Recently, stock market fluctuations, national-level quarantines, and lost work has led to many people experiencing more anxiety than ever. The imposed isolation in several cities also makes it difficult for people who feel anxious to go out and get help or find ways to ease their loneliness. Even in these uncertain times, you can still get anxiety treatment in many ways.
What You Can Do at Home for Anxiety Treatment
If you feel anxious, some lifestyle changes and new habits could help. Due to the national requests for most people to stay home if possible, these techniques for reducing your anxiety levels don’t require you to leave home.
For example, if you feel afraid and want to run away, consider jogging on a treadmill. This option helps you to get out any pent-up energy while giving you a natural mood boost from the exercise-induced endorphin rush.
Another exercise option to try is yoga. By combining meditation, deep breathing, and stretching, you get a multifaceted approach to lowering your stress. Follow along with yoga videos online to turn your home into a relaxing workout studio.
Another thing that you can do to help reduce stress is to find a hobby that you enjoy. By focusing on a hobby instead of the fear-filled headlines, you can distract yourself from the anxiety. Whether you like reading, playing video games, doing puzzles, building furniture, knitting, or painting, try something new to bring something positive to your mind.
If these techniques for reducing stress don’t work, you may have a more serious problem that requires professional help.
Signs That You Need Professional Anxiety Treatment
Anxiety disorders occur frequently throughout the population. In fact, within the last year, 19.1% of adults in the United States reported an anxiety disorder. Throughout their lives, 31.1% of Americans will experience some form of anxiety. Don’t feel bad if at-home treatment methods don’t work for you. There are other ways to get help for more serious, long-lasting anxiety disorders.
Examine your thoughts and behaviors or ask a friend or family member to help. If you notice any of the following, you may need an evaluation from a professional before you get anxiety treatment:
- Sweating
- Tremors or shaking
- Upset stomach or unexplained body aches
- Feeling jumpy or irritable
- Fearing the worst
First, when you go to a professional, you will find out what type of anxiety you have and how to treat it. Some experts recommend therapy while others prescribe medications. Your doctor will determine the best treatment for you.
Anxiety Treatment and Addiction
When people feel anxious, they often turn to means to soothe themselves. In fact, 20% of people with anxiety have a substance use disorder. Unfortunately, for many people, this form of self-medication comes through abusing alcohol or drugs. While taking drugs may help to ease the mental anguish temporarily, the fears will return once the drugs wear off. But taking more drugs will only perpetuate the cycle. Additionally, over time, you will find that you need more drugs to achieve the same effect.
During times such as this, if you use drugs or alcohol, try to mind how much you use. If you develop any of the following symptoms of abuse or addiction, contact a treatment center:
- Using illegal drugs
- Hiding drug or alcohol use or lying about use
- Needing higher doses to get the same effect
- Refusing to spend time with friends or family due to drug or alcohol use
If you have anxiety and an addiction, you need extra help that your primary care physician may not be capable of delivering. Don’t let addiction ruin your life. You can get both anxiety and substance abuse treatment through a dual diagnosis program at a quality rehab center. Getting care for addiction can help you to learn to also control your anxiety. Find a quality rehab care center for help for drug addictions and turn your life around. Call Oceanfront Recovery at 877.279.1777 today to speak to an addiction specialist.
