Anxiety and depression are so common that it’s hard to know when they’re a temporary response to life’s normal challenges or they’re serious enough to warrant medical attention. Dr. William T. Boulware and Dr. Robert J. Boulware at Boulware Medical Clinic in Liberty, Missouri encourage you to contact them any time anxiety or depression interferes with your daily life. In addition to the impact on your mental health, these conditions also affect your physical health.
Anxiety develops as you anticipate something that feels like a threat. For example, you may be anxious about your first date or your first day on the job, but then your anxiety subsides once the “threat” has passed.
As anxiety persists and becomes overwhelming, people can’t control their apprehension. They may avoid the situation that triggers anxiety or feel paralyzed by fear. When your anxiety interferes with your daily life, whether relationships with family and friends or activities, it’s time to seek professional attention.
Anxiety disorders cause emotional and physical symptoms. In addition to feeling apprehensive, you may feel tense, jumpy, irritable, or filled with dread. Physical symptoms triggered by anxiety include sweating, an upset stomach, a pounding heart, shortness of breath, and frequent urination. Severe anxiety may also cause insomnia or a panic attack.
Everyone knows what it’s like to occasionally feel down and depressed. The classic symptoms of depression include:
When you feel depressed on any level, please consider contacting Dr. Boulware for professional advice. Like any other health condition, early treatment is more effective and can prevent depression from progressing to become a more serious, potentially life-threatening condition.
If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, please seek help immediately at your local emergency department.
Anxiety and depression are treated with psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and medication because an imbalance in brain chemicals plays a role in both disorders. As medication is used to restore brain chemicals back to normal, depression lifts and anxiety is diminished.
Dr. Boulware may prescribe one or more medications, depending on your personal needs. Some of the most commonly used antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, work by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain.
Antidepressants are sometimes used to relieve anxiety. Tranquilizers are also prescribed to treat anxiety, as well as beta blockers, which help block the stress hormone norepinephrine.
At Boulware Medical Clinic, we accept most major insurance plans. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed here. We do not accept insurance for cosmetic procedures at Beautification by Boulware
