Taking control of anxiety disorder-how to tell when you have a concern

If It's Any Consolation, We All Have Anxiety

Some people are embarrassed. Others are ashamed. Still others fear they are losing their ability to cope with even the most simple things in life. If you suffer from anxiety, the feelings that you have often serve to separate you from the help and support of your family and friends when you need it most.

You are not alone. Anxiety affects millions of people worldwide regardless of age, gender, race, etc. In fact, it's an all too common psychological disorder and the numbers of afflicted continue to grow.

Listen, we all worry. It's simply a part of life, even a very important part of life. That seems strange to say, especially if you suffer from anxiety. But the fact remains, no one escapes from occasional worrying because it is actually a natural defense mechanism built right into our beings.

Worry increases awareness and that is a good thing, especially if there is true potential danger. Without worry, we could do some pretty foolish and even downright dangerous things. It's only when anxiety is prolonged for six months or more or becomes debilitating to the point where you are paralyzed with fear that you have a chronic problem.

Some Labels and Specific Anxiety Help

Generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder are some of the classifications. By knowing your symptoms, there is a better chance of labeling and thus effectively treating your exact type of anxiety.

The range of severity in anxiety varies widely. With milder forms, professional intervention or the use of medications can be avoided all together. Instead, having a close family member or friend you can confide in can help you overcome life's little worries and irritations. If you recognize your stress triggers, reducing or eliminating them if at all possible can go a long way in releasing your anxiety. And don't discount the benefits getting proper rest!

You don't have to do it all by yourself! Cutting down and cutting back personal activities, commitments and obligations will do wonders for your mental and emotional health. However, once your anxiety has become extreme, professional help along with the use of medications may be your only option.

With so much self-help and pop psychology around these days, it may be tempting to try to analyze your own anxiety. You are cautioned to take great care. Psychologists and psychiatrists go to school many years to learn and understand the complex issues involved in mental health. There's no way you can diagnose yourself based on a single magazine article or even a book. However, these can serve to educate yourself on asking better questions from the health care professionals.

Anxiety Symptoms

Following is a list of common anxiety symptoms which, if left unchecked, could result in some more serious issues down the road. You are strongly advised to seek professional help even if it means getting a psychiatric evaluation. If you feel ashamed that you might need such help, that shame is NOTHING compared to the pain and isolation you will experience if you don't seek proper help right away. As your behavior becomes more difficult, other people will find it hard to cope with you as well!
Accelerated pulse Anger Avoiding situations where you may feel panicky Bad dreams Being afraid for no good reason Can no longer cope with daily routines Constant feeling of doom and gloom Constant worrying Difficulty staying calm Easily shaken Fear of being out in public Fear of embarrassment Feeling wound-up and tight Foolish fears Frequent memory lapses Hoarding Inability to sleep Intensified stress Intolerant Irregular heart beats Low feelings of self-worth Obsessed with dirt or germs Other obsessive behaviors Panic attacks Poor Concentration Recalling traumatic experiences Shortness of breath Tires quickly Uncontrollable shuddering Vertigo Waking up with worry

Anxiety Relief Part 1 - Admit It!

Similar to the AA twelve steps, the first thing you need to do is to realize - to admit - that you have anxiety and that you need help. Only then can you begin to reduce or eliminate your condition. It's easier to get help (and stay with a program) if you know you have anxiety.

This first step is so key, I'll emphasize again, realizing and admitting you have anxiety is perhaps the most critical part of starting your road to recovery. Too many people refuse to see their problem or they try to 'tough-it-out'. They only dig themselves in deeper and risk alienating those who love and can support them the most! The sooner you admit you need help, and the sooner you seek professional care, the BETTER!

Period!

One Anxiety Does Not Fit All

Because we are all different, no two people will experience anxiety the same way. Just like the weather in some parts of the world, anxiety conditions can vary from virtually negligible to overwhelming with changes taking place daily, sometimes even by the hour.

With milder cases of anxiety, there are many techniques you can do at home which have been proven to relieve symptoms. You can derive great calming benefits from any relaxation skill such as yoga, meditation or breathing exercises.

Again, professional help is necessary when anxiety levels reach peak proportions or when they continually grind away at you over a prolonged period of time. With the combined help of your 'team' which may include your general practitioner, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and social workers, you can come up with effective strategies to not only determine the exact type of anxiety, but to also eventually reduce or eliminate it over time.

There Is Help for Your Anxiety

It doesn't matter if you've had anxiety for as long as you can remember... everyone - even YOU - can beat anxiety with proper professional help. Complete trust and compliance with your team is a critical factor if you really want to get better! These people are specially trained to get down to the source of the problem. When you get rid of the root, you usually get rid of the problem altogether!

What about the use of medication? Good question! Medication can help by stabilizing the brain's chemical imbalances which often put anxiety out of your normal ability to stay in control. That's why the simpler modes of treatment such as talking to your family or friends and even counseling and psychological therapy won't work.

The bottom line is, if talking it out and traditional relaxation techniques aren't cutting it, seek professional help immediately. There is help... there is hope!

12-part article series on anxiety puts you back in control! Stop General Anxiety Fast
All the best from Toronto
Russ Hamel