Coping with anxiety
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It’s our body’s way of alerting us to potential dangers. But when anxiety becomes excessive, uncontrollable, and disproportionate to the situation, it might signal an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders affect up to 40 million Americans every year and women are twice as likely to experience anxiety disorders compared to men.
If you think you have anxiety, remember that you’re not alone, and there is help available. Anxiety disorders are a diagnosis like any other medical diagnosis, and should be treated with care. Learning more about anxiety disorders can help you better understand what it entails and how to get the help you need.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety manifests as a feeling of fear, uneasiness, and worry. Other symptoms of anxiety include restlessness, cold or sweaty hands, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, dry mouth, or nausea. These are symptoms that can happen when we’re in a stressful situation, but subside once the stressor is no longer present.
For people with anxiety disorders, these symptoms may persist and begin to affect their everyday life, such as personal relationships, school, or job performance.
How do you know if your anxiety might require treatment? Check out Alpha’s free anxiety diagnostic tool. At the end, you’ll receive a score that suggests the stage of your anxiety — minimal, mild, moderate, or severe — and whether you might require treatment. Even if you don’t require treatment, it’s a good tool to assess how you’re feeling and track changes in your emotions.
What are the types of anxiety?
There are different types of anxiety disorders that affect people. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is persistent, excessive worry about everyday issues that can interfere with your daily life.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) causes recurring, obsessive thoughts that drive someone to repeat behaviors, called compulsions, to ease the distress.
Panic disorders are characterized by recurring panic attacks, which are a sudden onset of physical and psychological distress symptoms like increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, dizziness, and fear of losing control.
Post-traumatic stress disorder comes with flashbacks and uncontrollable thoughts triggered by a stressful or traumatic event.
Social anxiety disorder is anxiety around social situations involving other people. Someone with social anxiety might worry about being embarrassed or rejected in social situations — such as public speaking or meeting new people — and avoid them as a result.
Other types of anxiety include phobias (fear of a specific object or situation), agoraphobia (fear of being in situations you cannot escape) and separation anxiety disorder (fear of separation from people you’re attached to). Visit the American Psychiatric Association to learn more about anxiety disorders.
What causes anxiety?
While the exact cause of anxiety is unknown, doctors believe a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors play a role. Anxiety can be triggered by environmental stressors. Sometimes, it can be associated with a medical condition such as a thyroid disorder.
Having a personal or family history of mental health issues is also a risk factor for anxiety. Other risk factors include childhood abuse or trauma, negative or stressful life events, chronic illness, and substance abuse.
How can you cope with anxiety?
Seeking support from people you trust can help you feel connected and give you a space to share how you’re feeling. Other people are a great source of support and advice. However, they cannot take the place of a trained health professional.
It’s important to see your doctor when your anxiety starts to affect your daily life. Your doctor will help you rule out other problems that can be causing your anxiety then ask questions and use diagnostic tools to see if you have an anxiety disorder. If you do, your doctor will work with you to provide treatment, which may include therapy or medication.
Stress management and self care techniques are also key to managing anxiety. Take care of your mind and body by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Meditation and mindfulness can also help you relax your mind and reflect on how you’re doing.
Physical and mental health go hand in hand. Taking care of your physical health will have a positive effect on your mental health, and vice versa. Staying healthy is even more important during the Covid-19 pandemic. Here are some tips for self care during the pandemic.
How to deal with a panic attack?
Panic attacks can feel scary and life-threatening, even like a heart attack for some people. Panic attacks are not dangerous, but the symptoms can make you feel like you’re in danger. However, confronting the fear, staying present, and riding out the attack can help you realize that you will be okay. Here are some tips on how you can deal with a panic attack or help someone through one.
Alpha can help you treat your anxiety.
At Alpha, we prioritize mental health by providing affordable and accessible treatment. Our mental health service includes medical consultations, follow-up visits and unlimited messaging with our medical team — and it’s all online. If prescribed, medication is mailed straight to your door with free shipping. Visit our website to learn more about our anxiety treatment. We’re here to support you with mental health care you can receive from the comfort of your home.
