Beach House Rehab Center » Blog » 5 of the Best Ways to Treat Anxiety
Blog - Beach House Rehab Center
A woman staring out a window pensively with the city reflected in it.
April 4, 2019

5 of the Best Ways to Treat Anxiety

Do you or someone you love suffer from anxiety? Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the population in the United States. To know the best ways to treat anxiety, it’s important to have an understanding of what this mental illness is and how it can be treated.

Anxiety is characterized by persistent nervousness, stress or worry. Common causes of anxiety may include family, work, health, money, or any other aspect of an individual’s life. People suffering from anxiety have a difficult time controlling these feelings, even when there is no apparent reason for concern.

Symptoms of anxiety include feelings of nervousness, irritability, having an impending sense of danger or panic, an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, trembling, lethargy, tiredness, difficulty sleeping, gastrointestinal issues, and difficulty concentrating. Finding ways to cope with anxiety is imperative for those living with this disorder.

5 Ways to Treat Anxiety

There are a number of different strategies to help treat the symptoms of anxiety. Below are five of the most common treatment options.

1. Seek Professional Treatment

Anxiety can affect many different aspects of an individual’s life. For those that need help with coping mechanisms, a professional therapist may be a great solution. There are a number of different treatments available to help with GAD. Both interpersonal and supportive therapy are prescribed for individuals suffering from this disorder. A therapist may help an individual identify their triggers, provide techniques on managing everyday symptoms, and much more. Depending on the individual and their severity, a therapist may also recommend a combination of therapy sessions and medications.

2. Develop a Daily Exercise Routine

One strategy that can help treat the symptoms of anxiety is to develop a daily exercise routine. Exercise is vital for both mental and physical well-being and can help to ease feelings of anxiety while also improving overall health. To make exercise a part of your everyday life, choose activities that you enjoy and stick to a weekly schedule.

3. Limit Alcohol and Caffeine Consumption

While your morning cup of coffee or an alcoholic beverage may seem harmless, they can actually trigger panic attacks in some individuals. Caffeine can cause the body to feel jittery and nervous, only worsening an individual’s symptoms. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a sedative that can calm the symptoms of anxiety for a short period of time, but then return stronger than before. Individuals struggling with anxiety should be extra cautious when drinking alcohol. The combination of alcoholism and a mental illness can lead to a co-occuring disorder, which will require special treatment in a dual diagnosis treatment center.

4. Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

When you think of treatment for anxiety, a healthy diet may not be the first thing to come to mind. However, consuming a well-balanced diet can help to control and lessen the symptoms associated with this mental illness. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates will provide the body with the nutrients it needs to run at its best.

5. Get Enough Sleep

Anxiety can have an impact on your sleep, which can leave you feeling tired, sluggish, and stressed during the day. When your body is fighting the symptoms of anxiety, it requires even more rest than normal. If you struggle with this mental illness, make sure you are getting enough quality sleep on a nightly basis.

Wrapping Up

At Beach House Recovery, we know that there is a strong connection between alcohol abuse and anxiety, or any other substance for that matter. Don’t turn to drugs or alcohol when you are feeling anxious; our team at our Florida rehab center can help you. Call us today to learn more about our inpatient drug and alcohol treatment options available.

Sources:

  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America. “Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).” Retrieved from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad.
  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America. “Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Symptoms.” Retrieved from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/symptoms.
  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America. “Tips.” Retrieved from https://adaa.org/tips.
  • Healthline. “10 Ways to Naturally Reduce Anxiety. “ Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-ways-to-reduce-anxiety#1.