Anxiety Specialist
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Central Clinic
Family Medicine Practice located in Spring Hill, FL
Anxiety disorders affect more than 18% of adults in the United States each year. If you feel anxious or fearful in certain situations that don’t bother most other people, board-certified family medicine physician Poonam Malhotra, MD, is here for you. She can diagnose and treat anxiety to improve your quality of life at Central Clinic in Spring Hill, Florida. Book an appointment by phone or online today.
Anxiety Q&A
What is anxiety?
Anxiety disorders cause frequent, intense, or excessive fear or worry about everyday situations that don’t bother most other people. They can negatively affect your life and cause you to avoid certain situations because of fear.
Treatment helps reduce anxiety and give you a better quality of life.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Some common symptoms you might experience with anxiety include:
- Constant nervousness or restlessness
- Sweating, trembling, or rapid breathing
- A sense of panic, doom, or danger
- Increased heart rate
- Fatigue and weakness
- Difficulty concentrating because of worry
- Sleeping difficulty
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety
If anxiety causes problems in your personal life or at work, see Dr. Malhotra at Central Clinic for an evaluation.
What are the risk factors for anxiety?
Anxiety can happen to anybody, but certain factors increase your risk. Examples include childhood trauma, chronic stress, illness, genetics, family history of anxiety, drug or alcohol use, or having another mental health disorder.
Complications associated with anxiety disorders include:
- Depression
- Sleeping problems
- Substance misuse
- Bowel or digestive problems
- Chronic pain
- Headaches
- Social isolation
- Suicide
Anxiety can also lead to problems with work, school, or relationships and a poor quality of life.
How is anxiety diagnosed?
At Central Clinic, Dr. Malhotra checks your vital signs and reviews your medical history. She asks questions about your symptoms during a psychiatric evaluation to determine if anxiety treatment is right for you.
Dr. Malhotra also completes a physical examination and might recommend urine or blood tests to detect or rule out medical problems.
What are the treatment options for anxiety?
If anxiety negatively affects your life, Dr. Malhotra might recommend the following treatment options:
Lifestyle changes
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can lessen feelings of anxiety, improve your overall health, and restore your quality of life. Get regular exercise, avoid recreational drugs and alcohol, don’t smoke, and cut back on caffeine. Try stress management techniques, get plenty of sleep, and eat healthy foods.
Medications
Taking certain medications can relieve symptoms of anxiety to give you a better quality of life.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that’s useful for anxiety disorders. Dr. Malhotra teaches you skills to improve anxiety symptoms so you can get back to enjoying your favorite activities.
She might recommend exposure therapy to help you better manage everyday situations. With this therapy, you’re gradually exposed to situations or objects that trigger anxiousness.
If you struggle with anxiety, help is within reach. Schedule an appointment at Central Clinic over the phone or online today.
