Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital, an affiliate of Fairview Health Services, offers comprehensive, personalized treatment for adults age 18 and older and seniors who are suffering from anxiety. Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, we provide treatment that is designed to help you regain control and discover lasting peace of mind.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety goes beyond occasional nervousness or natural concern about life stressors. An anxiety disorder involves persistent, excessive worry or fear that significantly disrupts daily functioning. These intense feelings may be generalized or linked to specific triggers, including personal, professional, or medical concerns.
Below are some of the most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorders we treat at our St. Paul anxiety treatment center.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder occurs when a person has excessive worry or anxiety about multiple aspects of life most days for at least six months. This persistent worry is difficult to control and often accompanies symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, concentration difficulties, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder involves intense fears about being judged, embarrassed, or rejected in social situations. This fear can lead people to avoid social interactions entirely or endure them with significant distress, often interfering with work, relationships, and daily activities.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks that occur suddenly and include symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and dizziness. This disorder can create a cycle in which worrying about future attacks intensifies the symptoms of underlying anxiety.
Specific Phobias
A phobia is an intense, persistent fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that is disproportionate to any actual danger. People who have phobias often go to great lengths to avoid their feared trigger, even when this avoidance significantly disrupts their daily life.
Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety presents varied symptoms from person to person. However, people who have anxiety commonly experience persistent, excessive worry; restlessness; and fatigue.
Specifically, symptoms of anxiety may include:
- Persistent worry or fear that may or may not be related to specific stressors
- Restlessness, fidgeting, or pacing
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
- Trouble speaking or communicating effectively
- Increased irritability
- Insomnia or restless sleep
- Avoidance of situations or places that may trigger anxiety
- Intrusive thoughts or feelings of detachment
- Panic attacks, characterized by rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath
Additionally, anxiety can lead to numerous physical symptoms, including:
- Muscle tension, often in the neck or shoulders
- Headaches or muscle aches
- Dizziness, nausea, or body chills
When stress and worry begin to take over your life, it may be time to seek professional anxiety treatment. The professionals at Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital can help you learn how to manage anxiety symptoms and regain control of your daily life.
Anxiety Causes & Risk Factors
Anxiety is a complex condition that can develop due to various factors. Understanding the underlying causes of anxiety is helpful for effective symptom management and healing. Here are some risk factors that may increase someone’s chances of developing anxiety:
- A family history of anxiety or other mental health disorders
- Chemical imbalances in brain regions that regulate mood
- Stressful life events, such as trauma, abuse, or major life transitions
- Chronic stress from work, relationships, or financial pressures
- Chronic medical conditions or hormonal changes
Additionally, the use of substances like alcohol, drugs, and caffeine can worsen anxiety symptoms.
We understand the complexities of anxiety disorders and recognize that anxiety treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Our team is prepared to create a personalized plan that meets your specific needs.
Potential Effects of Untreated Anxiety
When left untreated, anxiety can become overwhelming and impact every area of your life. It can damage relationships, impair work or academic performance, and lead to chronic physical health problems.
Potential effects of untreated anxiety include:
- Impaired relationships and work productivity
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- Chronic stress and physical health conditions
- Substance use disorders
- Reduced quality of life
- Worsening of symptoms or development of additional mental health concerns
- Social isolation
Taking the first step toward professional help can feel challenging, but early intervention significantly improves outcomes and helps prevent more serious consequences.
Anxiety Statistics
Living with anxiety can feel isolating and overwhelming. It’s important to know that you are not alone in this struggle. According to the World Health Organization:
- Anxiety is among the world’s most common mental health disorders, affecting 301 million people in 2019 alone.
- Although highly effective anxiety treatment services are available, only about 1 in 4 people in need receive any treatment.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety affects more than 19% of U.S. adults each year. Anxiety is reaching epidemic proportions, yet many people who have anxiety continue to struggle without the help and support they need.
Debunking Common Myths About Anxiety
Popular understanding of anxiety is evolving in positive ways. However, misconceptions about what anxiety looks like and how to manage symptoms continue to persist. These misconceptions can reinforce harmful stigmas that may prevent people who have anxiety from seeking professional treatment.
Here are some common myths about anxiety, and the truths behind them:
Myth: Anxiety is just nerves.
Truth: Everyone experiences nerves occasionally, but anxiety disorders go far beyond nervousness. They are serious medical conditions that stem from complex factors and can significantly affect daily functioning.
Myth: Anxiety is all in your head.
Truth: Anxiety involves both mental and physical components. Untreated anxiety can lead to physical symptoms like gastrointestinal problems, muscle tension, chronic pain, and sleep disturbances.
Myth: You just need to stop worrying so much.
Truth: People who have anxiety cannot simply “turn off” their symptoms. Anxiety is an involuntary condition linked to brain chemistry, past experiences, and other factors, and it often requires therapy, targeted coping strategies, and sometimes medication to manage symptoms effectively.
Myth: Everyone feels stressed occasionally. You just need to deal with it.
Truth: While everyday stress is normal, anxiety goes beyond typical stress responses. It may cause ongoing distress, physical symptoms, and major impacts on daily life that require more than willpower to manage effectively.
Why Seek Anxiety Treatment?
No one should have to navigate anxiety alone. Seeking treatment for anxiety is not a sign of weakness. It’s a courageous and critical first step toward healing. Receiving professional anxiety treatment can be life-changing and help you regain a sense of purpose and stability.
Potential benefits of receiving anxiety treatment include:
- Significantly reducing your symptoms
- Gaining knowledge about anxiety disorders
- Learning effective ways to cope with stress and manage your emotions
- Improving your overall quality of life
- Strengthening your relationships with friends and family
- Increasing your self-awareness and confidence
- Enhancing your physical health
- Receiving support from qualified mental health professionals
- Engaging with peers who understand your journey
Healing is possible, and our team of experts is here to help you every step of the way.
Why Choose Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital for Anxiety Treatment?
Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital is proud to serve our community as a trusted provider of high-quality anxiety treatment. We offer a range of services to meet you wherever you are on your healing journey.
When you choose Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital for anxiety treatment, you benefit from:
- A personalized plan that is designed to match your unique needs
- Therapies delivered by licensed professionals who have extensive experience treating anxiety disorders
- A multidisciplinary team that may include psychiatrists, master’s-level therapists, certified registered nurses and nurse practitioners, case managers, and support staff
- Discharge planning that connects you with appropriate follow-up care and community resources for sustained healing
- A safe healing environment where you are treated with dignity and respect
When you’re struggling with an anxiety disorder, finding the right treatment center can feel like one more obstacle. We understand how difficult it can be to ask for help. But you don’t have to face anxiety alone. If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, please reach out to Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital today. Our admissions team is available to answer your questions, explain your options, and help you determine the level of anxiety treatment that’s right for you.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital, an affiliate of Fairview Health Services.
