Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their lives, however anxiety disorders can take a toll on your physical and mental health, so seeking for help and learning how to manage them is essential.
Most people have felt anxious before an interview, when giving a presentation, taking an exam, stress at work, or ongoing worries about your financial situation. However, anxiety can become much more intense and overwhelming than the examples mentioned above. Anxiety is the feeling of uneasiness, worry or fear. Many people with anxiety don’t even realize they have it. For some people, anxiety can be short-lived and dissipates quickly. But for others, it may be more persistent and last longer.
Anxiety symptoms can present differently in each person. They can involve physical, psychological, and/or behavioral changes. Physical anxiety symptoms include chest tightness, increased heart rate, fatigue, muscle tension and sweating. Psychological anxiety symptoms may manifest as fear, sadness, rumination about worries or negative thoughts that seem out of control. Behavioral anxiety symptoms can take the form of social withdrawal, need for frequent reassurance or avoiding certain situations.
Anxiety disorder treatment depends on the type of disorder present as well as its severity. Treating anxiety can be a long and challenging journey but staying committed to the process can really pay off. Treatment typically includes psychotherapy and medication. Some types of therapy used to treat anxiety disorders include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is one of the most common anxiety treatments, as it helps an individual recognize and change negative thinking patterns to reduce anxiety. Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is another popular anxiety treatment approach, which works by helping individuals become more aware of their emotions and alter maladaptive behaviors that can be linked to anxiety. Compassion-focused therapy has been gaining ground lately because it offers a gentle and warm approach to anxiety treatment by focusing on developing self-compassion and understanding rather than challenging.
For example, when working with the CBT framework, first is important to identify those automatic thoughts (or “hot thoughts”) that occur and what kind of distortion these thoughts have. Emotions and behaviors connected to these thoughts become involved in the process. Little by little in the process the idea is to challenge these thoughts and incorporate healthier ones.
Medications used to treat anxiety can include antidepressants, beta blockers and others. In addition to talking therapies, lifestyle adjustments such as regular exercise, healthy eating habits, relaxation practice and sleeping patterns can have significant positive impacts on reducing symptoms related to anxiety.
If you or someone you know suffers from an anxiety disorder (or think they may suffer from one), please don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Gaining an understanding of the signs, symptoms and treatments associated with anxiety is essential. If untreated, anxiety symptoms can get worse over time and impact a person’s quality of life.
Everybody deserves respect and compassion when it comes to how they feel, so don’t hesitate to seek for help if you think it will benefit your wellbeing!