Anxiety is our body’s way of telling us that danger is afoot and allowing us to fight or flee such a situation.
Feeling anxious all the time can be a problem, especially when the experience occurs during situations that pose no immediate threat.
You know when anxiety becomes a disorder when you overthink specific scenarios, and the feeling of fear doesn’t go away even after a dangerous situation has ended.
This can interfere with daily life and lead to other conditions, such as insomnia and chronic pain.
Fortunately, modern science is helping individuals with anxiety disorders lead healthy and productive lives.
If you count yourself among 40 million U.S. adults diagnosed with anxiety, here are a few things you might want to try:
1. Know Your Emotional Triggers
In most cases, anxiety attacks are caused by traumatic experiences in the past. The attacks occur when you come into contact with an object that reminds you of a fatal accident you went through.
Whether it’s a car collision or a fight between your parents, knowing these emotional triggers can help you address the disorder and come up with a good coping strategy.
2. Keep Track of Your Thoughts
If you weren’t involved in an accident or experienced a traumatic situation, it helps if you can record every instance of an anxiety attack as it occurs.
With a journal, take notes of your thoughts and learn how they led to a feeling of dread. You can also record the environment at the time of each attack.
Were you in the middle of a crowd? Was it hot outside?
Writing down these factors not only helps you understand your condition but also discover new ways of dealing with stress and preventing future attacks.
3. Steer Clear of Caffeine and Cigarettes
If you feel like you can’t get through the day without a hot cup of joe, then you might as well get used to it. Caffeine can amplify the effects of an anxiety attack.
In some cases, drinking coffee can also trigger an attack because caffeine plays up the symptoms associated with anxiety: heart palpitations, nervousness, and restlessness.
With this in mind, you should try limiting your caffeine intake or stop drinking coffee altogether.
Likewise, you should avoid smoking. Even if you think it helps you calm down, the nicotine in cigarettes can increase tensions and worsen the symptoms of an attack.
4. Look for Organic Medication
Prescription drugs like diazepam and alprazolam are often prescribed for patients who experience severe anxiety attacks.
However, mental professionals may also prescribe natural remedies such as herbal teas and essential oils.
You can also check to see if smoking CBD flower for anxiety can help you deal with the symptoms as they occur.
Still, it’s important to get advice from your doctor before trying out alternative treatments.
Takeaway
Having an anxiety disorder doesn’t make you any less of a person. You just need to know how you can deal with this condition and prevent an attack from happening.