A common disorder among many Americans today is anxiety. The Philadelphia area’s Dr. Jacob D. Buinewicz regularly works with patients seeking help for this condition, as well as fields questions from people who want to know more about it. There are many who hear the term “anxiety” and think it’s just nervousness that could be controlled with some self-reflection or login—but this is far from the case.
In fact, anxiety has a range of levels—from unease to worry to outright fear—with a unifying factor: The feelings get in the way of daily activities and diminish a person’s quality of life. This is more than simply being nervous about the outcome of a test or job interview.
Some patients with anxiety do not have an “object” that is the focus of their feelings. In other words, they are not worrying about a specific outcome or fearful of a particular event. This is known as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and it can be especially difficult to navigate everything from social situations to work to life at home while grappling with the overwhelming feeling of dread and discomfort. Instead of being afraid of a single thing—such as spiders or a plane crash—these patients are excessively worried about many problems (even small ones) and possible outcomes.
Similarly, patients with panic disorder are not necessarily dealing with a specific fear. Rather, they frequently feel sudden attacks of terror, even if there is no obvious threat. A random racing heart, sweating, shaking, and trouble breathing can be crippling.
More specific phobias are better known among the public, with fear of needles or high places or being trapped in small spaces discussed in even casual conversation. That does not mean, however, that the disorder is easily dismissed.
A specific type of phobia, known as social anxiety disorder, disrupts a patient’s ability to interact with others. More than being shy, this condition can trigger fear responses even at the thought of engaging in conversation, being around a group of people, or interacting with a stranger.
For all of these variations of anxiety disorders, Dr. Buinewicz can work with the patient to develop a customized treatment plan. After an initial consultation, he may recommend medication, cognitive behavioral or other therapies, lifestyle changes, group support, or a mix of strategies.
To learn more about anxiety, as well as the other services available from Dr. Jacob Buinewicz, contactBuckingham Psychiatry online or call 484-466-5560.