Anxiety is an emotion – a momentary feeling of stress, the human body letting you know it thinks you may be in danger. Anxiety disorders are more serious mental health conditions where feelings of anxiety go above and beyond this normal response to urgency or perceived danger and greatly disrupt your life.
Most people will experience anxiety regularly, and up to 40 million adults in the United States experience an anxiety disorder every year. Fortunately, despite how the symptoms can make a person feel, there is still hope for the future.
Anxiety disorders can be treated through medications, therapy sessions, lifestyle changes, and more. While no single treatment will work for every person, anyone can find a treatment that helps relieve their symptoms.
Here is a helpful guide explaining some tips and tricks that can help with handling anxiety symptoms.
How To Handle Anxiety
Exercise
Mental health and physical health are two sides of the same coin. Regular exercise can help relieve anxiety symptoms. This can be as little as 30 minutes of exercise, 3 to 5 times a week.
Sleep Schedule
Ideally, every person should get around eight hours of sleep every night. If you are struggling to get to sleep, try techniques like adapting a consistent sleep schedule or avoiding screens and electronic devices an hour before bedtime.
Avoid Harmful Substances
If you find yourself anxious or stressed out, it’s easy to turn to things like caffeine or alcohol, but these substances may only make your anxiety worse in time.
Treatment
There should be no shame in seeking out treatment for your anxiety, especially if it is interfering with your everyday responsibilities.
The types of anxiety disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Selective Mutism
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder
The symptoms of anxiety
- Feelings of nervousness
- Feelings of restlessness
- A sense of impending doom or urgency
- Increased heart rate
- Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Avoidance of anxiety triggers
The Causes of Anxiety
The development of an anxiety disorder is not as crystal clear as other conditions, such as an illness like the common cold. Whereas a cold can be traced back to exposure to a cold virus, anxiety disorders are instead a complex mix of several biological and environmental factors.
Examples of conditions or medical problems linked to anxiety include some of the following:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems (like hyperthyroidism)
- Respiratory disorders, such as COPD or Asthma
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Chronic pain
- Irritable bowel syndrome
Ketamine Treatment For Anxiety
Exactly how ketamine treats anxiety disorders is still being researched, much like what leads to the development of anxiety. The current understanding is that ketamine binds to receptors in the brain that increase the amount of a neurotransmitter – glutamate – is released. This will then set off a chain of reactions within the brain that affects thinking and emotional regulation.
To put this in layman’s terms, the brain reacts to ketamine in a way that triggers hormones that help create more positive emotions. This can occur within minutes after a person receives their infusion, but some people may need several treatments before they experience the highest level of benefits.
If you or a loved one are suffering from anxiety, contact us today to find out if one of our innovative new treatment options are right for you.
