Before we enter into discussing the treatment for Clinical Anxiety, it may be a good idea to find out exactly what the disease entails.
Clinical anxiety is often comorbid with clinical, or major, depression.
All this means is that the one illness can inflict the patient at the same time as the other.
It's usually a condition that demands hospitalization, because it can affect a person's life to the point where they can't really function.
The patient is always thinking the worst.
For instance, if they hear a fire engine when they're out shopping, they automatically rush home because they're convinced their house is on fire.
They hear a creak in the night and think that either a burglar has broken in, or the roof's about to collapse on them.
It's pathological anxiety, always accompanied by apprehension, tension and at its least, uneasiness.
They're hyper-vigilant, sometimes to the point of never going to bed, in case disaster strikes.
It's easy to see how depression can follow on the heels of such a condition.
The sufferer knows, at least in one part of the mind, that their fears are groundless, but they simply can't shake them.
It's estimated that depression strikes 60% of the time in such cases, but I confess I'm surprised the figure isn't higher.
The only bright spot, if such it may be called, is that at least the depression has a cogent cause.
Once the anxiety is taken care of, then the depression should certainly recede.
It's understandable, too, that this illness can be accompanied by substance abuse; drug taking and/or alcohol.
In the worst conditions, the patient may experience psychotic breaks, suffering delusions and hallucinations.
It is, after all, an understandable step from imagining your house is on fire, to actually seeing flames leaping from the roof and hearing the crackle of burning timbers.
This would be extreme, but it can happen.
As far as treatment's concerned, the steps involved must be taken gradually and, especially in the case of elderly people, with tact.
The degree of severity must first be assessed and to what extent the patient's daily life is being disturbed.
Amazing though it may seem, it's also necessary to have the patient admit to their illness.
Again, with the elderly, pride can take a front row seat here.
However, once the patient is happy to work with the psychiatrist, then he or she must be educated about the origin and symptoms of their ailment.
Assuming the patient is of the 'walking wounded' variety, in other words they can carry on their normal lives without too much disturbance from their condition, then lifestyle changes may be suggested.
Stress reduction, if they're in such an environment.
Caffeine avoidance, stopping smoking and definitely no alcohol or illicit drugs.
At all times, signs of suicide risk must be considered and carefully observed.
If the person lives with their family, then the latter must be advised to be particularly on the lookout for such symptoms.
If alone, then a care professional should be asked to look in frequently.
Then the patient should be informed of the various forms of treatment available and encouraged to ask questions and discuss these options.
After all, certain types of therapy may frighten the person.
Electro-convulsive therapy springs to mind.
While it didn't actually frighten me, I can't pretend that the thought of it made me jump for joy! There are far less invasive procedures, of course, in the forms of a number of psychotherapeutic treatments and here our old friend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is particularly efficacious.
As far as medications are concerned, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, (SSRIs) and Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors, (SNRIs) are considered safe and effective.
Labelling on antidepressant products are mandated by the FDA, and these should be discussed in depth with your doctor as well as carefully read, most especially so far as young adults are concerned.
For some reason, suicide has taken a nasty toll of this segment of the population due to taking these drugs, and their intake without proper consultation and study is extremely foolhardy
Clinical anxiety is often comorbid with clinical, or major, depression.
All this means is that the one illness can inflict the patient at the same time as the other.
It's usually a condition that demands hospitalization, because it can affect a person's life to the point where they can't really function.
The patient is always thinking the worst.
For instance, if they hear a fire engine when they're out shopping, they automatically rush home because they're convinced their house is on fire.
They hear a creak in the night and think that either a burglar has broken in, or the roof's about to collapse on them.
It's pathological anxiety, always accompanied by apprehension, tension and at its least, uneasiness.
They're hyper-vigilant, sometimes to the point of never going to bed, in case disaster strikes.
It's easy to see how depression can follow on the heels of such a condition.
The sufferer knows, at least in one part of the mind, that their fears are groundless, but they simply can't shake them.
It's estimated that depression strikes 60% of the time in such cases, but I confess I'm surprised the figure isn't higher.
The only bright spot, if such it may be called, is that at least the depression has a cogent cause.
Once the anxiety is taken care of, then the depression should certainly recede.
It's understandable, too, that this illness can be accompanied by substance abuse; drug taking and/or alcohol.
In the worst conditions, the patient may experience psychotic breaks, suffering delusions and hallucinations.
It is, after all, an understandable step from imagining your house is on fire, to actually seeing flames leaping from the roof and hearing the crackle of burning timbers.
This would be extreme, but it can happen.
As far as treatment's concerned, the steps involved must be taken gradually and, especially in the case of elderly people, with tact.
The degree of severity must first be assessed and to what extent the patient's daily life is being disturbed.
Amazing though it may seem, it's also necessary to have the patient admit to their illness.
Again, with the elderly, pride can take a front row seat here.
However, once the patient is happy to work with the psychiatrist, then he or she must be educated about the origin and symptoms of their ailment.
Assuming the patient is of the 'walking wounded' variety, in other words they can carry on their normal lives without too much disturbance from their condition, then lifestyle changes may be suggested.
Stress reduction, if they're in such an environment.
Caffeine avoidance, stopping smoking and definitely no alcohol or illicit drugs.
At all times, signs of suicide risk must be considered and carefully observed.
If the person lives with their family, then the latter must be advised to be particularly on the lookout for such symptoms.
If alone, then a care professional should be asked to look in frequently.
Then the patient should be informed of the various forms of treatment available and encouraged to ask questions and discuss these options.
After all, certain types of therapy may frighten the person.
Electro-convulsive therapy springs to mind.
While it didn't actually frighten me, I can't pretend that the thought of it made me jump for joy! There are far less invasive procedures, of course, in the forms of a number of psychotherapeutic treatments and here our old friend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is particularly efficacious.
As far as medications are concerned, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, (SSRIs) and Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors, (SNRIs) are considered safe and effective.
Labelling on antidepressant products are mandated by the FDA, and these should be discussed in depth with your doctor as well as carefully read, most especially so far as young adults are concerned.
For some reason, suicide has taken a nasty toll of this segment of the population due to taking these drugs, and their intake without proper consultation and study is extremely foolhardy