Published Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002
MERCER COUNTY AREA
Treatment options exist for those who suffer from anxietyBy Erin Remai
Herald Staff Writer
Anxiety disorders can disrupt the lives of both the people who suffer from them and their families and friends. Fortunately, treatment is available.
Dr. Daniel Materna, psychologist with Sharon Regional Health System's Behavioral Health Services, said a lot of his patients suffer from different types of anxiety disorders.
"It can be very traumatic," Materna said. "It can affect other people's lives and their lifestyles."
Materna said most anxiety disorders materialize in teenagers and adults, although children and the elderly can experience anxiety also.
"I've noticed working with people with anxiety problems that more attributes tend to be displayed," Materna said.
"They tend to avoid situations and certain types of feelings. They invest in avoiding feelings of anger. They also tend to focus on needs and feelings of others more than their own."
Anxiety can be genetically predisposed. It can also result from childhood trauma.
"What I've noticed about people with childhood trauma, with a history of child abuse or neglect, often times it is helpful to provide them in treatment with a connection ... basically a person needs nurturing, caring ... we're trying to give them this experience," Materna said.
"It's sometimes necessary, sometimes not, depending on how chronic the problem is."
General symptoms of anxiety include worry or fear something bad will happen, trembling or twitching, fatigue or restlessness, muscle tension, dizziness, rapid heartbeat and breathing, sweating, dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, irritability and impatience, according to an anxiety pamphlet by David Baldwin, Ph.D.
Types of anxiety disorders include:
Fear plays a big role in anxiety disorders.
People can fear leaving home or trauma, but a person who has had a panic attack in the past fears having another one.
A panic attack is a sudden onset of intense fear or apprehension, which is often accompanied by physical symptoms, including shortness of breath or chest pains; a fear of dying or a fear of going crazy.
"It's a complex relationship between what a person fears and their actual physical and psychological response. They fear that too," Materna said.
Anxiety disorders and health problems often go hand-in-hand.
"For someone who is very anxious, their blood pressure is more elevated more often, and they're predisposed to health problems," Materna said.
"The more a person's immune system is aroused, the sooner it's going to wear out."
The key element to treating people with anxiety problems is to make them feel safe, not only in social situations but in life in general, Materna said.
"Anxiety is treatable. It requires more on-going treatment. "With relatively younger people, these symptoms can be alleviated much more quickly, rather than someone living several years with these symptoms," Materna said.
Treatment of anxiety problems may include medication, clinical hypnosis and therapy to alter dysfunctional thoughts and to learn more productive means of behavior.
Materna said anxiety disorders present an important need for psychologists to work in collaboration with a medical doctor. Physical causes for symptoms need to be ruled out, he said.
"A lot of times they go untreated. Anxiety problems can predispose a person to alcohol or drug abuse," Materna said.
"When a patient goes to a doctor complaining of anxiety symptom, the doctor should refer that patient to behavioral health.
"Physicians and psychologists should work hand in hand."
You can e-mail Staff Writer Erin Remai at eremai@sharon-herald.com.