Anxiety
Understanding Clinical Anxiety in Alaska
Anxiety is a normal part of life. Anxiety disorders result when worry, fear, or physical tension become persistent, excessive, and interfere with daily life. The DSM-V defines anxiety disorders as 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-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. Seasonal darkness can also heighten anxious rumination and sleep disruption for individuals, compounding symptoms during the winter months.
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
If these symptoms persist for six months or more, or disrupt work, relationships, or daily functioning, it may be time to talk with a mental health professional. A clinician can help determine whether you are experiencing a specific anxiety disorder, rule out other conditions, and make treatment recommendations.
Treatment Options for Clinical Anxiety
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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 focuses on tolerating distress, regulating affect, and, in turn, improving interpersonal functioning.
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 medication provider. At Alaska Telepsychology, we lean into this by providing psychological testing, psychiatry, and psychotherapy in-house and by coordinating with professionals outside our clinic.
Uniquely Alaskan Challenges
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.