Anxiety can be a crippling emotion, making it difficult to focus on everyday tasks and activities. Often, coping with anxiety as it develops into a diagnosable mental health condition can’t be done alone, so it is vital to seek professional help. Call 479.309.1427 to speak with someone from Alleviant Health Centers of Rogers about how our anxiety treatment program and other mental health services can help you or someone you love learn how to manage anxiety.
What Is Anxiety?
Everyone in the world knows what it’s like to feel anxious. However, if someone’s anxiety-related symptoms start happening more often or last longer than usual, they may already be developing a diagnosable anxiety disorder.
In his clinical practice, Sigmund Freud was one of the first to recognize and treat anxiety disorders. He developed a psychoanalytic theory that emphasized the importance of unconscious processes such as repression and defense mechanisms in coping with psychological distress. Since then, researchers have continued to study how anxiety affects individuals and ways to manage it effectively. Today, many different therapies are available for those who need help coping with their anxiety symptoms, ranging from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to medication management.
The common types of anxiety disorders are:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias
Previously, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was recognized as an anxiety disorder. Still, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has reclassified it as a trauma and stress-related disorder.
5 Tips for Managing Anxiety
1. Identify Your Triggers
Understanding what makes your anxiety worse can help you avoid those situations or plan for them. When possible, remove yourself from situations that spike your stress or anxiety. Recognizing when you’re getting anxious can allow you to take a step back and assess the situation before continuing forward.
2. Focus on Self-Care
Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do when managing your anxiety levels. Eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep each night, and remaining active throughout the week by exercising or walking outside in nature are essential. Additionally, find hobbies that bring joy into your life and practice relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation if they resonate with you.
3. Connect with Others
Talking about your feelings can help lessen the burden of carrying them around alone. Isolation only exacerbates feelings of loneliness, so connecting with friends and family through FaceTime calls or socially distanced outdoor activities can be beneficial in reducing your anxiety levels overall. If social interaction seems too overwhelming right now, consider joining an online support group that specializes in mental health topics such as coping with depression or managing stress levels better day-to-day.
4. Take Time for Yourself
As life begins to move faster and faster each day, it’s easy to get caught up in all your commitments and obligations without taking time for yourself first and foremost. Try dedicating at least 10 minutes each day just for yourself—you could use this time for journaling thoughts or reflecting on the positives in your life that make it worth living each day despite any bouts of anxiety that may arise from time to time.
5. Create Structure and Routine
Having structure helps reduce uncertainty which is often a significant contributor to experiencing anxious symptoms regularly. Create short-term and long-term objectives, so there are checkpoints along the way. This process provides reassurance that progress is being made towards achieving desired outcomes while also giving you something tangible to work towards every day without feeling overwhelmed by expectations placed upon yourself by others.
Find Anxiety Treatment in Arkansas at Alleviant Health Centers of Rogers
Anxiety is a prevalent emotion experienced by individuals worldwide, regardless of age or gender. There are plenty of resources available if you need help finding ways of coping with anxiety more effectively on a daily basis. Contact Alleviant Health Centers of Rogers today at 479.309.1427 to learn how to manage anxiety symptoms. Ask about our mental health services and programs in Arkansas.