Anxiety is the momentary feeling of stress and urgency when you think you may be in danger. An anxiety disorder is when these feelings go beyond the body’s natural response to stress and become debilitating to your daily life.
Most people will feel anxiety regularly, and up to 40 million adults in the United States experience an anxiety disorder every year.
Fortunately, there are lots of treatments and lifestyle changes you can make to combat your anxiety. While no treatment works for everyone, anyone can find a treatment that works for them.
Here is a helpful guide explaining some tips and tricks that can help with everyday anxiety symptoms.
How Can I Help Anxiety?
Exercise
Your mental health and your physical health are closely linked. Take some time to get some exercise – somewhere around 30 minutes, three to five times a week.
Sleep Hygiene
You should get an average of 8 hours of sleep a night. If you are struggling to get to sleep because of anxiety, try quitting electronics before you go to bed or developing a consistent sleep schedule.
Cut Back on Caffeine and Alcohol
Although these substances are comfortable and easy to fall back on during times of trouble, caffeine (like in soda or coffee) and alcohol both can have adverse effects on anxiety.
Different Kinds of Anxiety Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Selective Mutism
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety can manifest in a number of different forms, but the most common signs and symptoms include the following:
- Feeling nervous or restless
- A sense of impending doom
- Increased heart rate
- Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Avoiding things associated with your anxiety
What causes anxiety?
What leads a person to developing an anxiety disorder is not as clear as getting the Flu. It can be triggered by a number of things, such as inherited traits or traumatic experiences in life.
In some cases, anxiety disorders are a result of underlying health issues, but anxiety symptoms may also indicate another underlying medical illness.
Examples of medical problems that can be linked to anxiety may include:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism)
- Respiratory disorders, such as COPD or Asthma
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Chronic pain
- Irritable bowel syndrome
How does ketamine treatment for anxiety work?
Exactly how ketamine treats anxiety disorders is still being researched. The current understanding is that ketamine binds to receptors in the brain that increases the amount of a neurotransmitter, glutamate, is released. This will then set off a chain of reactions within the brain that affects thinking and emotional regulation.
To put this in simpler terms, the brain reacts to ketamine in a way that triggers hormones that help create more positive emotions. This can occur within minutes after a person receives their infusion, but some people may need several treatments before they experience the highest level of benefits. Contact us today to learn more about the anxiety treatments that we offer at Boise Ketamine Clinic.
