Fear and anxiety are similar in that they both activate the natural survival mechanisms of the body. When someone is in danger, their body reacts automatically to this danger. Their senses become heightened and their muscles constrict so that they can either fight against the danger or run away from it. This “fight or flight” reaction is, thus, a useful coping mechanism that helps us survive real dangers that we may face. Unfortunately, this same “fight or flight” reaction can create problems when anxiety is involved.
One way to describe anxiety is that it is fear of something in the future based on something in the past. While fear helps us survive dangerous moments, anxiety is more about anticipating danger in the future. As a result, when someone is anxious they tend to feel fear in the moment while worrying about problems in the future. These worries often tend to result from past life experiences. Anxiety, therefore, often tends to result in a cycle of escalating fear and worry. If left unbroken, this cycle of fear and worry can become overwhelming and disruptive to normal functioning. Fortunately, there are a lot of tools that are available to effectively treat anxiety. Some of the anxiety treatment methods that tend to help with anxiety include:
Cognitive Treatment
The more a person learns to actively manage their thoughts, the better they tend to be at managing anxiety.
Behavioral Treatment
Learning how to change your actions and direct them in positive ways is often a key component of anxiety management. Learning how to relax your body and be “in the moment” is also an important part of the tools you learn with behavioral treatment.
Psycho-Education
The more an individual learns about anxiety and understands the triggers and causes of anxiety, the more effective they tend to be at reducing anxiety.
Medication Management
There are a number of medications that can be very effective in breaking the anxiety cycle. When used in conjunction with psychotherapy, medications can be very useful in dealing with anxiety.
Trauma Resolution
Anxiety can result from past traumas. When these traumas are resolved, the anxiety tends to diminish.
Coping Skills Training
The more skills a person has to deal with the challenges of life, the less anxiety they tend to experience.
Conflict Resolution Training
Unresolved conflicts can lead to anxiety. Learning how to resolve conflicts effectively can therefore be critical in reducing anxiety in the future.
Stress Management Training
Everyone experiences stress. Sometimes, however, the stress becomes overwhelming and begins to lead to anxiety. Learning to cope with stress is therefore a valuable tool to decrease anxiety.
Communication Skills Training
Effective communication decreases conflict, improves relationships, and generally has a positive impact on an individual’s sense of well-being.
Grief Therapy
Unresolved grief can lead to anxiety. The more a person is free from past losses, the more they are able to live more completely in the moment.
Family of Origin Therapy
Unresolved issues within an individual’s family of origin can lead to guilt, depression, shame, and anxiety. Resolving these issues often has a positive significant impact on anxiety.
New Dimensions Can Help!
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms or problems, New Dimensions can help. Our team of experienced therapists and psychiatrists can help you overcome these challenges and help you develop the skills you need to thrive. To schedule a complementary assessment or to find out more about our programs, contact us at 1-800-685-9796.
Our affiliate, MHThrive, provides Individual Therapy, Couples and Marriage Counseling, and Family Therapy at our locations in Katy, The Woodlands, and the Clear Lake area of Houston, Texas. We also provide telehealth therapy for anyone who resides within the State of Texas. To schedule an appointment with one of the MHThrive therapists, contact us at 713-477-0333 or visit www.mhthrive.com to learn more.