Anxiety

An anxiety disorder is a type of mental disorder that causes a person to be in a frequent state of fear, worry, and/or distress. This anxiety can be debilitating and excessive and results in individuals fearing (and ruminating) about everyday circumstances (such as social situations, elevators, germs, or going outside) and/or things they once enjoyed.

Common symptoms of anxiety include:

• Having negative or fearful thoughts about the future
• Feeling like you are always in danger
• Having a racing heartbeat
• Feeling nervous or tense
• Being restless
• Difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Rapid breathing
• Having the urge to avoid situations that provoke anxiety
• Difficulty controlling worry

In order for a person to be diagnosed with any kind of anxiety disorder, they must meet these two criteria: their nervousness must be out of proportion to their current situation, and it must be a hindrance in their everyday life (relationships, work, school, etc).

There are several different types of medications that can help treat an anxiety disorder.

Psychiatric medications are typically prescribed by Primary Care Physicians (PCP) or psychiatrists. It’s not uncommon for individuals who have never taken psychiatric medications to talk to their PCP about starting medication prior to being referred to a psychiatrist.

You can chat with one of our doctors on Cedars-Sinai Connect to learn more about treatment and same-day prescriptions.