxiety Disorder.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that 40 million U.S. adults over the age of 18 suffer from some type of anxiety disorder, making anxiety the most common mental illness in the country.
The Inspire Malibu Anxiety Disorder Treatment Center treats all types anxiety disorders.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the standard for diagnosing mental illness in the U.S. health care system. With the fifth edition (DSM-5), released in May 2013, the APA has altered and updated the criteria and categories of anxiety disorder.
Two of the most significant recent changes are that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are now no longer included in the chapter on anxiety disorders. Instead, both OCD and PTSD have been given their own chapters in the DSM-5.
Panic attacks have also been updated. Instead of several different kinds of panic attacks, the DSM-5 puts them into only two categories, expected and unexpected. Furthermore, the requirement in some anxiety disorders that a person must recognize that their anxiety is unreasonable or excessive has been removed entirely.
The DSM-5 lists the following Anxiety Disorders:
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders?
There are many signs and symptoms that provide clues a person may be experiencing anxiety disorder, such as personality changes, depression, compulsive behaviors or drug and alcohol abuse.
Anxiety Disorders and Substance Abuse
It is not uncommon for individuals who struggle with a substance abuse problem to also suffer from one or more psychiatric conditions. This is known as comorbidity, or dual diagnosis, which occurs when an individual develops two disorders or conditions, either sequentially or simultaneously.
When two conditions occur together, whether they are psychiatric or medical in nature, it is expected that the symptoms of both conditions interact in some way. Moreover, the interaction of symptoms can have an impact on the course of both conditions, as well as the outcome of each condition individually.
Many of those suffering from anxiety disorders often turn to drugs, alcohol or other mood altering substances in an effort to ease their symptoms. This can, however, alter the brain’s chemistry and make anxiety issues even more intense and complicated.
Inspire Malibu treats anxiety disorders, drug addiction and alcohol abuse simultaneously. Having both an anxiety disorder and substance addiction is called a co-occurring disorder, and our dual-diagnosis specialists will prescribe the appropriate medication if needed to reduce anxiety, helping to ease the mind and calm the nerves. Patients can then begin to explore the underlying issues surrounding their anxiety in a safe and caring environment using proven cognitive therapy techniques.
The infographic below by Healthline illustrates many of the signs. Visit the Healthline website to see the interactive version.
Anxiety Disorders Treatment
As with any medical condition, anxiety disorder therapy can only be given after an accurate diagnosis of the illness. Each patient at Inspire Malibu’s Anxiety Disorder Treatment Centers receives a thorough diagnostic evaluation. This allows physicians to treat patients based on their individual needs and unique problems.
Inspire Malibu offers proven, effective treatments for anxiety disorders. These disorders can be controlled with the proper medication, as well as learning methods to successfully cope with anxiety or panic attacks.
