Many people struggle with anxiety disorders, but there are many different variations of anxiety. The behavioral health disorder doesn’t always manifest in the same way for everyone. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry and extreme anxiety that often seems unwarranted. It can get in the way of your everyday life, making it difficult to think, relax and function. Fortunately, most people can find relief with the right type of anxiety disorder treatment.
The first step to anxiety disorder treatment is receiving a diagnosis. A doctor can conduct a physical to determine whether your symptoms are related to a physical condition. If they rule out a medical issue, they can use psychological questionnaires to reach a diagnosis. They may also ask you about your physical and behavioral health history and take blood or urine samples.
Although everyone feels anxious from time to time, anxiety disorders can be difficult to manage. They may cause so much distress that you can’t take care of your daily obligations. The constant fear and worry can be debilitating.
Some of the symptoms that characterize anxiety disorders are:
Psychotherapy is often the first course of action for anxiety disorders. While working with a therapist, you’ll become more educated about the disorder and learn more about what triggers your anxiety.
Once you know what causes your worry or panic, you can begin to work toward easing it. In some cases, there is no obvious cause. However, therapy can help you recognize the emotions that come up and process them so that you can manage them without letting them take over you.
Psychotherapy involves more than just talking about your feelings. A good therapist will help you reframe your reaction to intense, negative emotions. You’ll learn how to process emotions instead of avoiding them or letting them get the best of you.
One of the most common types of psychotherapy that’s used for treating anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. CBT has been extensively studied for its beneficial effects on people with anxiety disorders.
CBT helps patients identify the elements that contribute to their anxiety. It also provides tools for reframing limiting or negative thinking patterns to rewire the brain into responding to stressful events differently.
Psychotherapy requires some commitment, though. You need to trust and click with your therapist. After a few weeks or months of this type of therapy, many people with anxiety disorders notice improvement in their symptoms and coping skills.
The best psychotherapy provides individualized treatment for each patient. Therapy is highly personalized and caters to your specific diagnosis and needs.
Some other medications are available for anxiety. However, many have not been as extensively studied as the ones mentioned above. Still, if you are not responding to other types of treatments, your psychiatrist might prescribe off-label medications that have been shown to help some people with anxiety disorders.
Managing anxiety is often a long-term process. Your feelings of apprehension may come and go throughout your life. Although it would be ideal to assume that your anxiety will never return, you’re human. You will have strong emotions from time to time.
The treatments that we’ve described help you manage those emotions when they arise so that you can move through them without becoming paralyzed or overwhelmed. Natural and holistic ways to treat anxiety disorders can also help you manage your behavioral health over the course of your life.
Exercise can balance the brain chemicals that contribute to anxiety. Moving your body regularly can stave off anxiety and other behavioral health issues. You don’t have to be an athlete. Even a 10-minute walk can be a powerful way to improve your behavioral health.
That’s one reason that we use wilderness and adventure therapy at New Method Wellness. We help you get moving at your own pace and with an enjoyable goal in mind. You’ll learn new skills, overcome challenges and get the exercise that you need to boost your physical and emotional health.
Being outdoors also helps relieve anxiety. Even having a live plant in your living space can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and ease anxiety. Taking your treatment to the great outdoors combines evidence-based treatment with nature therapy to further enhance your recovery.
Learning to relax is also vital for managing anxiety. Yoga, meditation, and art therapy are indispensable for teaching you how to relax, move intense emotions through your body and prevent negative thoughts from taking over your mind. Through these types of approaches, you’ll become better at observing your thoughts and feelings without reacting in harmful, destructive ways.
Numerous studies and anecdotal responses have shown that holistic and natural treatments for anxiety disorders are effective. They help round out the treatment process and engage every aspect of your being so that you can rebuild your brain circuitry, balance your brain chemistry, reduce stress, improve self-esteem, increase self-efficiency, and lead a comfortable life with strong behavioral health and less anxiety.
To learn more about our treatment programs, call 866-951-1824!
Deanna Crosby is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over 20 years of experience working with clients in recovery. Her expertise has catapulted her into the spotlight. Featured on several episodes of the Dr. Phil Show as a behavioral health expert, DeAnna is a routine contributor for NBC News, The Huffington Post, Elle Magazine, MSN, Fox News, Yahoo, Glamour, Today, and several other prominent media outlets.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of California in Irvine, Crosby did postgraduate work at Centaur University where she graduated at the top of her class with a CAADAC certification in Centaur’s chemical dependency program. Following her time at Centaur, Crosby received her Master of Counseling Psychology degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she also attained a Doctoral Degree in Depth Psychology.
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