Anxiety is a normal part of life; it helps to keep us alert when something is wrong. But when common “worry” turns into something that affects your physical and mental well-being and overall quality of life, it’s time to seek help. Turning to drugs and alcohol to relieve anxiety is also common for those suffering, but people soon find that they do much more harm than good.
If you or a loved one are currently living with anxiety, remember that you are not alone. Help is available to treat and manage anxiety. If you have also developed a co-occurring dependence on drugs or alcohol, dual diagnosis treatment in Washington is also available.
What Are Anxiety Disorders?
Chronic anxiety is considered a psychiatric condition. It’s more than just being worried from time to time. Anxiety can be all-consuming, and the feeling does not go away. In fact, anxiety symptoms can often get worse over time. It affects every part of your life, causing ruined relationships and performance issues at work or school.
There are five major types of anxiety disorders:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Managing Anxiety
The key to overcoming your anxiety is managing it, which is easier said than done. Anxiety symptoms can make you feel like you are all alone in life and battle with the condition. Working with your physician or another health professional is the best course of action to learn what you need to manage your anxiety best and get back to living your life.
Some tips for managing anxiety include:
Self-Care
Regularly scheduled self-care is essential. Anxiety disorder symptoms can get worse when you’re not regularly taking care of yourself well. Scheduled self-care includes personal hygiene, exercise, nutrition, and hydration. Improving your daily habits is often the first step to relaxation.
Recognizing Triggers
Specific environments, events, and even people can trigger your anxiety and make it worse. A mental health professional can work with you to help identify these triggers to avoid them and better manage your reaction when you cannot avoid them.
Be Honest
Don’t hide what you’re going through. Instead, be open and honest about it. You don’t need to broadcast it to the general public, but if your close friends and family are aware, then you have more support when you need it. Sharing with your family and friends is an essential addition to being open and honest with your therapist. They can’t help you if they don’t know all the details.
Explore Treatment Options
If you feel you could be doing more with your treatment, ask questions. If you aren’t currently taking medication but want to see if it helps, talk to your doctor about it. If there’s a type of therapy you’ve heard about but haven’t tried, find out where or how you can try it with the guidance of a professional. Remember, you should always consult with medical professionals, like your physician or therapist before starting any new kind of treatment.
Contact Northpoint Washington For Anxiety Treatment
The team at North Point Washington is here to help you with a plan to treat and manage your anxiety. Finding an anxiety treatment center that is a good fit for you can be daunting, but we strive to make your stay as welcoming as possible. Our team works hard to create an individualized treatment plan that meets your specific needs so that you can receive the best care possible for long-term recovery.
Give the Northpoint Washington treatment team a call today at 888.450.2153. We are happy to answer any questions you have.