Feeling anxious since the pandemic? Dr. Nicole Siegfried, PhD, CEDS, Chief Clinical Officer of Lightfully Behavioral Health spoke with ABC7 Eyewitness News KABC about symptoms of anxiety and a new study suggesting the benefits of anxiety screenings for adults under 65.
Earlier this month, a panel of medical experts on the US Preventative Services Task Force recommended that ALL adults under 65 get screened for anxiety. Dr. Siegfried explains that this screening is so important because anxiety is a natural reaction. For example, people can experience anxiety before a test. Anxiety can be broadly defined as a feeling of unease or worry. It is a normal emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their life. However, for some people, anxiety can become more than just an occasional feeling and can start to interfere with daily life.
For many individuals, anxiety can bring suffering. It may even bring severe panic attacks. However, without screening, it can be hard to see anxiety in others because people put on a brave face. According to Dr. Siegfried, screening asks what’s going on behind the brave face. Symptoms may be more internal, with patients having issues with racing thoughts, constant worrying, irritability, trouble breathing, or being on edge.