What Is an Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety itself is a normal part of life. Everyone has anxiety at one time or another; it can present as simple worries about school, health, work, or home life. However, anxiety disorders go further and can drastically impact your mental health. They cause persistent fears, worries, or negative thoughts about those same kinds of issues. The feelings of unease don’t go away, and they can get worse over time.
Anxiety can present in many different ways, and it is broken down into different anxiety disorders, such as:
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
If you believe you’re living with an anxiety disorder, understand that you’re not alone. Millions of people in the United States live with anxiety, and there is help available to get it back under control so you can live a more comfortable and productive life.
At Revitalize Wellness Center in Norwell, MA, we can help. Call us today to learn how our programs can teach you to manage anxiety.
Types of Anxiety Mental Disorders
There are several different anxiety disorders, including the following.
Anxiety Disorder GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is one of the most common anxiety disorders and is characterized by persistent, excessive worry about everyday life events. People with GAD often find themselves anxious about a wide range of concerns—family, work, health, finances—even when there is little or no real reason to worry. Unlike typical stress that comes and goes, the anxiety with GAD tends to linger and can feel impossible to turn off.
These ongoing feelings of anxiety and dread can interfere with your daily life, making it hard to focus at work, enjoy time with loved ones, or even relax at home. Many individuals report that their minds are constantly racing with “what-ifs,” and despite knowing that their fears may be exaggerated, they still can’t seem to stop the worrying.
Anxiety disorders tend to impact people in deeply personal and often invisible ways, and GAD is no exception. It’s not just about feeling nervous—it’s a legitimate mental health condition that deserves compassion and proper care.
Common signs and symptoms of GAD may include:
- Excessive, uncontrollable worrying
- Trouble managing feelings of nervousness
- Difficulty relaxing or feeling calm
- Feeling constantly on edge or restless
- Being easily startled
- Difficulty concentrating or staying focused
- Feeling mentally or physically drained
- Physical discomforts like headaches, stomachaches, or unexplained body pain
- Difficulty swallowing or a lump-in-the-throat sensation
If you or someone you love is struggling with symptoms like these, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional. GAD is highly treatable, and with the right support and effective treatment—such as talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both—many people experience significant relief.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is a serious mental illness recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual by the American Psychiatric Association. Unlike generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder involves sudden, intense panic attacks with no clear trigger. These episodes often include overwhelming anxiety symptoms, such as a racing heart, trembling, shortness of breath, and chills.
Many individuals fear the next attack, which can disrupt daily life and lead to avoidance behaviors. Panic disorder, like other anxiety disorders, can co-occur with social anxiety disorder, depression, or separation anxiety disorder, increasing the risk of long-term challenges.
At our anxiety treatment center, we offer effective treatment options including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, exposure therapy, support groups, and anti-anxiety medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. A mental health professional will assess your medical history and develop a personalized treatment plan to reduce anxiety, improve physical health, and enhance coping strategies for treating mental health conditions.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder is often associated with children, but it’s also a recognized mental illness that affects adolescents and adults. It is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) as one of several types of anxiety disorders. This condition involves an intense fear or anxiety about being away from someone to whom the person is emotionally attached—typically a parent, partner, or close friend.
People with separation anxiety disorder may experience extreme distress at the thought of being apart from their attachment figure, even if the separation is brief or routine. These feelings go far beyond normal worry and can interfere with daily responsibilities, work, and relationships.
Common anxiety symptoms of separation anxiety disorder include:
- Persistent fear about losing a loved one or something bad happening to them
- Refusing to be alone or go places without the attachment figure
- Nightmares about separation
- Excessive worry that separation will cause harm
- Avoidance of sleepovers, school, or travel due to fear of separation
- Physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, dizziness, or nausea when anticipating or experiencing separation
Talk therapy—especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—is often helpful in managing separation anxiety. Therapy can address underlying fears, help develop coping strategies, and reduce the intensity of emotional and physical symptoms.
Like other anxiety disorders, separation anxiety tends to improve with consistent support, structured treatment, and patience.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety is sometimes colloquially discussed as if someone is just shy or quiet, but it is a very real condition that can have negative implications for your life. Social anxiety disorder usually presents as thoughts of self-consciousness. It can also present with feelings of fear of meeting new people or talking to others. The fear is intense, and it may make you feel that you are being watched and judged.
Symptoms of social anxiety disorder typically present around other people. They may include:
- A rapid heart rate
- Feeling self-conscious
- Avoiding places where people are
- Feeling sick to your stomach
- Blushing, trembling, or sweating
- Speaking overly softly or going rigid
- Having trouble making eye contact
Understanding the Symptoms of Anxiety
While the above conditions all have their own unique symptoms, most anxiety disorders share some common symptoms that you may already be familiar with. Some of the physical anxiety symptoms and mental symptoms you may experience are:
- Trouble concentrating
- Tense muscles/tremors
- Constant worry or fear
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Sudden episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks
- Rapid heart rate
- Excessive sweating
- Shaking or trembling
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort or pain
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Developing a fear of losing control or impending doom
- Developing an extreme fear of social interactions
- Avoiding social events and settings
- Developing a fear of being negatively judged or observed
- Blushing, sweating, or shaking
Symptoms of Specific Phobias
Phobias are unique because they typically cause symptoms only when you’re in a specific situation. For example, arachnophobia is a fear of spiders that can lead to extreme reactions if a spider is present.
The symptoms that you may have related to a specific phobia could include:
- Irrational and intense fears about specific objects or situations
- An attempt to avoid certain behaviors or locations related to the feared situation or object
- Anxiety or panic symptoms when confronted with the object or situation
If you have the symptoms of anxiety or panic disorders, or if you have phobia-specific concerns, it’s important to look into getting support. At Revitalize, we offer compassionate care for anxiety disorders and are here to help.
Understanding Your Mental Health: What Causes Anxiety Disorders?
At Revitalize Wellness Center, we know how important it is to understand your mental health. Diagnosing an anxiety disorder is the first step toward getting the treatment you need.
We take a holistic diagnostic approach at Revitalize Wellness Center. We take the time to understand each of our clients as a whole, learning more about their past, health history, home environment, symptoms, and more, to ensure an appropriate diagnosis and effective, personalized treatment plan. We work with you to make sure you get the tools you need to manage the condition now and as you move forward in your life following your initial treatment program.
Anxiety Treatment Options
At Revitalize at Refresh in Norwell, MA, we understand that treating mental health conditions can take time and a collaborative approach. That’s why we provide a comprehensive range of evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders. Our team is dedicated to providing a range of treatments and therapies that help you manage anxiety alongside any other mental health conditions that you may have.
Psychotherapy or Talk Therapy for Anxiety
Psychotherapy, which can also be called talk therapy or include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is one of the gold standards in anxiety treatment. It is highly effective for anxiety disorders because it encourages individuals to learn more about their thought patterns and how they can modify them in a way that stops fueling anxious thoughts. Along with these therapies, exposure therapy, which slowly introduces you to your fears or phobias, may be used to alleviate your fears over time.
Medication Management
It is possible to manage anxiety disorders with medications, therapies, or a combination of the two. Many people opt to take antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which can both help balance the chemicals in the brain and reduce the symptoms of anxiety.
For acute anxiety, another category of medications called benzodiazepines may be used. These are short-term medications that help stop panic attacks and severe anxiety.
Support Groups and Resources
At Revitalize at Refresh in Norwell, MA, we understand that managing anxiety can be difficult, especially at first. That’s why we believe in providing continuous support to our clients. By providing support and resources, you’ll have everything you need to thrive.
Some of the therapies, support, and resources we provide through our program include:
- Support groups
- Educational workshops
- Family therapy
- Personalized counseling
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques to Treat Anxiety Disorders
Mindfulness can be helpful as you learn to live with an anxiety disorder. Practices such as meditation and yoga can promote relaxation and help you learn to stay grounded, managing the symptoms of anxiety through breathwork and light exercise.
Lifestyle and Wellness Strategies
A healthy lifestyle can make a big difference in how you feel when you have anxiety. Some elements of a healthy lifestyle that may be able to reduce the symptoms of anxiety include:
- Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet
- Getting adequate sleep (aim for 7 to 8 hours as an adult)
- Minimizing caffeine intake
- Minimizing alcohol intake
- Exercising regularly
By integrating a healthy lifestyle into your treatment plan, you can develop a life that works with anxiety, not around it.
It is our goal to give you the tools you need to feel empowered as you learn to live with an anxiety disorder.
Support and Resources
At Revitalize Wellness Center, we understand that living with anxiety isn’t just about getting through the tough moments—it’s about building tools for long-term peace of mind. That’s why we offer ongoing support designed to meet each person where they are, especially during stressful life events . From group therapy and one-on-one counseling to mindfulness workshops and educational resources for families, our goal is to create a steady foundation of care.
We’re here to walk alongside you every step of the way, helping you manage anxiety with confidence and reclaim a life full of purpose, connection, and calm.
Anxiety Treatment Center at Revitalize Wellness Center
Untreated anxiety can severely impact your life, but it doesn’t have to continue to have that negative impact forever. Whether through talk therapy, taking medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or building peer support through support groups, getting the proper treatment can completely change your life.
At Revitalize at Refresh in Norwell, MA, we offer customized, tailored anxiety treatment programs to help you learn how to effectively manage your symptoms and improve your overall quality of life. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and how we can help you on your road to recovery.
Resources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-anxiety-disorder-more-than-just-shyness
https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/what-is-mental-health/conditions/anxiety