Relief for Anxiety Disorder

Asma Rehman, LPC

Some of us have a natural tendency to worry, but for those with anxiety disorders, the worrying goes deeper than that. There is a mental, physical, and emotional disruption to everyday activities because of the debilitating anxiety. Therapists describe anxiety as the experience of having panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, and worrying that will not subside. Here are some common types of anxiety disorders and their treatment options.

Different Types of Anxiety

Anxiety categorizes into several classifications. However, their common theme is that it can affect a person’s ability to work or be part of any activities. The disorder can be mild to severe, leading the person to disconnect themselves from social interactions and harming relationships. Depending on the type of anxiety experienced, treatment can vary from exposure therapy to anxiety management strategies. Here are a few anxiety disorders treated by our therapists specializing in anxiety treatment:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

This anxiety disorder resolves around a client’s glaring need to check on things repeatedly. Clients can also become debilitated by their need to carry out specific rituals over and over again.

Panic disorder

An ongoing and unexpected disorder where a client fear that imminent danger is coming. Panic attacks mainly have physiological symptoms that include sweating, shaking, and quickness of breath.

Phobias

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder where the client feel an intense fear of an object or an experience. The individual has an urgent need to avoid the object or situation at all costs.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

PTSD is a traumatic anxiety disorder where the client has experienced something awful in the past where specific triggers may bring back that traumatic experience to the forefront of the client’s mind.

Feeling anxious is a very common side effect of losing somebody special. If that’s something you’re experiencing, make sure to read our latest blog post on: Understanding Grief-Related Anxiety (+ 5 Ways to Cope).

Hoarding

This order both relieves and yields anxiety. Clients who hoard often experience extreme feelings of panic and fear at the thought of cleaning out their accumulated goods. Researchers have noticed that hoarding is a coping mechanism after the experience of a stressful or traumatic event.

Treatment Options

There are several treatment options for anxiety disorders; there isn’t one specific formula that can be stamped out to have the best success rate. As every individual experiences anxiety differently, management options are tailor-made by a therapist.

Cognitive therapy

Research has shown that the most effective treatment option is cognitive therapy where a counselor will target on the negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. By changing the patterns of negative emotions associated with the stress, a client will be able to have purposeful and rational self-talk instead. The premise of this therapy is to encourage the individual’s ability to challenge old paradigms and fears that lead to their anxieties.

Behavior therapy

Desensitization is another mode of anxiety disorder treatment where the client is aided by the therapist to face their anxiety. The gradual desensitization of their anxiety allows the client to become confident in using learned techniques to control their fears. Here are some other options for treatment that our anxiety therapy experts have tailor-made for our clients.

Gaining a deeper understanding of the anxiety itself

At the center for treating anxiety itself, our anxiety disorder specialists had found that their clients had made profound progress when they intentionally learned about their anxiety. By educating themselves on what happens when they experience stress, these clients were better able to prepare themselves. Having an awareness of what may trigger their anxiety attacks and the internal physiological, emotional, and cognitive changes, the client will be better able to deal with the symptoms.

Read: 4 Things to Do When Your Anxiety Feels Too Big

Relaxation techniques

Anxiety attacks can cause significant physiological changes that further the anxiety itself. Clients have reported having shortness of breath, tense muscles, and accelerated heart rates. Our anxiety disorder experts recommend muscle relaxation exercises and correct breathing techniques to relieve the tension they experience.

Exposure therapy

A licensed therapist specializing in anxiety disorder will work with you through your fears, helping you analyze your concerns and working towards creating a plan that will gradually decrease your anxieties. Using breathing techniques and relaxation exercises to cope, your counselor will help you build confidence through repeated exposure to your fears.

Changing up diets

For milder cases of anxiety, a simple change in diet can be all a client needs. Studies have found that magnesium deficiencies can contribute to feelings of anxiety overall. Also, a shortage of calcium and vitamin B in our diets can aggravate the symptoms of anxiety. Clients who opt to take control of their foods are recommended to ingest more wholegrain cereals, leafy greens, and low-fat dairy for their anxiety disorder treatments.

Regular exercising program

A steady and consistent workout routine has been known to thwart the symptoms of anxiety disorders. The body can release natural chemicals to fight off the physical symptoms of anxiety and promote relaxation.

Self-esteem and assertiveness training

Communication exercises are vital to assertiveness and self-esteem training. When a client has a hard time being assertive, and in expressing themselves, they are unconsciously lowering their self-confidence and reinforcing their anxieties. By building a high self-esteem, clients will learn to cope with the feelings of worthlessness that triggers many of their worries in the first place.

Problem-solving strategies

When a client has anxieties, these are worries that they cannot think through, thus triggering concern over how they can manage. Our anxiety disorder experts will work with them to create a structured system to solve any problems the clients may have in the future. These strategies include learning how to look at a problem in smaller increments, breaking them down the problem into more manageable sizes.

Support groups

Having a reliable support network is precisely what a client with anxiety disorder needs because they tend to isolate themselves from relationships and interactions out of fear. Our therapists understand this need for a client to hide from the world, but by reaching out to others with similar issues can foster a greater sense of community instead of shame and guilt.

If you’re looking for a supportive community where you can connect with others who have experienced anxiety or depression, look no further than our Houston anxiety support group. Here, you’ll find a safe and non-judgmental space to share your struggles and receive the support you need to feel less alone. Our members understand what you’re going through and are here to offer guidance, comfort, and hope. Don’t wait any longer to connect with others who understand. Join our Houston anxiety support group today.

If you need help in any of the above areas, you can contact us at the Grief Recovery Center in Houston, TX for more info today.

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