ANXIETY
How Anxiety Can Impact You
Stress is a natural part of life, and not all of it is even bad for you. But modern life is filled with so much stress, stimuli, and demands, that it can be hard to tell when our stress has become something more. Anxiety disorders can result from a build up of stress, genetic predispositions, or some combination of these factors, and can make it incredibly difficult for individuals to lead full, meaningful lives.
Examples of indicators of Generalized Anxiety include:
- Frequent worry, regardless of circumstances
- Difficulty making decisions due to fear of making the wrong one
- Difficulty starting tasks due to fear they won’t be done correctly
- Frequently imagining worst case scenarios
- Difficulty trying new things, going new places, or engaging with people because you don’t know exactly what to expect
Examples of indicators of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder include:
- Presence of thoughts or urges that are disturbing, unwanted, and don’t align with your values or principles.
- Attempts to manage those thoughts with ritualized behaviors such as counting, ordering, or handwashing
- Thoughts or behaviors described above make it difficult for you to engage in daily life.
Getting Support
Addressing anxiety from a mental health standpoint often involves a combination of therapy and medication management. Long acting medications such as SSRIs can help to reduce worry thoughts and help to regulate physical responses to anxiety such as difficulty sleeping and muscle tension. Therapy for anxiety can involve a range of approaches including challenging negative beliefs and learning tools for nervous system regulation (to name a few).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can also often be effectively managed through medication and therapy, particularly a form of therapy called Exposure Response Prevention. This treatment helps individuals confront sources of anxiety and obsessive thoughts without engaging in their standard compulsions. When this is paired with self soothing strategies, a strong connection between client and provider, and social supports, symptoms can often be very effectively managed.
Learn More
Here are some great resources for continued learning:
