Environmental Factors:  Stress from a personal relationship, job, school, or financial predicament can contribute greatly to anxiety disorders.
Genetics: People who have family members with an anxiety disorder are more likely to have one themselves.

Medical Factors: Other medical conditions can lead to an anxiety disorder, such as the side effects of medication, symptoms of a disease, or stress from a serious underlying medical condition.

Brain Chemistry: Stressful or traumatic experiences from the past and genetic factors can alter brain structure and function to react more vigorously to triggers.

SYMPTOMS

• Physical Symptoms Can Include:

• Increased Heart Rate

• Numbness OR Tingling in Hands or Feet

• Perspiration

• Shortness of Breath

• Tunnel Vision

• Nausea or Diarrhea

• Dry Mouth

• Dizziness

• Restlessness

• Muscle Tension

• Other Symptoms Include:

• Feeling Nervous, Restless or Tense

• Having a Sense of Impending Danger

• Trouble Concentrating or Focusing

• Having Trouble Sleeping

• Having Difficulty Controlling Worry

• Urge to Avoid Things That Trigger Anxiety

TREATMENTS

The two main treatments for anxiety disorders are psychotherapy and medications. You may benefit most from a combination of the two. It may take some trial and error to discover which treatments work best for you.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. Generally a short term treatment. CBT focuses on teaching you specific skills to improve you symptoms and gradually return to the activities you have avoided because of anxiety.

CBT includes exposure therapy in which you gradually encounter the object or situation that triggers your anxiety so you build confidence that you can manage the situation.

MEDICATIONS

Antidepressants

The two most commonly used types of antidepressants for treating anxiety disorders are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin – norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

• Examples of SSRIs include:

• Prozac or Sarafem （Fluoxetine)

• Celexa (Citalopram)

• Examples of SNRIs include:

• Effexor XR (Venlaxafine)

• Cymbalta (Duloxetine)

Side effects may include: nausea, nervousness or restlessness, dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia, etc.

Benzodianzepine

Benodiazepines help relieve anxiety by enhancing the activity of a neurotransmitter in the brain and generating sedative effect. They work quickly, and can often work within one hour or several hours. They are usually prescribed for those with generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Because they work so quickly, and because people taking them can build up a tolerance that leaves them needing higher doses to feel better, doctors will prescribe them for very short periods of time – usually no more than a month.

• Commonly prescribed benzodiazepines include:

• Xanax or Niravam (Alprazolam)

• Klonopin （Clonazepam)

• Ativan (Lorazepam)

• Valium (Diazepam)

Side effects of benzodiazepines may include: drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, headache, etc.