What is an anxiety disorder? Is it a mental health illness?
Anxiety disorders are a type of mental health illness. There are different types of anxiety disorders, and each one presents differently. Different types of anxiety disorders may present with anxiety attacks.
Anxiety attacks can come on suddenly, with little or no warning and they affect every area of your life. They can affect relationships, your work, your sports and hobbies, and even simple things like going grocery shopping or driving your car. You can be left feeling embarrassed, nervous, scared, and fearful about going out in public as you may worry that an anxiety attack may happen again.
During a severe episode of an anxiety attack, you can feel as though you are unable to breathe and cannot get enough air into your lungs. You may feel as if you will die as you can’t breathe properly, and this can lead to the attack becoming even worse. You can start to feel dizzy and unable to focus on anything; your fingers and toes can start to tingle. But it there is good news, there is hope and help available for you if you are trying to live with an anxiety disorder or anxiety attacks.
How common are anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, with over 40 million people affected by anxiety each year. That is about 18% of the population. Anxiety disorders are very treatable with the right help yet only about 36% of those who suffer from an anxiety disorder receive treatment.
How to deal with and treat anxiety disorders?
There is hope and there is treatment for anxiety. You don’t have to fight this alone and try to find ways to “relax” and “worry less”. At The Center • A Place of HOPE, there are qualified doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, fitness instructors, nutritionists, and mental health counselors to help you on your journey to wellness.
The care you receive is tailored to you as the individual and it is a holistic, whole-body care program. The treatment doesn’t just focus on your mental health and your anxiety, but also on your physical, emotional, and nutritional health. All of these other parts of you play a role in your mental health.
Anxiety Treatment at The Center • A Place of HOPE is based on you and your needs, so if you need to take the step today, get in touch with them and they can start you on your road to recovery.
What are some natural treatments for anxiety?
There are some other things you can do that can help your anxiety disorder. You may want to try some of these simple tips:
- Staying active – exercise can work as well as medication to ease anxiety in some people, both in the short and longer-term.
- Avoid alcohol – alcohol can seem to relieve your frayed nerves and calm you down, however, anxiety can return with vengeance later once the alcohol has worn off.
- Stop the caffeine – caffeine can cause jitters and nervousness, and it has been shown that it may worsen the symptoms of anxiety disorders.
- Sleep is important – you may have insomnia but making sure you get enough sleep every night can help with your anxiety disorder. Try to only sleep when you are tired; avoid watching TV or reading in bed; avoid using your phone or tablet in bed; avoid caffeine, larger meals, and nicotine before bed; and you can try writing down your worries in a journal before bed.
These are only some ideas, and it is still advisable to see professional help as they will guide you through every step of this journey.
What causes anxiety disorders?
There are many different causes of anxiety disorders, and some of the causes are quite complex. If you are unsure as to why your anxiety started or what might be causing it, you can always ask for help and speak to someone who can help you figure it out.
Some of the more common causes of anxiety are:
- People are you and the environment you are in
- Medical factors and illness
- Stress due to illness
- Childhood abuse
- A traumatic event
- Other mental health disorders
The causes of anxiety are quite complex and it is worth exploring this more with someone who is qualified and able to help, like at The Center • A Place of HOPE.
How to know if you have an anxiety disorder?
If you are unsure if you are suffering from an anxiety disorder, some of the symptoms or feelings of an anxiety disorder are:
- Tense muscles
- Trouble sleeping – either falling asleep or staying asleep
- Avoiding social situation to avoid anxiety
- Irrational thoughts
- Excessive worrying
- Feelings of agitation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in eating patterns
You may also suffer from panic attacks, which are common with different types of anxiety disorders.
How to help someone who is suffering from anxiety disorder?
If you are worried about a friend or family member who you feel may be suffering from an anxiety disorder, you may be feeling worried for them as well as feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to help. It is important that you encourage them to seek help if they haven’t already. You can learn as much as you can about anxiety disorders, the different types of anxiety disorders, the symptoms they might have, and the possible causes of their anxiety disorder.
Your loved one needs support and understanding, as well as someone to encourage them and love them in this difficult time. It is important you look after your own emotional health as it isn’t always easy supporting someone who has an anxiety disorder.
Again it is so important that your loved one is receiving treatment from a health professional as this will help them immensely on their journey with anxiety.