Anxiety

No two people experience anxiety in quite the same way, and symptoms can gradually start to feel normal for a period of time before a person recognizes that there is a problem. 

The signs and symptoms of anxiety will vary depending on the specific type of anxiety disorder a person is suffering from, but they can include: 

• Excessive worry or fear that proves difficult to control most days 

• A lingering sense of restlessness or feeling on edge 

• Difficulty focusing, or having the mind suddenly go blank 

• Irritability that negatively impacts everyday interactions 

• Muscle tension, headaches, or unexplained physical aches 

• Persistent fatigue 

• Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up rested 

• Pounding heart, shortness of breath, sweating, or trembling during moments of heightened fear 

• Sudden waves of intense fear, at times accompanied by a sense of losing control 

• Avoiding people, places, or situations that trigger fear or worry 

As symptoms escalate, they negatively affect a person’s ability to function and their overall quality of life. Once anxiety reaches the level of relentless panic, an inability to leave the house, or a crisis that puts the person’s safety at risk, an inpatient anxiety treatment center like Coastal Pines Behavioral Health in St. Augustine, Florida, can provide the depth of support needed for healing to begin.

Anxiety rarely resolves on its own. When left unaddressed, the fear and avoidance that are cornerstones of anxiety disorders can continually worsen and slowly destroy a person’s life. The consequences of untreated anxiety can be serious and may include: 

• Symptoms that worsen over time: Unaddressed fear and worry often grow, and avoidance can slowly narrow a person’s world until once-routine activities seem impossible to manage. 

• Co-occurring mental health concerns: Anxiety symptoms commonly occur with symptoms of other mental health disorders, like depression and bipolar disorder, which increase a person’s suffering. 

• Substance abuse: It is not uncommon for people who are struggling with anxiety disorders to turn to alcohol or other substances for immediate relief from their distressing symptoms. However, using substances can actually make anxiety symptoms worse and has the potential to develop into an addiction. 

• Toll on physical health: Prolonged anxiety is associated with cardiovascular strain, digestive trouble, a weakened immune system, and chronic tension and pain. 

• Strained relationships: Irritability, withdrawal, and overwhelming feelings of constant worry can strain bonds with family, friends, and colleagues, leaving a person feeling increasingly isolated. 

• Disruption at work and home: Having trouble concentrating, having depleted energy, and skipping obligations can hinder a person’s career progression, create financial pressure, and cause strain in the family. 

When a person receives care at a reputable anxiety disorder treatment center like our Florida hospital, these effects can be lessened or avoided entirely. 

Our inpatient anxiety disorder treatment center delivers structured, round-the-clock care for people who can no longer successfully manage the anxiety disorder symptoms they are experiencing.  

From the moment a patient arrives on our campus in St. Augustine, Florida, they are met with compassion. They complete a thorough intake assessment that allows our team to gather information on their personal background so that we can determine if our treatment center can best meet their needs. The results of that assessment are then used to create an individualized anxiety disorder treatment plan. 

Because anxiety affects everyone differently, a person’s treatment plan will be based on their specific needs, but the various services we offer include: 

• Basic medical care: We are not able to treat complex medical conditions, but our nurses and physicians are available to handle routine medical needs as they come up.  

• Medication management services: For many people, the right prescription medication can play an important role in helping ease anxiety symptoms. Patients can meet with a psychiatrist six times a week to review and adjust their medications if needed. Our nursing staff is on-site and available 24/7 to administer medication and monitor how a person responds to it. 

• Family therapy: There are many times when family involvement can be beneficial to a person’s healing process. When it is determined to be clinically appropriate, master’s-level clinicians lead family therapy sessions that can help patients and their loved ones build stronger communication and give family members a fuller understanding of anxiety and how it has been affecting their loved one. 

• Group therapy: Group therapy sessions are the backbone of anxiety treatment at our St. Augustine hospital, and multiple sessions take place daily. Led by trained professionals, group therapy sessions give patients a chance to learn alongside peers who understand their struggles. Many topics are discussed during group sessions, such as self-esteem, healthy boundaries, coping skills, and the effects of trauma. 

To give patients a well-rounded treatment experience, we draw on a variety of research-backed therapies. The types of therapeutic interventions we use at our anxiety disorder treatment center include: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) 

• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) 

• Motivational interviewing 

• Principles of the 12-Step recovery model (for patients who are suffering from anxiety and a co-occurring addiction) 

Choosing to receive anxiety disorder treatment has a number of advantages, such as: 

• Safety and rapid stabilization: Continuous monitoring by behavioral health staff makes it possible to quickly address severe panic, acute distress, and any safety concerns. Patients are in a safe environment where their needs are consistently met. 

• Distance from everyday pressures: By entering an inpatient treatment setting, people are able to step away from the stresses of everyday life, leaving work, household duties, technology, and other demands aside while they focus on becoming well. 

• Dedicated treatment environment: Everything about our St. Augustine hospital was designed specifically to meet the needs of patients who are struggling with anxiety and other behavioral health concerns. Calming artwork, comfortable patient rooms, and dedicated clinical spaces offer the sense of safety and security people benefit from during their treatment journeys. 

• Consistent time with a psychiatrist: Meeting with a psychiatrist regularly allows for steady oversight and timely medication adjustments. 

• Therapeutic routine: A predictable daily schedule that includes structured time for therapy can help patients move forward in the treatment process more quickly than they likely could in other settings. 

• Early aftercare planning: The healing journey does not end when a person finishes inpatient care. For this reason, discharge planning begins the day a person is admitted to our anxiety disorder treatment center, ensuring that they have a clear plan in place for how to maintain their progress and manage their symptoms once their time with us comes to an end. 

If anxiety has taken hold of your life, the team at Coastal Pines Behavioral Health is here to help you find a renewed sense of hope. Our inpatient anxiety treatment center welcomes people from across northeast Florida and communities in southern Georgia, and our team is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Anxiety doesn’t have to run your life. Contact us today and take control of your future.