ANXIETY is a normal biological function & sensation that is part of the warning & alarm & response systems found in the bodies & brains of most animals, including mammals & humans.  Even many plants & trees seem to have both acute & chronic biological stress sensors & responses when somehow threatened or damaged by an external source (excessive heat & cold, sun & shade, fire, flooding & draught to name a few).  Normal anxiety & stress responses to new threats & potentially harmful situations can allow the organism to successfully deal with & defend itself from the negative situation.  Responding to an environmental stressor can be good & helpful.

Higher animals with larger & more complex brains, like primates & humans, seem capable of mounting a massive & complex anxiety or stress reaction when confronted with a negative or dangerous situation.  This response can even be learned.  This can be helpful or lifesaving in the right situation.  But what happens when the anxiety or stress response becomes EXCESSIVE or PROLONGED or begins at the WRONG TIME or WON’T STOP? You are not being chased by a lion right now or falling down a massive stairway now or crashing in your plane now or soon.  Your heart pounds, your heartbeat speeds up, your blood pressure rises, your breathing accelerates, you feel hyperaware of everything, your mind races, you begin to feel very warm or hot, you begin to profusely sweat, your pupils constrict & eyesight reduces, you might experience muscle tremors or shakes, you even may think that you might soon “GO CRAZY” or even die*.  You feel horrible! Some people even call 911 or go to the ER for help.  Some people drink alcohol or use MJ or other substances to cope.  This is when ANXIETY becomes unwanted & pathological, a DISEASE or DISORDER.

Severe ANXIETY can come in an assortment of interesting flavors & names:

• General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Panic Disorder or Panic Attacks (PD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia (SAD)
• Specific Phobias (SP)
• Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Adjustment Disorders (AD)
• & the most fascinating & written about…OCD.

ANXIETY Disorders can grow fast & large like a forest fire, quickly becoming extreme & impairing, maybe debilitating and disabling, maybe even deadly*.  But they do NOT need to be, if you get quick expert help & comprehensive treatment using the modern:

BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL Model

of disorder etiology & disorder treatment.  Yep, deal with the biological & psychological & social casual & care factors, get relief.  Like ADHD & Depression & most neuropsychiatric & general medical conditions, predisposition to Anxiety Disorders can run in families & commonly have genetic links, but they CAN be greatly lessened & controlled or stopped with modern care methods.  They are NOT your fault.  Do NOT blame yourself.

Luckily, ANXIETY Disorders can be easily & quickly be reduced or eliminated by great Expert education & discussion & psychotherapy & increasing brain calming SEROTONIN (5-HT) and/or calming GABA levels & modifying levels of other brain neurotransmitters (NTs), in addition to avoiding known brain stimulants and activating chemicals (caffeine & nicotine & adrenaline enhancing chemicals to name a few) & avoiding known mood-altering chemicals like alcohol & MJ & recreational drugs, as well as avoiding stressful events (triggering people, places & situations), getting great sleep (8 hours please) & regular exercise a few times per week (yep, and be sure to add 15 minutes of moderate weights to your 45 minute of cardio with a nice sweat & heart rate of at least 120/min for best results).

Yes, you can get relief.  Are you ready?

We are here for you, offering both intensive outpatient, Office-based MD Psychiatry Expert evaluations & ongoing treatment for Adult ANXIETY & other very common & highly treatable biological brain conditions.  Good results can be realized fast, with reduction in many of the ANXIETY symptoms realized in minutes to days to weeks, and then maintained with good ongoing care for years.  Being at peak performance is essential and required to obtain, maintain & succeed in school or most demanding occupations and intense jobs here in very competitive San Diego.

* If you or a friend or family member or loved one suffers from a currently severe & life-threatening medical or mental health condition, go to the nearest Emergency Room or call “911” for immediate medical assistance.