Living with anxiety is a real struggle. It has been a long journey and you are exhausted from always feeling on the edge. You may be expecting the worst, worrying and even fearing that anxiety and even panic are taking energy and your peace of mind.
You need to be compatible and efficient in dealing with the complexities of your life. It may just be getting to be too hard to hide your anxiety. I hear you and yet, please hear me – you are not alone and there is help.
Anxiety Disorders Are Common
Let’s look at facts. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, more than 30 percent of U.S. adults have an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. It is also suggested that 6.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and up to 18 million battle some type of phobia.
The World Health Organization suggests anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide with specific phobia, major depressive disorder and social phobia being the most common anxiety disorders.
Anxiety Comes with Negative Feelings and Other Issues
Anxiety often comes with a group of other issues and feelings. You may feel lonely and shameful and that often leads to feeling weak and damaged. Often the critic inside of you may make you feel unlovable and worthless. Anxiety is often correlated to sleep disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders, chronic pain, and various other issues.
This is hard, I hear you…
You may be asking “Why am I anxious?” At times, people know when the anxiety started and yet, it’s often not the case. Discussion on causes for anxiety is a complex one. There are many external and internal factors that may create a state of anxiety in one’s mind and body. Once again, when I think about causes for anxiety, I have to say, they are clusters of variables and symptoms that work together to create worry, nervousness, anxiety, panic, obsessive and compulsive behaviors.
Here are some well-known causes of anxiety:
· Brain chemistry and genetics
· Personality traits
· Traumatic life events
· Work stress
· Financial struggles
· Relational and family conflicts
· Loss and grief
·Side effect of medications
· Connection to chronic illness
· Some foods and drugs trigger anxiety
· Stress from emotional trauma
· Negative thinking
There is good news about anxiety treatment. Due to the large sample of the population that suffers from anxiety disorders, we have evidence that there are approaches that are very effective in feeling successful in managing anxiety. Here are some tips for managing anxiety in your everyday life that you can start even today.
Tips for Managing Anxiety
Have a vision of anxiety management as a journey in creating a toolbox for coping. Here are ideas for you to try
1) Medication
Often medication is taken in cases of anxiety and often those are psychotropic medications and these can be from a variety of groups: benzodiazepine, antidepressants, SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and others.
Medication treatment for anxiety disorders is safe and effective, and yet it may take patience to find the right medicine for you. Often drugs need to be adjusted and changed for it continue to be effective (ADAA). However, medication alone will not cure anxiety. As you think about conquering anxiety medication may be just a single tool in your coping toolbox.
2) Mental health Counseling
Mental Health Counseling is another resource for you. Reaching out to a trained professional for support may help you to gain insight and understanding and create your coping toolbox to deal with anxiety or other connected issues. Most evidence suggests that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness and relaxation help the most when it comes to anxiety disorders and your counselor can help you with this. CBT is an interactive and goal-oriented approach to therapy where you are able to explore the current situation (triggers, thoughts, life events) and how they affect behaviors.
Call for a free consultation, 720-507-1442.
4) Mindfulness
Research is pointing to mindfulness as a successful treatment for anxiety that increased awareness of emotions, feelings and their connection to felt sense and behaviors. Mindfulness often helps to slow down, to pause, and to reflect and I find solutions otherwise unreachable.
5) Journaling
Emotions often need to be processed and released, by a simple act of journaling. This can provide you with a space to process situations that have triggered anxiety last week.
6) Support groups
Since we are social beings, often healing and education happens in the context of support groups. Attending a support group may help in connecting with self and others, to learn to cope for anxiety.
I offer Anxiety groups, call to find out upcoming dates and times, 720-507-1442.
7) Reflect on Lifestyle Choices
Evidence also points to look at lifestyle choices as a way to treat your anxious mind. According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Wellness Initiative, some of the life categories of main importance for our wellbeing include: physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, financial, occupational, social.
You do not need to suffer alone, be brave & seek help!
Give me a call, at 720-507-1442, to explore if I can join you on the journey of gaining control of your life.
I am Daiga Keller, a licensed clinical social worker and certified EMDR therapist that holds certifications as a yoga teacher and an art therapist. I am warmly direct and interactive in my work with clients, always keeping in mind that your time is of value and we need to do some hard work together so you can be more successful living your life! Learn more about me here.
I also offer Anxiety Bootcamps, a one-day educational workshop. Spend one day learning techniques to kick your anxiety to the curb; turn down the volume on your inner worrier and turn up the volume on your true, rational, wise-self! These are Sunday workshops located in Greenwood Village, CO and all participants leave with a personal coping toolbox for anxiety.
Call, for more information at: 720-507-1442. Check out my profile on Psychology Today: here: