Anxiety – otherwise known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder – is your body’s natural response to stress. Everybody who experiences stress in their lives will experience a level of anxiety, too, and while it may feel unsettling, it is a natural response that can actually help us in situations where we may feel uncomfortable or out of control. When this gets too much, we may need expert anxiety treatment to help us learn how to manage our stress better.

Unfortunately, many of us experience prolonged feelings of anxiety, even when we aren’t feeling stressed. Our body enters a fight or flight mode for reasons unknown to us, and as a result, we tend to feel hyperaware, short of breath and panicked in scenarios when we should, in fact, feel calm and collected. 

What is anxiety?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects more than 6.8 million Americans, or more than 3 percent of the population, and it is the most common mental illness in the United States today. Globally, anxiety disorders affect almost 300 million people. 

Anxiety is actually a healthy feeling to feel. It keeps up alert, readied and prepared for eventualities that might occur, like a job interview or an exam at school. It only becomes a problem, however, when we feel anxious in unwarranted, uncontrollable ways. As a consequence, it can impair our judgement and paralyse our ability to act in certain situations. 

The National Health Service in the UK defines Generalized Anxiety Disorder as:

‘People with GAD feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed. As soon as one anxious thought is resolved, another may appear about a different issue.’

An anxiety disorder may present itself in many different situations throughout life. For some people, it might be work that is making them anxious. For others, its social situations. 

If you’re wanting to overcome anxiety, then, it’s important to recognize in what situations you feel anxious and begin understanding what triggers your anxiety so you can begin understanding why you may feel this way. 

What are the types of anxiety disorders?

Anxiety plays a vital role in many different disorders, including: 

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Panic disorders
• Gambling addiction
• Social anxiety disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCD)
• Separation anxiety disorders
• Illness anxiety disorders
• Substance abuse and alcohol addiction 

Oftentimes, when people enter into rehab for severe anxiety, they’re faced with a dual diagnosis and are also experiencing another disorder, too. To truly get to the root cause of the anxiety, one must first face their primary addiction or ailment, like gambling addiction or OCD.

Signs and symptoms of anxiety disorder

There are no set signs and symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Each person experiences it in their own unique way, and as a consequence, there’s a broad range of side effects that can arise, including: 

• Shortness of breath
• Increased heart rate
• Restlessness
• Trouble concentrating
• Insomnia or difficulty falling asleep

When an anxiety attack strikes, these feelings are often emphasised, and a whole new set of more severe symptoms can occur, including: 

• Faintness or dizziness
• Dry mouth and wheezing breath
• Sweating
• Hot flashes
• Restlessness
• Distress or severe fear about something
• Numbness or tingling
• Worry or paralysis

There are, of course, many other signs and symptoms to watch for with anxiety. It’s also important to remember that these side effects could be a result of something else occurring or the result of a more severe underlying condition. 

If you feel like you can’t go on with the signs and symptoms you are experiencing, seek professional help as soon as possible.

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What natural remedies are there for anxiety?

There are things you can do at home to help ease your anxiety. However, many of these at-home remedies provide short-term solutions. To overcome your anxiety for good, it might require you to find guided help from experts.

Some home remedies for easing anxiety include: 

• Quitting smoking
• Making sure you sleep enough
• Meditation and relaxation techniques
• Staying active and exercising
• Easting healthily
• Avoiding alcohol or other substances that might trigger anxiety
• Avoiding caffeine 

While these things might not trigger your anxiety, they are often contributors to worsening the side effects for anxiety and will contribute to feelings of irritability, shortness of breath, stress and restlessness. 

To begin mitigating the effects of anxiety disorder, then, we recommend trying these at-home remedies. If your anxiety becomes severe, or it’s a chronic problem that has persisted for some time, however, contact us today and find out how we can help.

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Anxiety treatment

Treatment for anxiety is based on how severely you are affected by it, and whether or not it impairs your ability to function in everyday life.

There are a few approaches to treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, including psychotherapy, holistic wellness practices, and medication. In a rehab setting, you will likely benefit from a combination of these treatments, receiving tailored support and guidance from experts who can help you understand your anxiety and work towards eradicating it for good.

Therapies like psychotherapy (which is also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling) involves working with a therapist to reduce your signs and symptoms of anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is also an effective form of psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder.

Taking ownership of your anxiety recovery 

Anxiety treatment at Tikvah Lake Recovery is not a passive experience. While you’re in our care, you’ll be expected and encouraged to play an active, engaged role in your treatment program and work with your therapist to uncover the underlying reasons you may be experiencing anxiety.

Depending upon your strengths, needs, preferences, and goals, your personalized anxiety treatment plan may feature an array of different treatment approaches, from holistic wellness practices like yoga, meditation and art therapy, to evidence-based treatments like CBT and psychotherapy. Your willingness and ability to work with your therapist will ensure that you’re receiving the services that best meet your needs, provided in the manner that is most conducive to helping you achieve your immediate and long-term goals. 

All our experts here at Tikvah Lake Recovery understand Generalized Anxiety Disorders and how to treat them. Anxiety affects everyone to some degree, after all, and we’re all in need of support and guidance to help us through particularly difficult times in our lives. 

To find out more about how Tikvah Lake Recovery can help you or a loved one overcome an anxiety disorder, contact us today.