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Anxiety Specialist

Washington Center for Women's and Children's Wellness (WCWCW) Our Services Anxiety
Washington Center for Women's and Children's Wellness (WCWCW) - - Child, Adolescent, Women’s & Reproductive Psychiatry

Washington Center for Women's and Children's Wellness (WCWCW)

Child, Adolescent, Women’s & Reproductive Psychiatry located in Bethesda, MD and offering Telehealth appointments in Maryland, Virginia, DC, Florida and Michigan

 

It’s normal to feel restless and anxious every now and then. It’s time to seek help, however, when that anxious feeling becomes persistent, causes physical symptoms, or interferes with your ability to function. Our specialists at WCWCW in Bethesda, Maryland, offer the supportive care you need to overcome the challenges of anxiety disorder. Don’t let this common mental health issue continue to disrupt your life. We provide the same high-quality service via telehealth for patients living in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Michigan, and Florida. Call our office or request an appointment online today.

Anxiety Q & A

All Services > Our Specialties > Women's Psychiatry > Anxiety Disorders

anxiety

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Panic Disorder Phobias Health Anxiety

What is anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorder is a general term for several types of mental health disorders that cause unreasonable or exaggerated feelings of worry, fear, or dread at certain times or in certain situations.

You may also note physical symptoms of anxiety that can include:

  • Heart palpitations
  • Excessive sweating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea
  • A sensation that your throat is closing
  • Chest pain
  • Excessively tight muscles

WCWCW can help. Call our office or request an appointment online today.

These symptoms are related to chemical changes within your body driven by the unrelenting fear you’re experiencing. They are part of your brain’s natural fight-or-flight response to danger.

What are the different types of anxiety disorders?

There are several types of anxiety disorder that can affect women, the most common of which include:

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) features a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

GAD causes a sometimes seemingly constant flow of worry over various issues such as work or home life, relationships, or your health. Individuals with GAD often note their thoughts simply move from one worrisome topic to another throughout their day.

Panic disorder

Panic disorder is characterized by sudden and very intense feelings of panic that may be best described as terror. These attacks can occur without warning for no apparent reason or when you’re facing a situation you dread, such as a public speaking obligation or project presentation at work.

Panic attacks cause symptoms that can mimic a heart attack and often make you feel as if you’re dying.

Phobias

Phobias are intense fears of certain social situations, objects, or animals that you may try to avoid. Individuals with agoraphobia may eventually isolate themselves at home rather than risk a public panic attack.

Health Anxiety

Health anxiety is very common. Individuals with health anxiety have a preoccupation with the belief that they have or will soon develop a serious illness. Those with health anxiety will often misinterpret normal bodily sensations, such as a headache, to mean that there is something seriously wrong. Similarly, they may hear about someone falling ill and then begin to scan their bodies for signs of similar illness, which often results in their finding some evidence to make them believe they will be getting sick soon.

How do you treat anxiety disorders?

Treatment plans offered at WCWCW are tailored to each patient and their unique situation. Plans include a full diagnostic evaluation followed by evidence-based therapies that offer relief from the devastating effects of anxiety.

Our specialists at WCWCW in Bethesda, Maryland, offer the supportive care you need to overcome the challenges of bipolar disorder. We provide the same high-quality service via telehealth for patients living in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Michigan, and Florida. Call our office or request an appointment online today.