Nearly everyone experiences anxiety right before a big presentation or surrounding an important, life-changing decision. Though these feelings can cause physical reactions like sweating, trembling limbs, and increased heart rate, for most people, symptoms pass once the anxiety-inducing event is over. If you fit this description, you probably do not need anxiety treatment.
Some people struggle with anxiety on a more consistent basis with different unique symptoms. Many medications that temporarily alleviate anxiety cause social and occupational impairments over time. Taking medications like opioids and benzodiazepines will cause sedation, but it will not help you overcome the issues causing the anxiety in the first place.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety disorder is a mental health issue usually characterized by consistent feelings of nervousness, fear, or worry. This disorder is the most typical mental illness in the country, with around 40 million people over the age of 18 currently diagnosed. There are multiple different types of anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Phobias
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Each specific condition affects different people, but anxiety disorders generally affect almost 20% of the population. Most anxiety disorders are extremely treatable and can be easily managed by therapy, medication, or other alternative methods. However, only less than 40% of those living with anxiety receive treatment for their symptoms.
Living with Mental Health Disorders: How to Manage Anxiety
Living with anxiety can be difficult, even if you manage your disorder with treatments. The symptoms of the many different anxiety disorders can lead people to feel isolated from others or uncomfortable in social settings, leading to reduced quality of life over time.
Be Open About Your Anxiety
Dealing with anxiety disorders can be difficult enough from day to day without feeling like you have to hide your condition from others. While you may not feel comfortable having your disorder on display for everyone to know about, it’s important to make sure that your close family and friends are aware of what you go through so that they know how best to help you. Being open about your struggles with a therapist is also extremely helpful.
Maintain a Self-Care Routine
Symptoms of anxiety disorders and other mental and physical disorders can worsen when you’re not keeping up basic self-care. This can include anything from eating enough and drinking enough water throughout the day to incorporating time for exercise or a leisurely walk each day. When you treat yourself with care, it’s easier to maintain a handle on your anxiety symptoms.
Consider Different Types of Treatment
If you attend therapy but have never tried anxiety medications (or the other way around) and feel that your treatment might be missing something, don’t hesitate to consider all your options. A trained therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist will thoroughly diagnose your specific condition and make sure you have the right treatment plan for you.
Be Aware of Your Triggers
Though many anxiety disorders are relatively constant, they can flare up when triggered by a certain circumstance, memory, or action. This makes people more likely to relapse if they are in addiction recovery. Work intentionally with yourself or with a therapist to identify what triggers your anxiety and how to either avoid those triggers or lessen their effect over time. We can help with this in the following programs:
- Prescription drug addiction treatment
- Residential detoxification program
- Intensive outpatient treatment
Managing Anxiety & Addiction
If you struggle with an anxiety disorder or other mental health disorders in Portland, Maine, there’s no need to go it alone. Call (855) 607-8758 to learn more about the programs we offer at Liberty Bay Recovery.
