Costa Mesa may be beautiful but that doesn’t mean it’s paradise for everyone. It’s estimated that nearly 20% of adults in Orange County suffer from mental, emotional, or addiction issues. One of the most prominent issues many struggle with today is anxiety. In this article, we’ll explain what to do if you suffer from anxiety and the importance of anxiety treatment in Costa Mesa.
What is Anxiety?
Everyone feels anxious now and then because it’s a normal human emotion. Anxiety is a feeling of unease. It’s an uncomfortable, but sometimes necessary, emotion meant to tell you something is wrong. It’s your brain saying that there’s something you need to change or do differently right now. Often it is a certain person, place, or thing that triggers anxiousness.
However, sometimes the brain fails to properly regulate emotions like anxiety. This is when we cross into the realm of clinical anxiety.
Clinical anxiety refers to a range of conditions that go beyond everyday anxiety and worry. It’s characterized by excessive and persistent fear, worry, and related behavioral disturbances that are severe enough to interfere with daily activities and functioning. Unlike the occasional anxiety experienced by most people, clinical anxiety is more persistent and excessive, often occurring most days for six months or more.
There are different types of clinical anxiety disorders, such as:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Characterized by chronic and exaggerated worry and tension. There is often no specific cause or trigger.
- Panic Disorder: Marked by recurrent panic attacks that feature sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): Characterized by significant anxiety and discomfort in social situations. SAD is driven by a fear of being judged or embarrassed.
- Specific Phobias: Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations. Common phobias include heights, spiders, or flying.
- Agoraphobia: Fear of being in places where escape might be difficult. This leads to avoidance of these places.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder: Excessive fear of separation from home or attachment figures.
- Selective Mutism: A complex childhood anxiety disorder characterized by the inability to speak in certain social situations.
Clinical anxiety can greatly interfere with and diminish one’s quality of life. It’s often necessary for those who suffer from anxiety disorders to seek anxiety treatment in Costa Mesa, CA. A treatment facility like South Coast Behavioral Health can help you overcome anxiety once and for all.
How Do You Know You Have Anxiety in Costa Mesa, CA?
If you think you’re suffering from anxiety, there are various symptoms to look out for.
Psychological symptoms of someone in Costa Mesa, CA with anxiety include:
- Persistent Worry or Fear: Excessive worry about various topics, events, or activities, which is difficult to control.
- Feeling Agitated: A sense of restlessness or being ‘on edge’ without a clear reason.
- Irritability: Increased irritability or easier to upset than usual.
- Concentration Difficulties: Trouble focusing on tasks or experiencing racing thoughts.
- Feeling of Impending Doom: An irrational fear that something bad is going to happen.
- Avoidance Behavior: Avoiding situations or places that trigger anxiety.
Clinical anxiety also has a variety of physical symptoms. These include:
- Increased Heart Rate: Heart palpitations or a feeling that your heart is racing. This can lead to panic attacks.
- Trembling or Shaking: Noticeable shaking or trembling.
- Sweating: Sweating more than usual. This is not related to physical exertion or temperature.
- Fatigue: Feeling tired all the time or experiencing a significant lack of energy.
- Trouble Sleeping: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing unrestful sleep.
- Gastrointestinal Problems: Issues like nausea, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be linked to anxiety.
Everyone experiences anxiety differently. Having some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have an anxiety disorder. However, if these symptoms are persistent, significantly affect your daily life, and cause distress, it might be time to seek anxiety treatment in Costa Mesa, CA.
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Call 866-881-1184What Does an Anxiety Therapist in Costa Mesa, CA Do?
An anxiety therapist in Costa Mesa, CA is a mental health professional. It’s often a mental health therapist in Orange County who specializes in diagnosing and treating anxiety disorders. This person may come from various backgrounds and hold different credentials, each bringing their unique approach to therapy.
Anxiety treatment in Costa Mesa is done by a professional. These are therapists and doctors who specialize in mental health. Psychiatrists in Costa Mesa can diagnose anxiety disorders, provide therapy, and prescribe medications. They have completed medical school, psychiatric residency, and sometimes fellowship training in specific areas of mental health.
Anxiety treatment in Costa Mesa is done through a mix of therapy and medication. One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on identifying, challenging, and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. While therapy addresses the underlying root causes, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and beta-blockers can be prescribed to help manage symptoms.
What Is Anxiety Treatment in Costa Mesa, CA Like?
Anxiety treatment in Costa Mesa is diverse and can tailored to your specific needs and symptoms. Treatment can take place in various settings, including private practices, clinics, hospitals, or community mental health centers, and can involve a combination of therapeutic approaches, medication management, lifestyle changes, and support systems.
Depending on your needs, you might receive anxiety therapy in a group or individual setting.
The types of therapies that may be used in treating your anxiety in Costa Mesa may include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is one of the most effective and commonly used therapies for treating anxiety. It focuses on identifying, understanding, and changing thinking and behavior patterns.
- Exposure Therapy: Often used for phobias and social anxiety disorder, exposure therapy involves gradual, controlled exposure to the source of fear in a safe and supportive environment.
- Medication: While not a therapy per se, medication is a crucial aspect of treatment for some individuals. Psychiatrists in Costa Mesa can prescribe medications such as SSRIs, SNRIs, benzodiazepines, or beta-blockers to help manage symptoms of anxiety.
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): This therapy emphasizes mindfulness meditation as a way to help people better understand and manage their thoughts and emotions.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT is effective for treating anxiety, focusing on teaching skills in distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Lifestyle and Holistic Approaches: Encouraging regular exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and practices like yoga and meditation can also support anxiety treatment.
Treatment plans are often multidisciplinary and can include a combination of these therapies based on what works best for the individual. Many Orange County, CA anxiety treatment centers are equipped to offer a range of these services, ensuring that individuals can find the treatment that best suits their needs.
Looking for quality substance abuse treatment that’s also affordable? South Coast accepts most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now.
Check Your CoverageChoosing the Right Anxiety Counseling in Costa Mesa, CA
Choosing the right anxiety therapist in Costa Mesa, CA involves finding someone with a specialization in anxiety, backed by ample experience. It’s crucial that their therapeutic approach, whether it’s Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, or another evidence-based method, aligns with your preferences and beliefs.
Ensure the therapist is licensed and keeps up with current practices through ongoing education. The therapeutic relationship is key, so feeling comfortable and understood by your therapist is essential. Consider practicalities like location, scheduling compatibility, and whether they accept your insurance or offer adjustable payment options.
Many therapists offer a free initial consultation, giving you a chance to gauge compatibility. Remember, it’s okay to switch therapists if you don’t feel the connection is right, as finding the best match can significantly impact your therapy’s success.
Mental Health Treatment Options at South Coast Behavioral Health
If you or a loved one are seeking treatment for addiction, South Coast Behavioral Health is here to help. The first step in treating addiction is a medical detox. This means using drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Our medical detox program in California features caring and compassionate professionals who can provide you with medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms.
At South Coast, we take pride in offering care that is closely tailored to specific issues. To that end, we offer gender-specific detox programs, with medical detox for men in Irvine, CA, and medical detox for women in Huntington Beach, CA.
After detoxing, proper treatment can begin.
Treatment for substance abuse takes place along an entire spectrum of care. Along that entire spectrum are various behavioral therapies, support groups, and the use of medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
These levels of treatment are, in order, as follows:
Residential Treatment in California
After successfully completing medical detox, you’ll receive inpatient treatment in Orange County California. There, you’ll receive medically-assisted treatment and dual diagnosis treatment to deal with any cravings or co-occurring mental health issues you may be battling.
We also offer residential treatment facilities in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Huntington Beach for those who desire gender-specific treatment. There, patients get round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring while living at the institution full-time.
In addition to individual and group counseling and medication management, you’ll also have access to leisure activities and family support services.
Partial Hospitalization in California
Most clients start substance abuse treatment with South Coast in our residential treatment program. After completing that, many desire something that still provides structure and support, but with extra space and time to oneself. For that, we offer Partial Hospitalization in Newport Beach.
A step down from inpatient care but with more structure than conventional outpatient programs, partial hospitalization offers a good balance for those looking to ease back into normal life. Clients can receive care five to seven days a week for a number of hours each day, returning back to their homes in the evening.
This way, they can recover without putting their daily lives completely on hold, receiving intense therapeutic interventions like group and individual therapy, skill development, and medication management as necessary.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment in California
For those leaving inpatient residential treatment or partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are yet another gradual step forward on the road to recovery.
With a focus on group therapy, individual counseling, and education, clients undergoing Intensive Outpatient Treatment in Newport Beach can meet three to five days a week. Each session lasts three hours.
This level of care requires the least amount of attendance at a facility.
Start Today
If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety in Costa Mesa, CA but have questions about anxiety treatment, call us at 866-881-1184 or contact us here. Our qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea of what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline. We can also help verify your insurance and assist with any other questions you may have.
