Dealing With Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response to threats, but sometimes it can lead to serious problems. Anxiety disorders affect a person’s mood, behavior and health. It can cause significant stress and interfere with day-to-day activities, and it often requires medication.

Most people experience anxiety at one time or another. However, if you feel your worries are getting out of control, it may be time to see a mental health professional.

It’s normal to worry about things that might happen, but when your worry is out of control and affects your daily life, you might have an anxiety disorder.

There are many types of anxiety disorders, each with its own symptoms and causes. The most common is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

GAD is a chronic condition that affects how you feel about your life and everyday issues. You might have trembling, muscle tension, nausea, irritability, depression, fatigue, headaches or hot flashes.

Other forms of anxiety include panic disorder, social phobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder. These conditions also are characterized by excessive fear and worry, which can be triggered by thoughts or memories.

You can treat anxiety disorders with psychotherapy, medication or both. Your health care provider will determine which treatment plan is best for you.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a well-tested form of psychotherapy that helps you learn how to change your thinking and behavior. The goal of CBT is to help you learn to recognize and cope with your fears and worries.

Exposure therapy is a type of CBT that teaches you to challenge your anxiety-producing thoughts and behaviors by making changes in how you think and act. It can be very effective.

Meditation, exercise and deep breathing are also helpful ways to manage anxiety. Regular exercise can increase your body’s level of endorphins, which are the hormones that make you feel good and decrease your feelings of anxiety.

Breathing techniques are also helpful because they calm your nervous system and reduce the effects of adrenaline. They can also help you relax and sleep better.

Other techniques you can try to treat anxiety are guided imagery and hypnosis. These help you to visualize a situation in a more realistic way, and learn relaxation techniques that can help you to breathe more easily.

It’s important to seek medical attention when you have an anxiety disorder, because it can be linked to other underlying health problems. For example, anxiety can increase your risk of developing certain long-term physical problems like diabetes and stomach ulcers.

There is no cure for anxiety disorders, but medications can help you manage your symptoms and feel better. Your healthcare provider will determine the most appropriate medications for your needs and goals.

You can find information on the symptoms of anxiety and how it impacts your life in our dedicated hub. You can also learn about the various treatment options and how they work to treat anxiety.

Anxiety is a complex response to real or imagined danger, but it’s usually just a warning signal that can help you escape from a dangerous situation. The body reacts to a threat by releasing stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Once the threat has ended, these hormones return to their normal levels.