Hawaii Psychiatric

Posts Tagged ‘anxiety’

Is it possible for you to go for at least 24 hours without some kind of angst creeping into your conscious? Probably not. Maybe it’s just a couple of mild flare ups like running late for an appointment or deciding what to make for the kid’s dinner. You could also have other matters weighing on your mind such as financial woes, relationship turmoil or even troubles from around the world you see on the news. With many folks, these occasional bouts of anxiety are met head on and dealt with accordingly. For every flare up there is a solution and then you get back on with your day.

However, there can times when you can’t let go of those anxieties. When these thoughts begin to plague and distract you they can keep you from studying, working and even relating with your loved ones. That’s when anxiety has crossed over to become a mental health disorder. There are plenty of clinical definitions such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder or Social Anxiety Disorder. For the people who are in the throes of any of those kinds of anxiety attacks, the clinical definitions really don’t matter. What matters is finding a way to get better.

If your anxiety is stopping you in your tracks, then perhaps its time you take the proverbial bull by the horns and get some genuine help. That help can come in the form of therapy with a psychiatrist. Working with a qualified psychiatrist will help you identify the root causes of your anxiety. Recognizing the triggers and discovering what is in and out of your control can do a lot for alleviating your anxiety. You can even take your treatment to the next level by being prescribed anti-depressant medication. Your psychiatrist of choice will be able to help find the right dosage of medicine that can help you bring those major anxiety attacks down to a manageable level. Real help is just a phone call away.

There are some people who tend to wash their hands often. They are simply thought of as clean. Some might even joke that they are “germ freaks”. This is common enough and we all tend to roll with it. Others, we may notice, enjoy double checking if the doors are all locked. This, too, is common and so we ignore any other signs or red flags.

Since this can be hidden in social norms, the idea of checking locks and washing hands, it is easy to see that everything is as it should be. Nothing really seems “off”.

However, the reality for some of these “germ freaks” may be far more severe than we can imagine. Behind closed doors, many people suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This means that they have anxiety about certain things, leading them to obsessively take precaution over issues that are anxious over. This can mean they count constantly, wash their hands endlessly, or turn doorknobs around the clock. Due to their fears about germs, forgetting to lock a door, or their aversion to certain numbers, the disease can hinder their everyday normalcy.

While it is not obvious or out in the open, Obsessive Comulsive Disorder is one of the top five metal disorders diagnosed. Mental health medicine practitioners can provide therapy and medication to help the person cope with their obsessive disorder, however, there is probably nothing that will completely rid the patient of this anxiety. There is no magic pill but therapy and meds can bring the person closer to their goals of a normal, worry-free lifestyle.

Doctors and patients will have to work together in order to have the kind of relationship that is productive and geared to assist a patient recover from their obsessive disorder. The recurring thoughts, negative feelings, fear about things that they cannot control but believe they might be able to, can all be brought under control with the help of speaking to their medication practioner. Mental Health advocates are working to bring together a public awareness of the disorder.

We all know someone out there, one of our friends who enjoy the company of a few close friends, but rarely are in a social setting where they will meet new people or find themselves in crowded situations. We typically just chalk it all up to them being shy. This is, for the most part, very true and in the simplest form, correct.
However, if you know someone who has a clear problem with dealing with social outtings, suffers from emotional “meltdowns” before having to enter into a room, or simply does whatever they can to avoid going out with you in any social setting, you may want to discuss the possibility of them getting checked out for Social Anxiety Disorder.
All too often, we mistake shyness for just that when the possibility is very real that someone you know could be suffering from this common disorder. Some traits of someone who may actually suffer from social anxity include the following:
Blushing. If the person blushes because someone complimented them, no problems. However, if the person blushes at the mention of being put in a social situation and then begins to sweat, there may in fact be a problem.
Trembling. Having butterflies in the stomach before a big event is normal. Having trembling fear that causes nausea or stammering is a case all its own. When it gets to a point where the fear takes over the event and the evening is ruined due to one’s dread of becoming seen or interacting, the problem of Social Anxiety Disorder becomes so much more.
If you know someone who is a little shy, perhaps approaching them directly about it all can be something that causes alarm. If, however, you think that you may be able to bring the topic up without causing embarrassment or anxiety, do so. This may be the beginning of something huge for a person who suffers from shyness.
By remaining patient, going at a comfortable speed, and providing your support you may help bring someone who suffers silently with this disorder to a new level of confidence.

One of the most popular questions you ask every day is most likely going to be “how are you doing?” You just can’t escape saying that to someone you meet or to a friend calling up. Even posting on Facebook or MySpace can provoke that simple query. The typical response is “I’m fine.” For most people that can certainly be true but some others might be holding back about what’s really going on with them. Are you that person who is hiding a secret about how you truly feel? If so, maybe it’s time to seek out the kind of professional help which can enable you to really be “fine.”

It’s hard to make it through the day without some petty annoyances coming our way. A lot of folks can quickly dismiss these stumbling blocks and go about their business. But for others, even simple things like standing in line at the bank or not finding what you’re looking for at the grocery store can lead to a cascade of anxious feelings. Clearly, there is something more going on when small matters stop you in your tracks and prevent you from moving forward. When you begin to constantly turn things over and over in your mind by playing out alternative outcomes you can find yourself in an obsessive mental loop. Merely having someone say “get over it” is not going to be any help. It’s important to be able to talk these problems out.

Just because you’ve got some “issues” doesn’t mean you’re facing a complete mental breakdown. Many people suffer from some form of mild anxiety, depression or obsessive behavior. The lucky ones have enrolled in the kind of beneficial treatment programs that can be found at psychiatric clinics. These are not places for the emotionally disabled but for all those folks who are simply off kilter and need to realign themselves. There is no shame in asking for help.