Anxiety

More than 31% of adults in the United States experience an anxiety disorder. Don’t live with extreme anxiousness, fear, or worry in everyday situations when you don’t have to. At Forcey Behavioral Health Services in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Sherifat Forcey, PMHNP-BC, diagnoses and treats anxiety in people aged 18 and older. Schedule an in-person or virtual anxiety evaluation by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.

What are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are mental health conditions characterized by excessive worry, anxiousness, fear, or panic attacks (in some cases). Various anxiety disorders exist, some of which negatively affect daily activities when left untreated. See Sherifat if you struggle with extreme anxiety in everyday situations you can’t control. 

What are the symptoms of anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders can lead to one or more of the following:

• Constant restlessness, tension, or nervousness
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Sense of danger, panic, or doom
• Increased heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Avoiding things that trigger anxiety
• Problems controlling worry
• Gastrointestinal issues

These symptoms may be mild or severe. The specific symptoms you experience depend on the type of anxiety disorder you develop.

What are the different types of anxiety disorders?

Examples of different types of anxiety disorders include:

• Panic disorder: repeated episodes of panic attacks (extreme fear or terror)
• Agoraphobia: avoiding situations or places that make you feel trapped or helpless
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): excessive fear or worry about everyday situations or events
• Anxiety due to a medical condition: anxiety linked to a physical health problem
• Social anxiety disorder: high levels of anxiety in social situations
• Phobia: major anxiety when exposed to specific situations or objects, such as heights, spiders, flying, snakes, or enclosed spaces
• Substance-induced anxiety disorder: panic or intense anxiety related to misusing drugs

Risk factors for developing anxiety include medical conditions, a family history of anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress. People with certain personality types are more likely than others to have an anxiety disorder.

How is anxiety diagnosed?

Sherifat diagnoses anxiety by discussing your personal and family medical histories, medications, lifestyle habits, and more. She asks about your emotions, thoughts, mood, and behaviors to personalize a treatment plan that’s best suited to your unique needs.

What is the treatment for anxiety?

Forcey Behavioral Health Services offers medication management, psychotherapy, healthy lifestyle education, and a combination of treatments to help you overcome crippling anxiety symptoms. 

Sherifat provides cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and other forms of therapy that help you discover a sense of calm or overcome phobias. She meets with you in person or virtually once weekly or as needed until you complete treatment.

It’s also highly beneficial to minimize stress, avoid drugs and alcohol, exercise regularly, eat nutritious foods, avoid smoking, have a strong social support network in place, and get plenty of sleep to keep anxiety symptoms at bay. Call the Forcey Behavioral Health Services office at any time with questions throughout your treatment.

Schedule an in-person or telehealth anxiety evaluation at Forcey Behavioral Health Services by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.