When it comes to choosing the correct treatment for anxiety, the type of disorder is a major concern. This WellnessKeen article puts forth a few treatment methods that can be applicable for the treatment of anxious behavior, in your case.
Anxiety is an emotional state of mind wherein, the mind reacts in a certain way, to cope up with mental stress. All of us have felt a sense of anxiousness for one reason or another and let me tell you that it is a harmless condition. In fact, a little bit of stress helps you in giving a better performance, as you become more alert and focus on the given task.
However, anxiety is good for you as long as you can keep it under control. Once it starts controlling your life, it becomes a cause of concern. Then you feel restless and uneasy all the time. Some people get sudden bouts of panic attacks where they feel worried and tensed for no valid reason. Gradually, it starts affecting their daily activities and behavior, and ultimately, they stop enjoying their life.
Causes and Symptoms
There is no definite cause of anxious behavior, but certain factors may contribute to this problem. A Traumatic event of childhood, absence of secured support system, death of near ones, failed relationship, loss of job, etc., are some of them. Some of the general symptoms of anxiety are chronic depression, fatigue, insomnia, hallucinations, nightmares, muscle cramps, digestive problems, like, diarrhea, heartburn, and so on.
When panic attack sets in, then it can be identified with rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, tremors, shortness of breath, nausea, choking sensation, and even chest pain. These symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack, the only difference being, that they ease off on their own in a panic attack.
Treatment
When you are experiencing panic attacks quite frequently or the anxiety symptoms are disrupting your normal life, then you must consult a doctor. They first confirm that the symptoms are triggered by anxiety and not any other health problem and then start the treatment. This disorder is often treated with the help of medicines and behavior therapy.
There are different types of medicines that are being used for the treatment. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are most commonly prescribed by doctors for treating anxiety. They are recommended for short-term use only, to bring down the severity of the symptoms. This is because, these medicines are addictive and may cause adverse effects.
The medicinal treatment is accompanied by cognitive behavioral therapy conducted by a therapist. This treatment continues for several weeks. Firstly, the patient is asked some personal questions about his life and lifestyle. From the answers to these questions, those thoughts that trigger anxiety are identified. Then the therapist helps the patient to overcome those unwanted feelings and thoughts. Exposure therapy is another effective treatment, where the patients are made to face the fearful situation through imagination and are helped to deal with it in a relaxed state of mind. This way their anxiety level decreases gradually with time.
Natural Methods
When anxiety attacks are mild in nature, you do not need any medicines. Rather, in that condition, you must avoid them because of their potential side effects. Here are a few natural methods of anxiety cure that are quite effective:
Accept the Problem
When you are in a denial mode that you do not have anxiety problem, then it may become a bigger issue. Hence, it’s better to accept the existing condition and try to figure out the cause behind it. Once, you accept the condition, it will be easier for the doctor to decide the line of treatment.
Discard Negative Thoughts
Most of the time, you suffer from anxiety because you entertain too many negative thoughts in your mind. Therefore, you must make special efforts to stop those thoughts from entering your mind. The easiest way to do this is by keeping your mind busy with some work that you love to do.
Divert Your Mind
The moment you sense that you are about to get a panic attack, focus your attention on something else around you. By doing so, you are trying to overcome the disorder in the most natural way. Watch closely any object lying around you and start telling yourself all details about its physical appearance. After sometime, you will find that the signs of anxiety attack are gone.
Exercise Regularly
There are several exercises that can help you to cope up with it in a better manner. Breathing exercises is one of them that you can practice, to have a better control over breathing during an attack. Aerobic exercises for half an hour can ease off the tensed muscles of your body.
When you lead an unhealthy lifestyle, you are at a higher risk of getting anxiety symptoms. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can keep your body and mind healthy. Thus, you can stay relaxed and stress-free under all circumstances.
