Anxiety
Understanding Clinical Anxiety in Alaska
Anxiety is a normal part of life. Anxiety disorders result when worry, fear, or physical tension become persistent and excessive, and interfere with daily life. Anxiety disorders are a group of conditions (including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias) that share one common thread: excessive fear or worry that is difficult to control and disproportionate to the actual situation. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions, and develop from a mix of genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life experiences.
Alaska’s unique geography creates additional barriers to diagnosis and care. Mental health clinicians, physicians, and psychiatrists experienced in anxiety treatment are concentrated in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
Persistent, excessive worry that is hard to control
Irritability or a constant sense of dread
Restlessness or feeling "on edge"
Racing heart, shortness of breath, or muscle tension
Difficulty concentrating or mind "going blank"
Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
Avoiding situations, places, or people out of fear or worry
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A multimodal approach is helpful for managing anxiety. In individual therapy, patients can develop new skills and receive immediate feedback that supports progress and improves confidence.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) teaches practical skills in four areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Patients learn to calm themselves down physiologically, in order to think clearly and respond rather than react.
Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches participants to identify and correct thinking errors. Examples of thinking errors include: internalizing blame, catastrophizing, negative filtering, and emotional reasoning.
Trauma therapy helps patients to shift from a state of chronic emotional and physical hyper-arousal into a relaxed, mindful state wherein difficult experiences can be emotionally processed and cognitively shelved.
Exposure therapy helps patients to walk towards and through anxiety-provoking situations with physical calm, emotional availability, and cognitive capacity to problem-solve.
Social skills training helps patients to understand nonverbal and situational cues and social conventions. In individual therapy, participants can practice communication skills and receive immediate feedback that supports progress and improves confidence.
Click here to learn more about the psychotherapy services offered by Alaska Telepsychology
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Regular physical activity, consistent sleep routines, healthy eating habits, and social connection improve attention, mood, and self-regulation for individuals with anxiety.
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SSRIs target serotonin re-uptake in the brain, and are often the first-line psychiatric treatment for anxiety. Other medications, such as SNRIs and tricyclic antidepressants, also target norepinephrine signaling to alleviate anxiety.
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Outcomes are best for patients with a coordinated care team that includes a mental health provider and a medical provider. At Alaska Telepsychology, we lean into this by offering psychotherapy, psychological testing, and psychiatry in-house and collaborating with providers outside of our clinic.
Treatment Options for Clinical Anxiety
Uniquely Alaskan Challenges
Alaska-specific stressors can intensify anxiety symptoms, for example the isolation of rural and remote living, the unpredictability of extreme weather, and the financial pressures tied to our state's higher cost of living. Both the long, dark days of winter and the long, bright days of summer can activate anxious thinking and sleep disruption.
Individuals with anxiety in Alaska encounter distinct barriers to support. Many rural and remote communities have no local access to specialized mental health clinicians. Individuals often wait months, then fly or drive to a regional hub to start an evaluation and begin treatment.
Want help? We offer psychological testing, psychotherapy, and psychiatry for anxiety.