Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress, threats, and fear. Usually, it goes away once the stressful situation is over and you start feeling calm again.
But for some people with anxiety disorders, that feeling can stick around long after the stress is gone. It can become overwhelming and affect your daily life.
There are ways you can learn to control and manage your anxiety.
This blog will explain the differences between everyday anxiety and anxiety disorders, discuss what puts you at risk, the types of anxiety and how long it takes to recover.
Living With Anxiety
What is Anxiety? Anxiety is a state that involves feelings of worry, uncertainty, and stress.
Living with anxiety can be complex, and your mental and physical health can be affected by it.
Anxiety has many faces, and people can experience it differently, depending on what’s happening. Most of the time, it comes from something specific.
It’s a feeling that can appear in many stressful situations.
It could be about an upcoming event, being scared of something that might happen, or overthinking about something that already happened; people can also get competition anxiety.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) says that anxiety is how our bodies respond to stress and helps us notice things that need our attention.
But when anxiety becomes too much for the situation or stops us from doing things, it might indicate an anxiety disorder.
What Causes Anxiety – Risk Factors
- Family history.
- Genetics.
- Traumatic events.
- Environment.
- Chronic stress.
- Your personality traits.
- Medical conditions.
- Substance and drug abuse.
- Other mental health conditions.
- Your childhood experiences.
- Brain chemistry.
Does Anxiety Ever Go Away?
Genes, life experiences, and the environment commonly influence anxiety. It’s a natural part of being human and usually goes away when the stressor is gone.
Sometimes, anxiety pops up in a specific situation, which is expected.
But anxiety disorders are different—they involve excessive worrying, which can cause feeling overwhelmed and unable to stop being anxious.
If left untreated, the symptoms can worsen over time.
It’s essential to manage anxiety and keep it from overtaking your life.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Among the types of anxiety disorders are:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Specific Phobias
People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can also experience anxiety symptoms.
Find out about the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks and how they differ.
Anxiety disorders can have different recovery periods depending on their type and severity.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Anxiety?
Everyone recovers from anxiety differently.
However, recovery is possible. Some people experience big improvements within weeks to months with appropriate treatment, but others might need lengthy treatment and ongoing management to cope with their anxiety.
What Influences Recovery?
- Type of anxiety. The kind of anxiety you have affects how long it takes to recover. Types differ in their ease of handling.
- The more severe your anxiety, the longer it might take to feel better. There is a tendency for milder cases to get better more quickly.
- Treatment method. The way you choose to treat your anxiety matters. Therapy or medication can work more rapidly.
- Sticking to treatment. If you follow your treatment plan well, you’re likely to recover faster.
- Getting help early: The sooner you get service, the better. Waiting too long can make a recovery take longer.
How Can Anxiety Be Treated?
There are different treatments for anxiety.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective form of psychotherapy, and it helps you recognize and change negative thought patterns and behaviors related to anxiety.
It teaches coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and ways to manage anxiety-provoking situations.
CBT also includes Exposure Therapy – which involves gradually and repeatedly confronting feared situations until they become less frightening.
It is commonly used for phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Medication
- Selective antidepressants can be prescribed for anxiety disorders.
- They can provide rapid relief from acute anxiety but can be habit-forming, so they’re usually only used as needed or short-term.
- Buspirone. This is an anti-anxiety medication, and it can sometimes be prescribed.
- Beta-blockers. These are sometimes prescribed for the physical symptoms of anxiety, especially for social anxiety disorder.
How You Can Soothe Your Anxiety Right Now
If you’re feeling anxious and need immediate relief, here are some simple steps you can take:
- Take slow, deep breaths.
- Remind yourself that it will pass.
- Make your body feel more relaxed by doing self-soothing activities like taking slow, deep breaths, gently tapping your body, and saying positive things to yourself.
- Tense and then relax each muscle group in your body, starting from your toes and working your way up to your head.
- Focus on the present rather than the future or the past.
- Do something you love, like reading a book or listening to music.
- Get 8-9 hours of sleep.
- Talk to someone you can trust. You might feel better right away if you share your worries.
- Limit sugar and caffeine because they can worsen anxiety, so avoid them for now.
- Use incense for anxiety; it can be calming.
- Take a short walk or do some light exercise.
- If you’re feeling extremely overwhelmed, seek support and professional help.
Finding Support – Psychiatrist for Anxiety Near Me
To find a psychiatrist for anxiety near you:
- Consult your PCP for a referral.
- Look up your insurance company’s directory.
- Check Psychology Today or ZocDoc to find a psychiatrist near you.
- Get a recommendation from someone you trust.
- You can also consider telepsychiatry services.
Bottom Line
Recovering from anxiety might have its timeline for each person, but with the proper support and resources, it is possible to recover.
If anxiety feels too much to deal with, ask a doctor or therapist for help—you don’t have to go through it alone; you deserve care and support.
Urgent Care of Kansas is here to help—we provide mental health care to anyone struggling and needing urgent support.
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