If you suffer from the symptoms of anxiety but you haven’t sought the help of an anxiety counselor because you don’t know enough about anxiety disorders or you’re afraid of the stigma that often surrounds getting treatment for mental issues, it’s important that you find out as much as you can so that you can get the help you need. Here are some anxiety facts you need to know:
1 – Anxiety Is A Real Illness
Everyone has anxiety from time to time; but anxiety that impairs your daily life is a very real condition that requires therapeutic intervention. Like other serious or debilitating mental and physical health problems, people with anxiety can’t just snap out of it; they must get the help of an anxiety counselor.
2 – Anxiety Disorders Are Common
According to the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), 18% of American adults suffer with anxiety disorders. This means that millions of Americans live with anxiety problems; unfortunately many of the types of anxiety problems they have cause them to be isolated. That means that people with anxiety often don’t realize that they are not alone.
3 – There Are Treatments Available For All Types Of Anxiety Disorders
While it is possible that there is a genetic component to anxiety, meaning that it can be inherited, there are treatments that can mitigate the symptoms once they become noticeable or debilitating. Medication and therapy can be used separately or together to help just about anyone with an anxiety disorder.
4 – Anxiety Problems Don’t Get Better On Their Own
Anxiety, like many other mental health issues, doesn’t get better on its own. Often, people with anxiety see their problems escalate over the course of years before seeking treatment usually because they are able to function on a daily basis.
5 – A Person With Anxiety Shouldn’t Avoid Stressful Situations
It’s impossible for most people to avoid every type of stressful situation that could trigger anxiety or a panic attack. Also, developing a habit of avoiding the things you know will cause you anxiety, like crowds or open spaces, only serves to reinforce the anxiety.
6 – Alcohol Does Not Help Anxiety
Sometimes people think a drink or a cigarette will calm their nerves. In the short term, this approach can be effective; however, drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes doesn’t address the root of your problem. It just postpones getting treatment for it. Additionally, these types of behaviors can eventually cause physical health problems.
7 – Therapy For Anxiety Can Have A Positive Effect In A Short Amount Of Time
The reason some people don’t seek professional help for their anxiety is that they think they’ll be in treatment for years. While some severe cases of anxiety disorders can take a long time to treat effectively, many people see results after only a few sessions. Each patient responds to treatment differently; but cognitive behavior therapy and other talk therapies are highly effective when it comes to helping people with anxiety disorders.
Find out more about anxiety disorders and learn to recognize the symptoms. For treatment, get the help of a qualified anxiety counselor by calling Insight Child & Family Counseling at (972) 426-9500. You can also visit us online at www.j9n.83e.myftpupload.com to learn more about our services.