Anxiety

An uncontrolled anxiety disorder can make you feel isolated and increase your risk for depression. At Helix Neuropsychiatric Center, high-quality care and support aid children and adults who experience chronic anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias. Double board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist and developmental neuroscientist Gil Hoftman, MD, PhD, has extensive experience helping people understand their anxiety disorder so they can take back control of their lives. Dr. Hoftman uses psychotherapy, medications, and other strategies to ease persistent worries and improve your brain health. Call the El Segundo, California, office to schedule an anxiety evaluation, or book a consultation online today.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal response to danger. We all have our own built-in threat detection system to keep us safe. However, pathological anxiety causes persistent feelings of uneasiness or fear, even when there’s no threat to your safety. While some amount of anxiety is a natural response to stressful situations, chronic anxiety can be a symptom of an anxiety disorder such as:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

GAD causes excessive worry about everyday issues, including health, finances, and family matters. Fearful feelings tend to occur daily and last for six months or longer.

Panic disorder

A panic disorder causes intense attacks of fear or dread when no danger is present. Panic attacks come on suddenly and last for several minutes before the fear subsides. The intensity of the attack can create additional anxiety about having another one.

Phobia

A phobia is an intense fear of objects or events that pose little risk to a person’s health, such as insects, airplane travel, or large crowds.

Helix Neuropsychiatric Center provides comprehensive, compassionate anxiety care for adults and children, including patient-centric screenings and customized treatment plans.

Dr. Hoftman emphasizes education to help people understand their anxiety diagnosis. He listens to your symptoms and the impact of anxiety on your life as he designs your treatment plan.

How is anxiety diagnosed?

Helix Neuropsychiatric Center offers anxiety evaluations in a safe, nonjudgmental space for adults and children who experience:

• Persistent worries
• Intrusive thoughts
• Intense fears
• Depression
• Recurrent panic attacks
• Sleep disruptions

An anxiety disorder can also cause physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

Dr. Hoftman completes a medical exam to rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms. He also asks questions to evaluate your mental and emotional health and assess the severity of your symptoms.

How is anxiety treated?

Helix Neuropsychiatric Center offers therapeutic resources to help children and adults manage existing anxiety symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. 

Effective treatments for anxiety include:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy helps you recognize intrusive thoughts and negative behaviors so you can change how you react to stressful circumstances.

Medications

Anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications help stabilize chemicals in the brain that play a role in anxiety and panic.

Lifestyle changes that support your mental and emotional well-being, such as avoiding caffeine, eating a healthy diet, and getting good quality sleep each night, can also prevent anxiety.

Call Helix Neuropsychiatric Center to schedule an anxiety assessment for yourself or your child. You can also use the online feature to book an appointment today.