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We’ve all heard people describe themselves as ‘anxious,’ but is that the same as having an anxiety disorder? People with anxiety disorder experience intense, sometimes debilitating feelings of worry, nervousness, fear, and dread. These feelings can be powerful enough to interfere in a person’s life. If that sounds like something you or someone you know is experiencing, consider therapy for anxiety. Anxiety disorder treatment is an essential step towards better mental health.
This post will explore the nuances of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, including their physiological and emotional symptoms We will delve into the physiological and emotional symptoms that often accompany these conditions. Moreover, we’ll discuss the rising prevalence of anxiety today due to various factors and its impact on daily life.
In our discussion about seeking treatment for anxiety in the Chicago area, we highlight the role of therapy strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), commitment therapy among others in treating chronic anxiety. We underscore the benefits of seeking professional help which includes helping individuals accept their condition while also developing healthier coping skills.
Understanding Anxiety and Its Impact
Anxiety disorders are a common mental health issue that can wreak havoc on your life, but effective treatment of anxiety disorders is available. Let’s have a closer look at what anxiety involves.
Types of Anxiety
A person with anxiety may be experiencing one form of anxiety more powerfully than the others. Knowing the particular form of anxiety will help you understand more about the symptoms you’re experiencing. It also affects the type of treatment you need.
Anxiety a broad term that refers to a family of disorders, the most common of which include:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves a general sense of overwhelming dread without an identifiable source, or a high degree of worry out of proportion to a perceived threat. It is the most common type of anxiety in the US.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). A person with Social Anxiety Disorder has an incapacitating dread of being judged harshly in public, and a debilitating fear of embarrassment.
- Panic Disorder. Panic Disorder involves a person having regular but unpredictable panic attacks. A panic attack causes a person to feel overwhelming fear, even though they understand fully there’s no reason to be afraid at all. Panic attacks happen anywhere and can incapacitate a person, even causing them to lose consciousness.
- Specific phobia disorder refers to an extreme and irrational fear of a specific place, thing, or situation that in and of themselves are not threatening or harmful. The fear is so intense a person will build their entire life around avoiding that thing or situation. Just a few examples of a specific phobia include arachnophobia (fear of spiders), coulrophobia (fear of clowns), and acrophobia (fear of heights).
- Separation Anxiety Disorder. Separation anxiety disorder is found in childhood and is an extreme and irrational fear of being taken away from the person they are most attached to, usually a parent or other caregiver.
- Agoraphobia is an intense fear of being overwhelmed and trapped in a situation or location the individual cannot escape from and cannot receive help.
The Nervous System’s Role in Anxiety
When faced with stress or danger, your nervous system releases chemicals such as cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine. They ready the body to face dangers. These chemicals also heighten your alertness. This is the “fight, flight, or freeze” reflex.
Anxiety’s Physical Symptoms
Anxiety isn’t just in your head; it’s a full-body experience. Sweaty palms, dry mouth, a racing heart and digestive issues can all be symptoms of anxiety.
Don’t let anxiety hold you back from living your best life. Contact us now to begin your path towards recovery and advancement. You’ve got this.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety is a complex condition that can mess with your mind and body. Here are some signs to watch out for:
Physiological Signs: Heart Racing and Breathless
Anxiety can make your heart race and leave you gasping for air.
Emotional Responses: Worrying 24/7 and Feeling Doomed
Anxiety leads to rumination and the sensation of impending doom.
If the anxiety has persisted for longer than half a year, it’s time to contact NuLife Behavioral Health for assistance in managing this overwhelming issue.
Panic Attacks: Anxiety’s Evil Twin
When anxiety goes into overdrive, it can trigger panic attacks. Your heart will accelerate, your chest may feel tightness, and you’ll experience a sense of impending doom.
Cognitive Symptoms: Overthinking and Catastrophizing
Anxiety interferes with thinking and the ability to recall information. People with anxiety disorder tend to overthink everything and imagine the worst possible outcomes.
Rising Prevalence of Anxiety Today
Anxiety issues are on the upswing in our present-day hustle and bustle. The pressure to succeed, financial strain, and other factors contribute to this surge. Let’s understand this rise and manage our mental health effectively.
Factors Fueling Anxiety
The causes behind the escalating anxiety cases are complex. One major factor is societal pressure. Financial stress also plays a significant role, as people worry about meeting basic needs.
Moreover, technology overload adds to the anxiousness. Constant connectivity and information overload have become sources of chronic stress, according to the American Psychological Association.
Impact on Daily Life
Anxiety doesn’t just impair your thoughts. It can make even simple tasks seem daunting. People with anxiety struggle to focus on work or school due to persistent worry.
Social interactions may suffer too, as individuals avoid situations that could cause discomfort or embarrassment. This can lead to isolation, worsening their condition.
Untreated anxiety can also harm physical health over time, including heart disease and weakened immune systems, as reported by the Mayo Clinic.
A Global Issue: An Overview
- Societal Pressure. Expectations from society regarding success in various areas fuel anxiousness.
- Economic Stressors. Financial instability leads to insecurity and stress.
- Digital Overload: Constant exposure to information through digital platforms increases nervousness.
Long-term Effects of Ignoring Anxiety
Anxiety is no joke. Failing to address anxiety can lead to grave repercussions for your psychological and physical well-being. Don’t wait, seek help.
Physical Health Consequences
According to the Mayo Clinic, untreated anxiety can lead to depression, substance abuse, and insomnia. Panic and anxiety attacks cause rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and stomach pain. They also cause sweating, hyperventilating, and a feeling of onrushing doom. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is just one of many conditions made worse by anxiety.
Harvard Medical School warns of digestive problems, cardiovascular disease, and a weakened immune system.
- Digestive Problems. Anxiety can turn your stomach into a knot and lead to ulcers
Circulatory Issues. Chronic hypertension can result from chronic anxiety, as can heart disease.
- Weakened Immune System: Anxiety weakens your defenses, leaving you vulnerable to every germ that comes your way.
Anxiety Disorder Treatment in Chicago Area
NuLife Behavioral Health in Chicago IL is here to assist you on your journey to a calmer mind.
Role Of Therapy in Treating Chronic Stress
Therapy is the key to unlocking a stress-free life. At NuLife Behavioral Health, our qualified mental health professionals specialize in treating anxiety and other related conditions. We provide personalized anxiety treatment plans that incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and commitment therapy to help you manage stress.
These are several types of treatment we offer that are highly effective in treating anxiety disorder:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT helps you understand how your thoughts affect your feelings and behaviors. By changing negative thought patterns, you can reduce anxiety symptoms.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy: DBT helps you accept uncomfortable thoughts and develop healthier coping skills.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Embrace your thoughts instead of trying to change or avoid them. This approach reduces the impact of anxiety on your daily life.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS is a non-invasive, research-supported treatment approved by the FDA for use with depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and several other mental health disorders. TMS uses powerful, safe, magnetic fields to stimulate groups of nerves within the brain that are underactive or inactive. TMS sessions take place on an outpatient basis and require no down time. A person can have a TMS session and return to their daily routine immediately.
At NuLife Behavioral Health, our mental health professionals will create a personalized anxiety treatment plan for you. We’ll use talk therapy strategies like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help you manage your emotions and handle stress.
Options for Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Intensive Outpatient Options
Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is an option for clients who have finished partial hospitalization. IOP is a great option for those who also need a more flexible schedule. The intensive outpatient program combines individual and group therapy sessions, educational groups and relapse prevention modules. IOP lasts 2-3 hours a day, 2 to 3 days a week.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
NuLife Behavioral Health’s partial hospitalization program is a great option for those who have completed an inpatient rehab but still need the daily support and structure of treatment. PHP requires more time than our other outpatient services. PHP takes 4 to 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Like intensive outpatient participants, clients in partial hospitalization go home in the evening.
Benefits Of Seeking Professional Help
Treating chronic anxiety requires a top-notch mental health provider. At NuLife Behavioral Health treatment centers, our team provides personalized care and treatment plans. Don’t let anxiety limit you from living life to the fullest. Seek help early on and regain control of your life. It’s never too late to seek help.
FAQs for Anxiety Disorder Treatment
What are the 5 types of coping strategies for anxiety?
The five main types of coping strategies include problem-solving, cognitive restructuring, relaxation and mindfulness techniques, physical activity, and seeking social support.
Which therapy is most effective for treating anxiety disorders?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is considered highly effective in treating various forms of anxiety disorders.
What are the 4 coping skills for anxiety?
Treatment for anxiety involves a small set of coping skills for reducing anxiety. The four primary coping skills include deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization techniques, and practicing mindfulness. Further information is available here.
What are the treatments and coping strategies for anxiety?
Types of treatment typically involve psychotherapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), along with stress management techniques like meditation and exercise. Explore different treatment options here.
Get Help with Anxiety Disorder Treatment
Understanding the impact of anxiety and its physical manifestations is crucial in recognizing the need for anxiety disorder treatment in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, and the surrounding Chicago area.
The chronic outcomes of neglected anxiety can be intense. Untreated anxiety can lead to mental and physical disorders. That risk makes recognizing an anxiety disorder early on critical.
Treatment of anxiety disorders is effective in helping people manage their anxieties. That’s why it’s important to consult a certified mental health treatment provider like those at NuLife Behavioral Health in Buffalo Grove, IL.
Common physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, constant worry, and a sense of impending doom are common.
Therapy is key in treating chronic stress and related conditions, so don’t be afraid to reach out for assistance from experienced professionals who specialize in effective treatment options.
Seeking professional help in Chicago is a smart move to avoid long-term mental and physical health consequences.
Learn More at NuLife Behavioral Health Illinois Today
