Sometimes, when a person has a particular mental health diagnosis, it is difficult for them to explain the experience to others, even family or friends. Anxiety can be one of these conditions that is difficult to explain, especially in the moment when someone is struggling. At Cottonwood in Tucson, Arizona, we offer treatment for people who are diagnosed with anxiety, and we value the opportunity to help their loved ones learn more, so that they can offer the best support possible.
Things You May Not Know About Anxiety
Nearly 20 percent of the adult population in the United States has an anxiety disorder, but due to the stigma around discussing mental illness, a lot of people still don’t know.
There are several different diagnoses that fall under the umbrella of anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder: This is what many people think of when they hear anxiety disorder.
- Social anxiety disorder: This is often categorized by struggling with crowds, public speaking, and interactions with other people due to fear of humiliation, being watched, or being judged.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder: This is a compulsion to repetitively do something and/or uncontrollable, intrusive thoughts.
- Panic disorder: This consists of recurring, unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): This is an anxiety disorder that is caused by a terrifying or life-threatening event.
- Phobias: These are fears of specific things, such as animals, the environment, situations, blood/injection/injury, or other fears.
Anxiety is more than just worrying. Worrying often leads to an answer to a problem, while anxiety is frequently just an endless loop with no solution. Worrying is something that happens inside your head, while anxiety can happen to your whole body because it can engage our fight or flight response, which can then trigger:
- Uncontrollable worried thoughts
- Racing heart
- Feelings of impending doom
- Nightmares and other sleep disturbances
- Inability to focus
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Tightness in the chest
- Avoidance behaviors
- Social withdrawal
- Nausea and digestive issues
- Headaches and other chronic pain
Anxiety disorders are caused by a mixture of genetics and environmental factors. There is reason to believe that anxiety can run in families. Additionally, if a person has a lot of stress in their life, they are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. This high level of stress is often the result of:
- Illness
- Money trouble
- Difficult relationships
- A history of trauma
Anxiety disorders are treatable. Some of the most effective treatments currently available for anxiety disorders include:
- Therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Medications, such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds and sedatives
- Support groups
- Stress management techniques
The best way to ensure good outcomes from professional anxiety treatment is to combine it with excellent self-care, for example:
- Implementing structure, routine and predictability into your day
- Avoiding procrastination
- Spending time in nature and with animals
- Streamlining whatever you can
- Enjoying some soothing music
- Getting plenty of moderate exercise but use caution with high-intensity workouts since they can trigger symptoms for some people with anxiety
- Getting plenty of rest
- Avoiding alcohol, caffeine and sugar
- Write about how you’re feeling and what triggered it
- Connecting with a loved one who makes you feel calmer
- Practicing grounding techniques during times when you feel calm, so that the strategies come naturally and require minimal thought during an anxious moment, such as breathing exercises, visualization, putting your hands in cold water, creating or using a sensory kit, or doing some basic math
- If you cannot get your anxiety under control and you want to talk to someone, you may find it helpful to utilize a warm line or a crisis line to reach someone who is trained in mental health
It is very common for people with anxiety to also experience depression. When this is the case, it is important for the patient to address both conditions.
At Cottonwood, we recognize the importance of whole person care in treating behavioral health conditions. Not only do we offer a variety of therapy modalities, but our clients have access to equine experiences, an art studio, nutrition education, yoga, a challenge course, and spiritual support.
