Columbus, OH - SUN Behavioral Health Columbus, a local rehab facility, recently published a blog post educating the public on what somatic anxiety is. Somatic anxiety is a type of anxiety that refers to when anxiety symptoms manifest physically. The word “somatic” means “relating to the body,” and someone with this disorder will experience anxiety symptoms manifesting as physical conditions. These conditions could include migraines or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The body creates these conditions to indicate that something is wrong and treatment is required. People with this condition may regularly consult their doctor, or they may avoid their doctor out of fear that it will be a more severe condition.
“All forms of anxiety can have symptoms. Typically, those symptoms are restlessness, excessive worry, irritability, or stomachaches. These symptoms often interfere with the person’s daily life, making work, school, and relationships challenging. These don’t usually develop into physical, diagnosable conditions beyond an anxiety disorder. This is where somatic anxiety becomes different. During somatic anxiety, the body forms diagnosable conditions that require medical treatment to reverse. When other types of anxiety go away, so do the physical symptoms. With somatic anxiety, this is not always the case. Often, people will need their physical conditions treated alongside their anxiety,” the blog post states.
There are several causes as to why somatic anxiety might develop. These causes can include untreated generalized anxiety, a constant worry about one’s health, childhood trauma, lack of awareness of emotional development during childhood, or a parent who has the condition. During the pandemic, many healthcare workers were experiencing somatic anxiety symptoms as they were constantly concerned for their physical health while being exposed to a virus that they watched many patients die from. During the pandemic, healthcare workers were continually being tested for symptoms and the virus, which may have increased their anxiety symptoms, eventually leading to somatic anxiety. This experience can be true for even people not in the healthcare field, as constant concerns about one’s health can lead to stress-related physical conditions.
Someone with somatic anxiety will have many signs and symptoms, such as physical symptoms of pain, fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath. They may be related to a medical condition, or they might not have a clear cause. It can also come with psychological symptoms as well. These include extreme anxiety about physical symptoms, extreme worry that symptoms are a sign of a severe condition, visiting their healthcare provider for tests and exams, believing that their healthcare provider doesn’t take their symptoms seriously, and spending their time and energy focused on their health concerns. If this condition is left untreated, it will worsen with time, leading to poor health and difficulty functioning. It could result in a physical disability, unemployment, relationship, or financial concerns. Additional mental health conditions, such as depression and suicidal thoughts, are possible. If someone is experiencing these thoughts, they should go to a 24/7 crisis care as soon as possible.
“The most effective way to treat and manage somatic anxiety is with proper treatment for both the anxiety and the physical symptoms. This often involves remaining physically active, learning stress management and relaxation, and avoiding alcohol and substances. It also involves working with your healthcare providers as they provide treatment for both the physical and anxiety symptoms. Anxiety treatment requires therapy, medications, or a combination of both,” the blog post continues.
SUN Behavioral Health Columbus solves unmet needs in Columbus. They offer 24/7 crisis care, ensuring people receive life-saving stabilization regardless of the day or time. In addition to this, they provide no-cost care assessments that allow potential patients to work with a counselor. They will consider the patient’s goals and doctor’s recommendations to design the best care plan for that individual. They also partner with Janus Pharmacy to ensure patients can continue taking their medications after treatment.
For more information, visit their website today or call them at 614-706-2786. SUN Behavioral Health solves unmet needs.
###
For more information about SUN Behavioral Columbus, contact the company here:
SUN Behavioral Columbus
Chris Nemeth
614-953-521
info@sunbehavioral.com
900 E Dublin Granville Rd
Columbus, Ohio 43229
