Anxiety Residential Treatment

What is an Anxiety Disorder?

“Anxiety disorder” is a term that can refer to any of a number of fears or anxiety disorders that are identified as being pathological and outside the norm. Generally, anxiety disorders are categorized into one of two groups: those which exhibit episodic symptoms and those which exhibit continuous symptoms.

A wide range of anxiety disorders are currently recognized by today’s psychiatry field. If you or someone you love shows symptoms of an anxiety disorder, you are not alone. Recent studies have shown that nearly 20% of all Americans suffer from one or more forms of anxiety disorders.

The term “anxiety attack” is often used to describe moments of peaked worry, extreme fret, feelings of being completely overwhelmed, excessive mental “tension” or feeling “on edge,” feelings of morbid dread, apprehension, and severe panic. Specifically, clinical anxiety is often characterized by persistent or heightened fear in situations in which the average person would not feel afraid.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety can be used to describe four primary types of feelings a person may experience: dissociative anxiety, physical tension, mental apprehension, and physical symptoms.

There are three main disorders that branch from anxiety disorder: panic disorder, phobic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Each disorder will manifest a separate set of symptoms and, accordingly, the treatments for each disorder will also be unique.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder causes an individual to experience momentary attacks of extreme worry or dread. Panic attacks such as these can manifest as discomfort or fear that occur suddenly and rise to a peak within less than 10 minutes. The attacks can then last for hours.

Phobias

Phobias are considered to be the largest class of anxiety disorders. Phobia disorders are triggered by a particular situation or stimulus. This type of anxiety can be linked to many fears including those of danger, catastrophe, failure, embarrassment, humiliation, social interaction, imperfection, death, sickness, loss, non-acceptance, relationship problems, poverty, crowds, and essentially any other possible fear or phobia. Even many seemingly normal fears may become extreme and eventually develop into an anxiety disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a type of prolonged anxiety that is not correlated with any specific situation or object. Persistent worry and fear concerning everyday issues is a common experience among those who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder.

What Causes Anxiety Disorders?

The causes of an anxiety disorder vary widely, and can be rooted in biological, experiential, mental or physical conditions – or some combination thereof. In many cases, the cause of the disorder can be completely unknown – although the cause can sometimes be discovered through professional diagnosis and therapy treatments. Fear, stress and even physical activity can trigger anxiety.

Researchers say that there is some evidence that generalized anxiety disorder may be genetic, and that existing anxiety for other causes is also intensified by stress. Studies also show that anxiety disorders can be caused by medical conditions and substance abuse issues. The fear of panic attacks themselves can increase and even produce anxiety.

What are the Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorders can have one or more of a range of symptoms, such as: difficulty breathing, shaking, trembling, mental confusion, nausea, and dizziness. Phobic disorders are anxiety disorders that are triggered by a particular situation or stimulus.

More than 10% of the entire world population suffers from some form of phobic disorder. Those who suffer from these conditions anticipate frightening consequences from coming into contact with the object of their fear.

FAQ about Anxiety Disorder Residential Treatment Centers

a. How long is residential treatment for an anxiety disorder?

Residential treatment for anxiety disorders varies depending on several factors. Inpatient and outpatient options are available, which means you will not need to stay at a treatment center unless you choose to and are directed to do so by a professional who is advising you.

Generally, the length of stay for anxiety disorders must be determined on a case by case basis, rather than basing it on predetermined criteria.

b. How do residential treatment centers treat anxiety disorders?

Each client of residential treatment centers is handled uniquely, but the treatments for anxiety disorder can include numerous options such as: group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, professional medication management, educational lectures, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training (for reality testing and emotional regulation).

c. How to select the right residential treatment center for an anxiety disorder

When selecting the ideal residential treatment center for you or a loved one, a wide range of factors can be considered. Firstly, a holistic approach is best, since the issue causing the anxiety disorder could be rooted in another area of the individual’s life, or could relate to a physical ailment or some form of trauma. The holistic approach ensures that no stone is unturned, and is considered the most thorough and effective way to treat an anxiety disorder.

The facility chosen ought to come by recommendation, whenever possible. Has someone you know visited this treatment center and had positive effects occur as a result of their stay? If so, you can deduce that the same results could be possible for you or your loved one. The same is true for companies that have numerous moving testimonials from prior patients they have helped.

Cleanliness is a must. If the building is well-kept, this is a sign of a healthy environment for the patient. It is also an indication of good management and shows that there is ample staff to maintain everything needed to uphold a sense of order.

Friendliness may seem to go without saying, but this is a feature that should not be overlooked. The center you visit should be filled with a staff of positive, compassionate, easygoing and caring people – and with smiling faces.

d. What are the costs of residential treatment center for an anxiety disorder?

The costs associated with therapeutic care for an anxiety disorder will vary, based on the condition of the patient, medications needed, and the length of the stay. To determine the cost for you or your loved one, contact the treatment centers you are considering and ask about pricing. Remember that pricing is not as important as the value the facility offers, with respect to quality of care and effectiveness of results.

Financing and payment assistance are almost always available, and most insurance plans are accepted. It is imperative not to allow financial issues to prevent you from seeking treatment options.

e. How can a residential treatment center for anxiety disorders help?

Many positive effects occur after therapy is administered for an anxiety disorder. Clients of residential treatment centers have cited a wide range of improvements in their quality of life as a result of therapy. Those include: increased ability to sleep, sharpened concentration, productivity at work and school, healthier and more enjoyable social interactions, and a renewed sense of self-worth and well-being.

Sometimes just being around professionals who recognize and legitimize the condition, and being in the presence of others who suffer in a similar way, can be enough to change your life. Anxiety disorders can cause an individual to feel isolated and alone, even abnormal. Visiting a resident treatment center can help alleviate such feelings. This may result in total healing, or it may simply make the patient feel understood and cared for.

Do I have Anxiety?
It’s one thing to feel a little nervous or a little anxious from time to time. When that anxiety continually interferes with daily life, however, you may be suffering from an actual anxiety disorder. If you are consumed with worry all the time, suffer from a constant sense that something bad is about to happen, or if your worry leads to physical symptoms such as a shortness of breath or nausea, there’s a good chance you need to seek out serious psychological treatment for your anxiety.

Anxiety disorders don’t just happen to adults; adolescents and even young children can also suffer from an anxiety disorder. If you notice your child has an unusual degree of worry about school or sports, or feels constantly anxious about the possibility of a war or natural disaster, your child might need treatment for an anxiety disorder.

In addition to the general anxiety disorder (GAD) that has just been described, there are other types of anxiety disorders that include panic attacks, unreasonable and debilitating phobias, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Treatment Options for Anxiety Disorders

Like depression, many doctors today feel that anxiety is primarily a biological problem best treated with drugs. In many cases, physicians and psychiatrists will treat patients with anxiety disorders with the same drugs that they would use to treat depression, such as Paxil and Prozac. Other drugs have been developed specifically to treat anxiety, such as BuSpar. All of these drugs, however, include some unpleasant side effects and do not address the underlying cause of the anxiety, which is usually some sort of trauma or difficult life event.

For anxiety, residential treatment may be a good option for some patients. At a holistic residential treatment for anxiety center such as Bridges To Recovery in West Los Angeles, pharmaceuticals are kept to a bare minimum, while other treatments such as meditation and yoga are utilized to begin to change the patterns of the mind itself.

The Difference Between a Pharmaceutical Approach and a Holistic Approach

There are certainly some advantages to the modern pharmaceuticals being produced by the big drug companies. For starters, some of the anti-anxiety medication on the market today can give back a person’s sense of being able to at least function, which is often a huge improvement from an individual suffering from a debilitating anxiety disorder.

However, pharmaceuticals have their limitations, and it is this gap in modern treatment that many residential treatment centers seek to bridge. Pharmaceuticals may have some success temporarily changing the brain chemistry, but most of these drugs are still too new for us to gauge the long-term effects on the brain, so it’s difficult to say whether or not the side-effects of the drugs will eventually outweigh the benefits of the drugs.

Meditation, yoga, and positive lifestyle changes, combined with counseling, do not produce ill side effects. By utilizing these natural, old-fashioned techniques, anxiety can be reduced as much – if not more – as it can be reduced using pharmaceutical solutions.

To find out if treatment for anxiety with a residential option and a holistic approach might be right for you or a family member contact us today