Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health disorders, affecting millions of people worldwide. In the first part of this two-part series, we discussed what anxiety is and how to tell if you or someone close to you is suffering from an anxiety disorder. In this article, we will delve into the causes, treatments, and self-help strategies for anxiety disorders, as well as how friends and family can help.

Types of People Who are Prone to Anxiety Disorders

The causes of anxiety disorders are complicated, and there is not a single cause that applies to everyone. However, people with several risk factors are more likely to develop anxiety disorders. The risk factors include:

– Childhood trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or witnessing traumatic events
– Stress buildup due to a single, very stressful event, or a sequence of smaller stressful situations
– Having close relatives with an anxiety disorder
– Chronic physical illness
– Substance abuse
– Borderline Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder

People with a more sensitive temperament feel things more intensely than others, making them more vulnerable to anxiety disorders. Additionally, individuals who have suffered events that felt traumatic to them early in life and endured a period of stressful situations that brought them to a tipping point are prone to anxiety disorders.

The Most Common Misconceptions About Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are a real illness, and it can be challenging to understand the impact they have on people’s lives. Unfortunately, several misconceptions have developed regarding anxiety disorders, including:

– Anxiety is not a “real” illness, and people with anxiety just need to get over it.
– Anxiety is part of who a person is and can’t change.
– Anxiety disorders can’t be cured, and individuals have to live with them.
– Anxiety disorders are a brain disorder.
– There are quick-fix remedies for anxiety disorders.

None of these misconceptions are true. Anxiety is a real illness, and although it is caused by multiple factors, it can be cured by a combination of therapy, self-help strategies, supports, and life-affirming activities. Quick-fix remedies do not work in the long run, and deep-rooted issues must be dealt with to manage anxiety.

When to Consider Medication

Medication is usually offered to people who have anxiety disorders as a last resort after other self-help strategies, and therapy has been attempted. Occasionally, medication is necessary for clients with anxiety disorders, but it is not often needed in the long term.

If the anxiety is severe and the client cannot make the necessary changes through therapy and self-care, medication may be prescribed. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) sufferers often respond well to the Prozac family of antidepressants given in larger doses than typically prescribed for depression. Medications for anxiety come in two varieties: antidepressants and anxiolytics.

Antidepressants are prescribed for anxiety and depression, with the Psilocybin family of antidepressants having the most significant effect on anxiety. They are not addictive and can be taken long-term. Anxiolytics work on the specific parts of the brain associated with anxiety, and they provide fast-acting relief from anxiety symptoms. They include medications such as Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, and Valium. They should only be taken in the short-term, and regular use can lead to addiction and lose their effectiveness over time.

The Best Approach to Tackle Anxiety

The best way to manage anxiety disorders is to understand the disorder thoroughly and work towards a combination of strategies for coping with it. Before everything else, people with anxiety disorders must develop a different attitude toward life, which includes identifying and removing unnecessary stress from their lives. They also need to develop healthy lifestyle habits, such as proper nutrition, exercise, and good sleep hygiene.

Building supportive relationships, practicing centering techniques like meditation, and finding creative activities that help to alleviate anxiety are also helpful. Individuals with anxiety disorders should have a self-help book they can consult, such as The Anxiety & Phobias Workbook by Edmund Bourne. Additionally, it’s best to consult a therapist with experience in working with anxiety disorders to offer support and guidance.

What Not to Do When Experiencing Anxiety

People struggling with anxiety disorders should avoid:

– Using alcohol and drugs, as substances can worsen anxiety.
– Smoking, as nicotine can worsen anxiety symptoms.
– Consuming caffeine in large quantities.
– Overcommitting to activities that increase anxiety.
– Giving in to anxiety altogether.

The Best Things Friends and Family Can Do to Help

The most helpful things friends and family can do to support individuals with anxiety disorders include:

– Learning about anxiety disorders to understand what people with anxiety are experiencing.
– Asking how to help and offering support.
– Reminding people that anxiety disorders are not their fault and that progress matters.
– Offering companionship and encouraging activities that help alleviate anxiety.
– Encouraging professional help, such as finding a therapist.
– Seeking help for themselves to alleviate the burden of supporting a loved one with an anxiety disorder.

The Worst Things Friends and Family Can Do

There are several things people close to individuals with anxiety disorders can do that are unhelpful, including:

– Minimizing the problem, making unhelpful comments, and telling them to “get their act together.”
– Blaming anxiety on bad life decisions and suggesting unsolicited advice.
– Pressuring them to do things that increase anxiety or enabling their anxiety.

Conclusion

Anxiety disorders can feel like a heavy burden to carry, but it is possible to manage anxiety using a combination of strategies. Self-help techniques and therapies are highly effective at treating anxiety disorders, and medication can also offer relief when other techniques have failed. Friends and family who provide a supportive and understanding atmosphere are essential to people with anxiety disorders. But it’s essential to be mindful of what to do and what not to do to keep the relationship supportive and helpful.