anxiety treatment san francisco Archives

Zoloft is an antidepressant drug that can be used to treat several mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It works as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that slows the reabsorption of the chemical messenger serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is believed to help regulate mood and anxiety. Speak to a licensed doctor to get anxiety treatment from EzCare Medical Clinic in San Francisco.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal occurrence in everyone’s life. It is characterized by the feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease about a forthcoming event that can’t be controlled or of uncertain outcome. Occasional anxiety isn’t something serious. Unfortunately, some individuals have excessive or prolonged bouts of anxiety that that may include a compulsive behavior or panic attacks that are disruptive to everyday living. When the tension reaches this level, an evaluation for an anxiety disorder should be sought.

Anxiety disorder is a group of mental disturbances characterized by anxiety as a central or core symptom. Typically, the following conditions are included as forms of an anxiety disorder:

Panic disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Stress or PTSD
Specific phobias
Generalized anxiety disorder

How to take Zoloft

Approved by the FDA in 2003, Zoloft is the only medication that has been approved for long-term use. The dosage prescribed will depend on the age of the patient and the medical condition being treated. Depending on how well a patient responds to treatment, the physician may reduce or increase the dosage.

In most patients, the full effects of Zoloft are not noticeable for six to eight weeks, but it can vary. Prescriptions are written either for a liquid or tablet form depending on the age and preference of the patient. While the liquid form of Zoloft must be combined with a half cup of water, ginger ale, soda, lemonade or orange juice, the tablet form should not be altered or crushed.

Patients should continue taking Zoloft for as long as the doctor instructs, even if they begin to feel better. Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, tremors, lightheadedness, muscle pains, weakness, insomnia, and anxiety can occur if you abruptly stop taking this medication.

Side Effects of Zoloft

Diarrhea
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Dyspepsia
Fatigue
Insomnia
Loose stools
Nausea
Tremor
Headache
Paresthesia
Anorexia
Decreased libido
Delayed ejaculation
Diaphoresis
Ejaculation failure
Xerostomia

When patients first start Zoloft, or when the dosage is changed patients should watch for more severe side effects such as agitation, nervousness, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, tremors, seizures, persistent vomiting or nausea, severe abdominal pain, changes in urine or stools, or yellowing of the eyes or skin. If any of these are experienced, report them immediately to the doctor. It is also important to contact your physician if symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as trouble breathing, severe dizziness, swelling, itching, or a skin rash are experienced.

While the risk of a fatal overdose of Zoloft is low, patients or loved ones should know the signs. Symptoms of an overdose include dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, increased or slow heart rate, and coma.

Zoloft prescription in San Francisco

Individuals who are concerned about how they deal with anxiety may find an anxiety self-assessment helpful to help determine if they need to seek professional treatment. While this self-assessment is in no way a replacement for mental health consultation, it can be helpful in recognizing issues that are related to anxiety.

With the self-assessment in hand, individuals in San Francisco should make an appointment with their anxiety doctor or another healthcare provider. EZCare Clinic is a full-service medical practice dedicated to treating the whole patient. With a full range of doctors, clinicians, therapists, and counselors, we can assist you from diagnosis to recovery and every step in between.

During your initial consultation, your healthcare team will assess your overall health and discuss any possible medical conditions that may be a contributing factor in anxiety. Once completed, your physician will determine the type of treatment needed and write any prescriptions required. During the consultation, your doctor may also recommend therapy services for anxiety.

While some people do not understand the value of therapy, many who’ve used this service learn a great deal about how to combat the overwhelming feelings associated with an anxiety disorder. Therapists can work with individuals alone, or sometimes, they may recommend a group setting in which effective coping techniques can be taught.

Anxiety help in San Francisco

Having an anxiety disorder is frustrating enough; not getting help only makes it worse. Take time to begin the process of getting better. Medications like Zoloft are designed to get you back to your normal self by curbing the feelings of fear and panic that can sometimes weigh us down.

EZCare Clinic is open Monday through Sunday, from 11 am to 7 pm. You can schedule appointments online, or call us at (415) 966-0848. Walk-ins are always welcome.

Signs of Anxiety

It can be hard to know if you suffer from anxiety. So many things in our lives can prevent us from being properly diagnosed, whether it’s the belief that we’re fine, being used to the symptoms associated or being hesitant to seek any sort of help. EzCare Clinic can help you regain control from your anxiety with a variety of options for recovery. It can be overwhelming living with anxiety, but assistance from others who know how to treat it can be a great help. Having anxiety can be a strange and uncomfortable thing, but knowing the signs and symptoms of anxiety can help you better understand what you have and how to treat it.

What Are the Symptoms of Anxiety?

There are a variety of different anxiety symptoms. Due to possible overlap and similarities among traits, it is not unlikely for someone to have more than a few of these at a time.

1. Restlessness

While common in children and teens who have anxiety, adults can also suffer from restlessness. It’s not a definitive sign of anxiety, but it does count as a common symptom. If you find yourself being restless, it means you do not want to be still much of the time; this can include having feelings of needing to be in constant movement.

2. Irrational Fear

If you find yourself stressed out because of anxiety, it’s possible that you can develop irrational fear, or that the irrational fear is part of what makes you stressed. What makes irrational fear different from, say, traditional fear, is that you can find yourself in fear of things that, usually, do not cause the same level of concern in others. While these fears can be phobia specific, they can also be more general. Some fears might be associated with other symptoms, such as the fear of one’s next panic attack or that someone is out to get them.

3. Fatigue/Tiredness

Being tired may not be as strongly associated with anxiety as other symptoms, but it definitely counts as one. Someone with anxiety can suffer from fatigue regularly; it can be the result of another symptom, as well. Fatigue alone cannot classify someone as having anxiety, and it is doubtful that this fatigue alone would have someone claim they have anxiety.

4. Insomnia

It should be no surprise that having trouble sleeping is a well-known symptom related to anxiety. Being restless and fearful all the time can keep you up, and you might find yourself developing insomnia. This can get in the way of your daily activities as well, which can cause your work or relationships to suffer. If you had insomnia as a child, your risk for anxiety could be higher.

5. Worry

Being worried is nothing new, and is a very normal part of our lives. That said, if you have anxiety, you might find yourself worrying more extremely than most. Things that you could ignore or would not usually bother you are now causing you to be overly concerned. Excessive worry is a significant sign of anxiety, so consult a medical professional if you feel it is interfering with your daily life.

6. Lack of Concentration

You can have trouble concentrating on things if your mind is all over the place and your body is acting stressed or fidgety. Combined with other possible symptoms, one’s concentration will suffer and result in disruption of their daily lives. This lack of concentration can also result in other symptoms, as well, such as agitation and restlessness.

7. Panic Attacks

Sometimes known as anxiety attacks, this is when your heart starts to race, and your palms start to sweat in an irregular matter. Your body goes into a fight-or-flight state, even if there’s no actual danger present; like having irrational fear, much of the cause for a panic attack is mental. While the length of a panic attack can last for several minutes, it ultimately varies.

8. Agitation

If you have a combination of concern, attacks, fatigue, and restlessness, you are likely to become agitated. This means you can get easily frustrated, overwhelmed, and uneasy, all of which can be the result of anxiety.

9. Paranoia

Anxiety can also lead to you being paranoid, which can lead to irrational fear and panic attacks, as well as paranoia about another attack. Paranoia can also relate to you being excessively worried about others in your life, whether harm will come to them, or that someone is out to get you and your loved ones.

10. Sickness

All of the previously mentioned signs and symptoms of anxiety can also lead to one feeling physically ill. This can mean to you having a headache or an ill stomach, or just feeling generally low on energy.

What Are the Different Types of Anxiety?

Along with the signs associated with anxiety, there also exist different types of anxiety disorders. Your unique circumstances and situations will determine the disorder type you have; some of these are more common than others.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

The most common of anxiety disorders, this is what people tend to refer to when they talk about having anxiety. Having generalized anxiety disorder means having the most common of signs, such as paranoia, frustration, worry, and fear.

Panic Disorder

This is when panic/anxiety attacks are your prime source of anxiety; physical symptoms include increased heartbeat, intense sweating, trembling, and shortness of breath. Having a panic disorder means being in fear of the next attack and avoiding places and events that could induce an attack. All of this can make the person more resistant to engagement, and may even prevent them from seeking proper help.

Agoraphobia

One of the most common anxiety disorders and phobias, agoraphobia is also well-known as social anxiety disorder. Agoraphobia is when crowds and public spaces cause anxiety, and it’s something you might try to avoid at all costs. This can include a party full of people or public transportation, where there is a lot of foot traffic. There’s also the fear of embarrassment and entrapment that can contribute to the phobia.

Phobia Specific

This is when a very specific thing causes your anxiety. While agoraphobia relates to social environments, some phobias are even more specific than that, such as a fear of snakes, spiders, flying, and of course, clowns. Unsurprisingly, an anxiety attack can occur from encountering something one has a phobia for.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

The fear of losing someone close to you, not wanting to be apart from someone, and extreme concern for what may happen to someone if you are not with them are all related to separation anxiety disorder. While more common in young children, adults are not immune to having this specific disorder.

Where Can I Get Treatment for Anxiety?

If you suffer from any of the mentioned signs or symptoms for over six months, you should get in touch with a medical professional. EzCare Clinic will be able to help you find the best recovery options suited to your unique needs, with the assistance of our certified and licensed physicians. You can make an appointment by calling us at (415) 966-0848 or visiting our webpage. Rid yourself of anxiety and make your appointment today!

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