Is Anxiety Curable? Understanding Anxiety Disorders And Mental Health

Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental disorders in the US, affecting roughly 40 million adults every year. Anxiety is a common feeling of fear and uneasiness that most people experience at some point or another. At healthy levels, it’s normally not a cause for concern. However, frequent, severe episodes of anxiety could be a sign of something more serious, like a mental health disorder. There are many types of anxiety disorders, ranging from social anxiety to panic disorder, and each can have different treatment options. While there may not be a cure for anxiety, there are plenty of ways it can be managed. In this article, we’ll explore the symptoms of anxiety and treatments for anxiety.

Understanding anxiety disorders

We all feel anxious from time to time. Anxiety is normal to feel as it is the body’s automatic response to feeling pressure, threats, or staring down a challenging situation. However, some people experience so much anxiety that it becomes debilitating and may affect their mental health and ability to live life productively. In these cases, an individual may be living with an anxiety disorder. 

There are many different types of anxiety disorders, and each has its own symptoms, signs, and treatments. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), phobias, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder are just a few. Separation anxiety disorder is marked by intense anxiety whenever someone is not around a family member or significant other. Social anxiety disorder makes it difficult to function in social settings. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by a constant fear or dread of generalized things in life. 

Some people may consider obsessive-compulsive disorder to be an anxiety disorder. However, while people diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder may experience anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder is not clinically considered to be an anxiety disorder. 

Anxiety can manifest with physical symptoms like a racing heart, lightheadedness, stomachaches, quick breathing, hot flashes, and more. It can be challenging to distinguish between anxiety disorders and other conditions in some cases. Often, anxiety is comorbid with other disorders such as depression. Speaking to a professional is the only way to get a proper diagnosis and start building a treatment plan. 

Symptoms of anxiety disorders

There are many different signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders. Anxiety can affect people differently, meaning that not everyone will experience the same symptoms or the same severity of symptoms. 

Common symptoms of an anxiety disorder

General signs and symptoms of an anxiety disorder may include:

• Constantly being worried, tense, or on edge
• Anxiety interfering with school, work, or other responsibilities
• Constant fears that you know are irrational but will not go away
• A fear that something bad will happen to you, or a sense of constant dread
• Avoiding everyday situations because they make you feel anxious
• Sudden attacks where it feels like your heart is thudding against your chest
• Feeling like danger is around the corner
• Irritability
• Feeling jumpy or tense

Physical signs of an anxiety disorder

Sometimes, anxiety can cause physical symptoms, such as:

• Sweating
• An upset stomach
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Feeling that your heart is pounding
• Shortness of breath
• Shaking
• Insomnia

Only a healthcare professional can diagnose an anxiety disorder. If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of an anxiety disorder, make an appointment with your primary care physician.

Is anxiety curable? There's no cure, but it's treatable 

Anxiety is not curable, but there are ways you can live a happy, healthy life even if you struggle with this condition. By working with a mental health professional, like a therapist, you can identify the root of your anxiety and take steps to manage it. A therapist can equip you with coping mechanisms and other tools to help you live a productive life despite your symptoms. 

Treatment options for anxiety: Cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, etc.

Although there is no cure for anxiety, there are treatment options that may help relieve symptoms of anxiety. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Professional talk therapy is a treatment option that has shown promise for many people. One type of therapy in particular, called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered to be a gold-standard for treating anxiety and stress-related disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps clients to recognize when their thoughts may contribute to anxiety. During cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, a therapist works with clients to help them transform unhelpful thought patterns into helpful ones in order to help relieve symptoms of anxiety.

Medication

Medication is proven to help manage symptoms of anxiety. There are different types of medications used to treat anxiety symptoms. Some medications are used for short-term treatment, while some are used for long-term treatment. For example, medications like alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium) are used to treat anxiety symptoms short-term, while medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are used to treat anxiety symptoms long-term. 

Each type of anxiety medication helps reduce anxiety symptoms using a specific mechanism. For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors work by blocking the body’s ability to absorb serotonin, a hormone and neurotransmitter (chemical messengers in the brain). This increases serotonin levels in the brain to help improve mood. 

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes may promote healthier living and reduce the amount of anxiety one is experiencing. Lifestyle changes could include exercising regularly, eating nutritiously, and getting enough sleep at night. Spending time with loved ones, developing hobbies, and making time for self-care can all also be essential. Sometimes, little changes can add up and make a huge difference. 

Online therapy for people with anxiety

While there is no cure for anxiety, there are plenty of ways it can be managed. One of the most effective treatment options is talk therapy, which can be done online or in person. Some people may prefer to see a therapist in person, but if you don’t have options in your local area, lack transportation, or need a cost-effective option, online counseling may be a more ideal choice. With Regain, an online counseling platform, you can connect with a therapist through video chats, phone calls, or in-app messaging. If you struggle with certain types of anxiety, like social anxiety, online therapy may give you the chance to still get the support you need without having to go to an office in person. A therapist can listen as you get worries off your chest and provide you with tools to cope with your anxiety symptoms as they arise. In time, you can learn how to manage your mental health in a way that allows you to live a healthy, happy, and productive life.

The effectiveness of mental health care through online therapy

Online therapy has been shown to be just as effective as traditional face-to-face interventions. In one study, researchers discovered that an internet-delivered CBT treatment for generalized anxiety disorder was efficacious in reducing symptoms of anxiety, including pathological worry. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a therapeutic framework that encourages individuals to recognize their unhelpful thoughts and reframe them to be more positive. This can alter the negative beliefs they hold about themselves and help change their behavior as well. 

Takeaway

While worrying can be normal in healthy amounts, clinical anxiety can be debilitating and make it difficult to focus on school, work, and life at home. Although anxiety doesn’t have a cure, it can still be important to seek ways to treat it. Common treatment options can include medication, talk therapy, and lifestyle changes, though a combination of these is often pursued. Reaching out to a professional, such as a therapist, can be an essential step in getting the care you need. A therapist can help you understand how to avoid anxiety-inducing situations and teach you coping techniques that can help during times of distress. Instead of letting anxiety take control of you, take the first step by learning new ways to combat it.