What Is It Like Living With Anxiety
Anxiety plagues millions of adults every year – it is a debilitating condition that interferes with your basic ability to live your life. If there’s 40 million people with anxiety in the United States each year, then there are also 40 million different experiences with this condition. No one will go through this disorder exactly the same.
How does anxiety feel?
Symptoms range from person to person, but some common ones include:
- Intense, persistent worrying
- Irritability or irritation
- Restlessness and being on edge
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Nausea or gastrointestinal problems
- Feeling light-headed
- Increased breathing rate (hyperventilation)
- Panic attacks
- Muscle tension
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Avoidance of anxiety-related triggers
- Intrusive thoughts
Many people who suffer from an anxiety disorder also report panic attacks, which are sudden onset episodes of intense anxiety symptoms, such as the following:
- Choking sensation
- Feeling hot or cold
- Chest pain
- Shaking or trembling
- Sweating
- Numbness or tingling
- Heart palpitations
- Nausea or gastrointestinal problems
- Feeling detached
- Shortness of breath
- Fear of dying
- Tightness in the chest
What Types Of Anxiety Disorders Are There?
- Agoraphobia, where you fear and avoid places or situations that make you feel anxious, helpless, or embarrassed
- Generalized anxiety disorder, the standard anxiety disorder in which you have worry out of proportion to reality
- Panic disorder, where you experience episodes of intense anxiety called panic attacks
- Selective mutism, where children are unable to speak in certain social situations
- Separation anxiety disorder, where a child is overly anxious upon separation from those who play parental roles
- Social anxiety disorder, where a person experiences high levels of anxiety and fear over everyday social situations
- Substance-induced anxiety disorder, where the symptoms of anxiety are a direct result of drug abuse or withdrawal.
What Causes Anxiety?
It’s complicated. A lot of different things can lead to an anxiety disorder. For some people, it’s a result of genetics, but for others, it comes down to traumatic or stressful events.
Medical conditions sometimes linked to anxiety include the following:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Hyperthyroidism
- Respiratory disorders like COPD or asthma
- Drug abuse
- Drug withdrawal
- Chronic pain
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Other risk factors for anxiety disorders include:
- Trauma
- Stress from an illness or health condition
- Stress buildup
- Temperament
- A history of other mental health conditions
- Family history of mental health conditions
- Substance abuse
How Do You Treat Anxiety
Anxiety makes the future seem hopeless, but the truth is that you can find relief thanks to innovative new treatments, lifestyle changes, and the support of people you care about.
Ketamine Infusions
Though ketamine rose to fame as an anesthetic and pain reliever, research in the last two decades has indicated that ketamine may be the start of a brand new era of mental health treatment.
Lifestyle Changes
Mental health and physical health are inherently connected to one another. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, eat well-balanced meals, and exercise at least 30 minutes three to five times a week.
Social Support
Your friends and family, as well as doctors and therapists, may be valuable sources of support for you during your struggle with anxiety. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.
Get The Help you Need Today
If you or perhaps someone you might know is suffering from the effects of anxiety, contact Denovo Therapy of Lubbock, TX, and learn more about how our ketamine treatments for anxiety disorders can help you take back control of your life again.
