Anxiety is a term often used to mean worried. However, it’s more accurately defined as something deeper and more lasting than everyday concerns. Those who suffer from anxiety symptoms are often tempted to downplay or hide them entirely for fear of judgment. If you find yourself nodding at that last sentence, you aren’t alone — anxiety is very real, but the good news is you don’t have to fight it alone.
Understanding the Nature of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety, despite its stigmas, is very common among people of all ages. In fact, a 2023 NIH study on adolescents showed a concerning 61% increase in anxiety over a 7-year period.
This issue is also evolving. While anxiety itself has been around as long as humans have, new technological, sociopolitical and health stresses have cropped up. These new triggers provide anxious tendencies with nearly endless outlets to grow, leaving sufferers wondering when to seek help for anxiety and when to simply wait things out.
The Mayo Clinic notes that anxiety is largely an outsize reaction when compared to the event triggering it. If you find yourself unsettled for a day or several days after something small occurs, chances are you’re wrestling with at least some measure of anxiety.
Signs That Anxiety Is Getting Worse
One of the most well-known anxiety symptoms is sleep disruption. If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, struggling to stay asleep or even waking up with your brain still mired in worried thoughts, chances are, anxiety is crawling into bed with you. The physiological symptoms of anxiety follow close behind, including shortness of breath, sweating, a rapid pulse with no accompanying aerobic movement and unexplained fatigue.
Frequency, however, is what separates chronic anxiety from everyday worry. Everyone has difficult days once in a while or stress around some important events. Anxiety is more ongoing and constant. If you’re experiencing symptoms multiple times a week, or even daily, it’s important to seek help for anxiety management as soon as possible.
When Lifestyle Changes Aren’t Enough
So you’ve stopped scrolling your phone before bed, cut back on caffeine and hit the gym, but the anxiety remains: What now? The first thing to remember is that you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re simply trying to work on the engine while driving the car. An outside professional can help diagnose your anxiety symptoms objectively, separating triggering events from ongoing issues. This perspective helps you combat anxiety directly and can also help identify patterns of behavior that might be contributing to its overall appearance.
The National Health Service of England also advises people not to tackle everything at once and to treat anxiety with small, intentional steps instead. Additionally, the most effective approaches to combating anxiety are usually a combination of professional guidance and healthy life practices. While anxiety can’t be cured in the traditional sense, using both of these paths together maximizes your chances of minimizing life-disrupting anxiety symptoms.
Types of Professional Treatment Available
Generally speaking, the severity and presentation of your symptoms will determine how often you should see a therapist for anxiety. Approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness exercises can offer support at home and beyond. Your therapist can point you in the right direction when it comes to courses and practices, but almost anything effective will require some homework and mindful effort on your part.
In certain cases, medication may also be necessary or preferable to lower anxiety to manageable levels. A wide variety of options are available to ensure the best fit with other medications and lifestyle needs and consideration of potential side effects.
How to Start the Treatment Process
The first step is making an appointment with an anxiety treatment specialist or team. While this can be an anxious task all by itself, the outcome is typically well worth the effort. Remember, your anxiety treatment professionals are there to help you and will never judge you for your struggles or obstacles. You share a common goal: a happier, healthier life for you that’s free of the false sense of panic anxiety can induce. While even the best therapist can’t remove all worry from your life, they can help you use these reactions for their intended purpose: to prepare you for actual concerns in a proportional, thoughtful way.
Once you’ve arrived at your first appointment, treating anxiety symptoms typically begins with a diagnosis or assessment. During your initial conversation, you’ll likely be asked a series of clarifying questions about your experiences, potential triggers and other factors contributing to your anxiety. These questions help your provider determine how your anxiety presents itself, and that information can guide their treatment plan.
Encouraging Early Intervention and Support
Much like with other health problems, the longer symptoms of anxiety are allowed to worsen, the more challenging it becomes to return someone to an ideal emotional state. Don’t wait until symptoms begin eroding your personal and professional relationships. Seek help for anxiety when it’s prominent enough to be noticeable. This ensures you can unravel negative internal thinking or self-sabotaging behaviors before they have a chance to take root and upend your life.
Without diagnosis and treatment, people with anxiety often resort to avoidance behaviors that can cost them their jobs or relationships if left unchecked. If you find yourself frequently wanting to call out of work or school or avoiding meet-ups with friends, it’s time to make an appointment with an anxiety professional to turn things around. After all, you deserve to live each day to the fullest — not with your chest feeling tight and dread settling in your stomach.
If you’re ready to manage your anxiety and live without fear, the caring professional team at FHE Health will help you reclaim your life. Contact us today to make an appointment and take the first step towards a life with less constant worry and more happiness.
