Anxiety

Feeling anxious in certain situations is normal. However, if you have continual anxiety that interferes with your daily life, you might have an anxiety disorder. At Free Range Mental Health in Northfield, Minnesota, board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner Dan Watts, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, offers his expertise to help you get the relief you need and deserve. If you’re ready to get help for your anxiety, call or click online today, or ask about their telehealth option.

When should I seek help for my anxiety?

Normal life stresses can cause you to feel anxious on occasion. However, if you find that you have anxiety throughout your day, you might have an anxiety disorder that affects your quality of life.

If you feel like worry consumes you, and if you notice that it interferes with your work, school, or relationships, it may be time to seek help. You should also schedule an evaluation with board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner Dan Watts at Free Range Mental Health if you try to manage your anxiety with substance use.

Dan takes the time to understand how social, physical, and environmental factors might cause your anxiety and impact your life. He also learns about your family history to find out if heredity might play a role.

What are the symptoms of an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorders can cause emotional and physical symptoms. Though many types of anxiety disorders exist, each has its own symptoms.

Common emotional symptoms include:

• Inability to quit worrying
• Difficulty concentrating
• Always thinking the worst
• Overthinking plans and solutions
• Out-of-proportion worry about a specific event
• Perceiving certain situations or events as a threat even when they aren’t

Common physical symptoms include:

• Trouble sleeping
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Nervousness
• Trembling
• Muscle tension
• Pounding heart

If these symptoms manifest in your daily life, call Free Range Mental Health for an appointment as soon as possible.

How is anxiety treated?

At Free Range Mental Health, your provider first assesses your condition. Once you have an accurate diagnosis, he may recommend a combination of medications to help control your symptoms and therapy to help you manage your anxiety. 

During therapy, Dan spends time talking with you to learn about your sources of conflict and anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a first-line treatment that can teach you how to:

• Eliminate negative thoughts
• Develop coping skills to reduce your worrying
• Increase your ability to feel relaxed
• Help you gain control over your anxiety

Treatment for anxiety isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. Dan develops a plan that caters to your needs.

If you have concerns about your anxiety, call Free Range Mental Health today. You can also book an appointment online.