Mental Health / Anxiety / Counseling

What are mental health/anxiety disorders?

Mental health includes your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Anxiety is constant worry or fear that negatively affects your quality of life. Treatment with Dr. Gaskill and her team can help you relax and thrive at work, school, and in relationships.

What are the symptoms of mental health/anxiety disorders?

Common symptoms linked with anxiety include:

• Nervousness
• Feeling restless or tense
• Impending doom, panic, or danger
• Rapid breathing
• Increased heart rate 
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Feeling tired or weak
• Difficulty concentrating
• Constant worry
• Trouble sleeping
• Avoiding anxiety triggers
• Gastrointestinal problems

Depression commonly occurs with anxiety. It can cause you to socially isolate, misuse drugs or alcohol, or experience ongoing aches and pains. 

What are the risk factors for mental health/anxiety disorders?

Anxiety and other mental health disorders can happen to anyone, but certain factors increase your risk of having them. Examples include:

• Traumatic life experiences
• Ongoing stress
• Family history of mental health disorders
• Chronic diseases or illnesses
• Certain personality traits
• Drug or alcohol use

Ways to lower your risk of anxiety include staying active, avoiding drug and alcohol misuse, and seeking help at the first sign of a problem.

How does my doctor diagnose mental health/anxiety disorders?

To find out if you have anxiety or another mental health disorder, Dr. Gaskill discusses your symptoms and medical history. She completes a physical examination and psychiatric evaluation to assess your physical and mental health. She may recommend you complete blood tests or other diagnostic tests to detect or rule out additional health issues.

What are the treatments for mental health/anxiety disorders?

Common treatments for anxiety include:

Lifestyle changes

Things you can do at home for anxiety relief include getting regular exercise, not smoking or using drugs or alcohol, eating healthy foods, getting plenty of sleep, and taking dietary supplements if Dr. Gaskill recommends it. Manage stress levels as best you can.

Counseling

Counseling, including behavior change therapy, is one of the best ways to overcome anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles. 

Medications

Some medications can reduce feelings of anxiety. If other treatments haven’t worked, Dr. Gaskill may suggest you try them.

Don’t live with debilitating mental health/anxiety symptoms when simple treatments can improve your quality of life. Call Dr. Leslie S. Gaskill, M.D., to schedule an appointment or book one online today.