Did you know that 18% of American adults are affected by generalized anxiety disorder? Women are twice as likely to have it as men. Unfortunately, only one-third of the people reported to have anxiety disorder seek treatment for it. Doctors report that in this unstable economy the number of people reporting anxiety is skyrocketing.
Why do we worry? Whether it's worry about our diets or a major concern, such as a home foreclosure, every one of us worries. Worry is actually normal. It's the body's mechanism for dealing with stress. However, when worry goes out of control it may signal an anxiety disorder.
If your brain seems to come up with reasons to worry when none truly exists that indicates a problem. The most common form of anxiety is called "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" it is marked by persistent, excessive worry about everyday things. When it is acute, it can cause physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea and rapid heartbeat. "Panic Disorder" produces similar physical symptoms and an overwhelming sense of fear. Those who suffer from "Social-Anxiety Disorder" may avoid contact with others because they fear scrutiny or embarrassment. "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder" sufferers cannot stop unwanted thoughts and have uncontrollable behaviors. Other anxiety disorders include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and phobias.
If you feel you may have an anxiety disorder there are several things you can do about it. You may feel silly talking to your doctor about it but it is the best thing you can do for yourself immediately. Your family doctor can easily treat your anxiety with medication to control it.
A natural option for anxiety is Cognitive behavior therapy. It will teach you breathing and relaxation techniques and thought management to help you control your worrisome thoughts and behaviors. You can ask your family doctor for a referral to a clinic that teaches it, or simply do a Goggle check for it in your hometown.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is showing promise currently for people who suffer from panic disorder and social anxiety. This is a relatively new technique that helps you reprocess traumatic events so that you can then face them in a calm and centered way.
Your short-term anxiety disorder may be treated by, as much as possible, reducing the stressful situations in your life. Maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly and make sure you are getting enough sleep.
Some people make their anxiety attacks much worse then they need to be. When you feel yourself becoming panicky try telling yourself "I am fine, there is nothing to be afraid of." Then stop and take 10 deep breaths and release them slowly. Taking the focus off the panic and on to the breathing is a very effective technique for a lot of people.
Making a time during your day for prayer or meditation seems to work well for many people. Concentrating on a power higher then you helps some people to center and release the anxious worry thoughts.
Writing down your worries is a technique suggested by some psychologists. After writing down the problem come up with a list of several ways to solve it. Keep your list with you and pull it out any time you feel anxious.
If you begin to feel overwhelmed by worry find a positive way to distract yourself. Call a friend, listen to music or turn on an interesting television program. Remind yourself that there is nothing that you can do, at that very moment, to change things. Make a conscious decision to "dismiss" your worry thought and replace them with a mind picture of something that calms you.
Keep calm and remember that, from time to time, everyone experiences anxiety. You are simply being a normal human being. You are not going crazy. Relax and tell yourself what Scarlet O' Hara did in the movie Gone With The Wind, "I'll think about that tomorrow."
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