Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that cause significant distress and disruption to everyday life. These disorders usually lead to individuals responding to situations with fear, dismay, or avoidance.

Symptoms vary in intensity, frequency, and complexity but typically include persistent worry, fear, or dread; intrusive thoughts or images; physical symptoms such as heart palpitations or shortness of breath; sleep disturbances; difficulty concentrating; fatigue; restlessness; and more.

12 Common Signs of a generalized anxiety disorder:

• Persistent worrying or obsession that’s out of proportion for the situation
• Performance anxiety at work, school, or sporting events
• Inability stop worrying
• Inability to relax
• Feeling confused, like your mind “is going blank”
• Inability to make decisions for fear it will be the wrong decision
• Carrying every option in a situation all the way out to its possible negative conclusion
• Fatigue and irritability
• Trouble sleeping
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea and diarrhea
• Headaches

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent worry or fear that is out of proportion to the current situation. Symptoms may include restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, and more.

Panic disorder involves sudden and recurrent panic attacks, which cause physical symptoms like rapid heart rate, trembling, and sweating.

Social anxiety disorder is an intense fear or anxiety related to social situations where the person feels embarrassed or judged.

Specific phobias may be classified as anxiety disorders. They are an intense fear response to particular objects or situations such as flying or needles/injections.

Separation anxiety is an excessive fear associated with being away from home or loved ones for an extended period of time.

Before treating anxiety disorder, a general physician will perform physical exams to rule out any underlying medical condition that may cause similar symptoms before confirming an anxiety disorder diagnosis. Treatment for anxiety disorders often involves talk therapy and/or medications such as zoloft, clonazepam, lexapro, or hydroxyzine, to help manage the symptoms. In some cases, lifestyle changes such as finding healthy ways to manage stress and leading a balanced life can be beneficial.

To understand depression and anxiety issues, it is important to know the relative role neurotransmitters and micronutrients play in brain health:

• Serotonin, dopamine, and other key neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that enable brain cells to communicate with each other, and thus allows us to think and act.

• Neurotransmitters have a major impact on mood, focus, concentration, anxiety, obsessions, and mental well being.

• Imbalances such as severe overloads or deficiencies of specific minerals, vitamins, and amino acids can significantly alter neurotransmitter activity and mental health

• Elements like zinc, vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium are essential micronutrients to proper brain health.

• Vitamin B6 and zinc in particular are crucial for the development of your calming neurotransmitters serotonin and GABA.

• Low levels of serotonin and GABA are associated with anxiety disorders and depression

• Elevated or low methyl concentrations can lead to dysregulated thinking as well as extreme anxiety and depression.

Mensah Medical’s protocol is designed to normalize key chemical factors that influence neurotransmitter production and activity. Through testing Mensah Medical’s physicians determine your key biochemical imbalances and use compounded supplementation to restore these markers to their optimal level. By correcting imbalances of essential nutrients in the body, Mensah Medical’s approach is safe, natural, and effective. If you or a loved one is currently on an antidepressant and/or another psychiatric medication, Mensah Medical physicians will work to first restore your chemistry, rebuild your foundation, and then look to work with your physician to slowly decrease your medication.

• If your fears or worries are interfering with your ability to accomplish daily tasks, enjoy life, or get through the day
• Your anxiety is progressing into panic
• Inability to sleep
• Feeling fatigued or tension in your body
• If you’ve experienced stressful or traumatic events

There are a multitude of causes and contributing factors for developing anxiety. 

Risk factors for developing an anxiety disorder can include genetic predisposition, physical and mental health conditions, brain chemistry, personality traits, life experiences such as trauma or abuse, stressful events, and even substance use.

Age can be a risk factor – children may be at higher risk due to their developing brains and ability to cope with new situations; while older adults may experience increased risk due to changing hormone levels that affect mood.

Gender can also be a factor – women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Individuals with low socioeconomic status may have higher rates of anxiety disorders due to factors like poverty, inadequate access to resources, and the effects of racism.

Those who are vegetarian or vegan as these diets tend to be high in copper as well as folates which leads to demethylation.

Anxiety disorders can lead to a variety of physical and emotional complications, making it increasingly difficult to function in everyday life.

Physical complications include headaches, stomach aches, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and dizziness. Other physical complaints, such as digestive issues and frequent infections are also common.

Emotional complications caused by anxiety can result in depression, chronic irritability, avoidance behavior and social isolation. Increased levels of stress have been linked to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions over time.

Prevention of anxiety disorders is possible and may include addressing underlying risk factors, such as stress or substance use, and developing healthy coping skills.

It is also important to recognize the signs of an anxiety disorder in yourself and others in order to seek help early on. Early intervention can reduce the severity of symptoms and make treatment more effective.

Prevention for children includes providing them with a safe environment and positive role models, teaching them healthy communication skills, and building their self-esteem. Teaching children how to cope with stressors from an early age can help them develop resilience when facing future challenges.

Finally, leading a healthy lifestyle may also help prevent anxiety disorders by reducing stress levels through activities such as regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough restful sleep and engaging in relaxation techniques or mindfulness practices.

Diagnosis of an anxiety disorder typically involves a comprehensive evaluation conducted by a mental health professional. The evaluation includes taking a detailed history, as well as physical and psychological assessments. Professionals may also consider the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing an anxiety disorder.

The clinician will also ask questions about symptoms, frequency and severity, family history and relevant personal information. Depending on the type of anxiety disorder being evaluated, the clinician may use additional assessment tools such as questionnaires or rating scales to help in making the diagnosis.

In some cases, laboratory tests such as blood work or imaging scans can be ordered if there is concern for a medical condition causing the symptoms of anxiety.

While lifestyle and home remedies may not cure an anxiety disorder, they can be helpful in managing symptoms.

Relaxation exercises such as deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness and yoga are effective strategies for reducing stress and calming the mind. Regular exercise helps to reduce tension and promote better sleep.

Making time for leisure activities can help to maintain a balance between work, home and social life which reduces stress levels overall. Incorporating healthy eating habits into daily life is also important; this includes avoiding processed foods, caffeine and sugar which can make symptoms worse.

Getting adequate amounts of restful sleep is essential in reducing anxiety; this means having a regular bedtime routine, refraining from using electronics late at night and exercising regularly throughout the day.

Alternative medical approaches to anxiety disorders include therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), energy psychology and hypnotherapy.

CBT involves addressing the thoughts and behaviors that lead to anxiety-causing situations, helping the patient develop healthier coping strategies in order to manage feelings of fear and panic. Energy psychology focuses on unblocking energetic pathways that can be causing physical and emotional pain. Hypnotherapy helps the patient gain a better understanding of their own mind, allowing them to identify root causes for their anxiety and take steps to heal them.

Prior to your first appointment at Mensah Medical, you will be required to complete a new patient intake form as well as a patient history form. These forms must be submitted to Mensah Medical before an appointment can be scheduled. For Outreach Clinic appointments these forms must be submitted one week before the scheduled Outreach. For established patients, prior to your follow up you will be required to complete a progress report. This must be submitted via your Elation Passport at least 72 hours before the appointment.

At Mensah Medical, we run lab work and blood tests to confirm your bio individual needs. If during the appointment the doctors deem it necessary they may order additional testing such as a hair analysis, G.I. Map, SAM/SAH Methylation Profile, or others. The physicians will create an individualized nutrient protocol to address each of the imbalances presented. Treatment and long-term monitoring will be facilitated by the nursing staff, Dr. Mensah, and Dr. Bowman. Formal follow ups on an individual’s progression will be done every six months to ensure biochemical levels and symptoms are responding appropriately.