There is nothing to be ashamed of in struggling with mental health. Anxiety is an important part of our survival, sending us into fight or flight to avoid dangerous situations. The problem arises when it becomes all-encompassing or pervasive in everyday life, even when these situations are not truly dangerous.
Generalized anxiety disorder is not tied to any type of specific stimulus, but certain situations can heighten feelings of anxiety that are already present.
Social anxiety disorders are often tied to fear of social interaction or potential dangers, leading to social phobias like agoraphobia and extreme self-consciousness in public.
Other types of anxiety exist as well, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Left untreated, anxiety disorders can become debilitating, which is why it’s important to seek help to reverse the hold that these feelings have on you as soon as you recognize the signs. Anxiety therapy has been proven to reverse this hold when combined with continuous effort and a healthy lifestyle.
What is the Cause of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety is an emotion that all of us will experience at some point. Although unpleasant, it can be helpful by motivating us into action and making us aware of possible danger. However, what leads to anxiety becoming a disorder is when our fight or flight response kicks in without a true threat and when our worries and fears are interfering with our work, relationships, and the overall quality of our lives. (1)
Researchers are finding that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the risk of developing an anxiety disorder.
National Institute of Mental Health
Many doctors believe that anxiety is not caused by any individual factor, but rather by a complex interaction between the individual and their environment. Everything from differences in brain chemistry and genetics to certain environmental factors could cause the onset of this disorder.
Can Anxiety be Cured with Therapy?
Therapy is not an overnight cure, but a long-term solution to help you reshape habits and patterns that have developed from anxiety. Individualized therapy can help you learn how to identify and overcome anxiety by reversing thought patterns and helping you remove existing triggers.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also known as CBT, is an especially effective method for treating anxiety. This type of therapy helps you identify triggering thoughts, situations, and objects. Over time, you will learn how to change how you react to these triggers, challenging negative thought patterns and reducing symptoms of anxiety.
What Type of Therapist Helps with Anxiety?
A therapist trained to specifically treat anxiety and in various modalities to be able to tailor the approach to meet your needs. Individual counseling may also be an ideal approach so that you can get to the root issue and identify the specific triggers that worsen your anxiety and worries.
When seeking professional help, it’s important to first book a consultation with your therapist so that they can learn about your circumstances and help you find the right therapy options for your situation.
Furthermore, the initial consultation is an excellent place for you to get to know your therapist. Finding the right therapist is crucial in treating anxiety, as you want to feel comfortable in their presence so you can discuss your struggles openly without fear of judgment.
What Are 3 Helpful Strategies to Cope with Anxiety?
Coping with anxiety can be difficult, but with the right mindset and consistent work, it becomes easier.
Three common coping mechanisms to treat anxiety are changing unhelpful thinking patterns, calming strategies, and mindfulness.
Many people jump to the worst-case scenario when faced with the object of their anxiety and underestimate their ability to cope with it, which can cause a jolt of anxiety. Once you identify negative thoughts, you can challenge them and replace them with more helpful, reality-based thoughts.
When you feel anxious, you are likely to avoid the trigger of your anxiety, which just reinforces the feelings and creates more anxiety. Learning calming, relaxation strategies builds your confidence to be able to cope and feel more in control.
Anxiety leads us to focus on future events that may or may not happen. Mindfulness brings us back to the present moment. Building Resiliency Counseling in Phoenix, AZ states: “with mindfulness, we learn to be aware of our surroundings, to notice what is occurring moment to moment without judgment and to just notice with less reactivity.”
