Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. More than 40 million adults struggle with the symptoms of an anxiety disorder on a regular basis. While both the causes and the symptoms of anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only about one-third of those suffering are receiving any sort of treatment. This is such a prevalent issue for many reasons, from not being aware that there are ways to counteract the causes and symptoms of your anxiety to feeling embarrassed (or anxious) about seeking treatment in the first place due to stigmas surrounding mental health. At Braincode Centers, we strive to not only de-stigmatize the general attitudes around mental health and well-being but also treat the causes of your anxiety disorder right at the source and help you develop tangible coping skills that can reduce anxiety naturally.
So, What Is Anxiety?
Understanding the various answers behind the question “what is anxiety?” is the first step toward taking control of your physical and psychological reactions to certain stimuli. The American Psychological Association describes anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes, like increased blood pressure.” Now, if you’ve ever struggled with symptoms of an anxiety disorder, you know that the effects often encompass so much more than just that.
On the surface, anxiety is a normal and even healthy emotion. What starts as a necessary reaction to a threatening or potentially dangerous stimulus becomes problematic when the effects of anxiety do not dissipate upon resolution of the threat - this disconnect between external stimuli and internal reaction is one of the most common causes of anxiety disorders. In today’s society, anxiety is not nearly as primal as it once was. Instead of experiencing these feelings of tension, worry, and stress in the rare life-or-death scenario, we experience them in regards to work, money, family, relationships, and a variety of other factors we face on a day-to-day basis.
What Are The Most Common Symptoms Of Anxiety?
Anxiety disorders are highly personal and every individual may experience unique stimuli and the associated symptoms of anxiety differently. The specific symptoms of anxiety are as varied as those who experience the disorder. Most commonly, in patients suffering from anxiety disorders, we see:
- Headaches
- Stomach and digestive issues
- Uncontrollable feelings of fear or worry
- An inability to calm thoughts/brain
- Increased irritability
- Concentration difficulties
- Restlessness
- Perfectionism
- Phobias
- Feelings of being trapped
- Racing heart
- Sweaty palms
- Sleep problems
- And more.
In some scenarios, mild symptoms of anxiety can be easily triumphed, but in others, the effects of an anxiety disorder can be debilitating, interrupting your everyday life. Therein lies the distinction between anxiety, a biological reaction to dangerous triggers, and an anxiety disorder, where the symptoms of anxiety cannot be easily overcome, despite mitigation of the threat. Anxiety disorders often require some sort of professional attention. That being said, with the right support and treatment, the number of debilitating days you experience due to the symptoms of anxiety can be greatly reduced or even eliminated altogether.
Traditional Causes Of Anxiety Disorders
The brain is complicated, thus for most everyone suffering from symptoms of anxiety it is hard to pinpoint a singular cause of their anxiety disorder. It’s not as simple as being exposed to the flu and getting sick. Instead, we see that the causes of anxiety disorders range from genetics to the environment and everything in between.
Your Anxiety Disorder Is Unique, But You Are Not Alone
As the effort to de-stigmatize mental illness becomes more engaged, the idea of anxiety and anxiety disorders seem to become more and more generic. For those suffering from the effects of anxiety, this can add to feelings of hopelessness and the misconception that no one will be able to understand exactly what they are experiencing. Anxiety is an umbrella term for various presentations of different types of anxiety disorders. At Braincode Centers, we have extensive experience treating all types of anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Panic Disorder
- Specific Phobias, including Agoraphobia
- Selective Mutism (most common in children)
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- And others.
Because our programming is focused on uncovering the unique causes of your anxiety disorder, rather than simply reacting to the symptoms, nearly all of our patients experience a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms, increased stress tolerance, and an improved ability to manage parts of life that were difficult before. Whether you are struggling with Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms or your child is experiencing selective mutism, we work with you at the neurological level to successfully understand and train the physical and emotional responses to anxiety-producing stimuli.
Are There Effective Anxiety Treatments?
Yes! Braincode Centers has developed a tried and true, personalized approach to anxiety treatment. People, whether they are struggling with the effects of an anxiety disorder or not, are often unfamiliar with qEEG brain mapping, neurofeedback, and biofeedback as methods of anxiety treatment. In a complimentary consultation, our lead clinician will introduce you to our various services and treatments and answer any questions you may have. We will also walk through the symptoms you are experiencing to learn about you, your lifestyle, and your goals, as well as how the effects of anxiety may be hindering your confidence, relationships, or, simply, your everyday life.
Treating Anxiety Without Medication
Once we have a better understanding of who you are as person and the role your anxiety disorder plays in your everyday life, we will perform a qEEG brain map that will help direct our team of experts in the development of a custom anxiety treatment program. Our custom programming offers an alternative to prescription medication and talk therapy by facilitating sustained changes in brain wave activity, thus remapping your physical and emotional response to stress. With ongoing evaluations, modifications, and support, you can take control of your symptoms and reduce anxiety naturally, thus, allowing you to lead your fullest life.
Anxiety Treatment With Braincode Centers
If you struggle with an anxiety disorder, you are not alone. Contact Braincode Centers today to schedule a complimentary consultation with our expert clinicians and start treating your anxiety without medication today.