Anxiety and substance use disorder often go hand-in-hand. People who suffer from anxiety may turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate and cope with their symptoms. Unfortunately, this can create a vicious cycle, as the substances can then worsen the anxiety. If you suffer from anxiety and struggle with substance use, it’s important to get help. Prairie Recovery anxiety treatment program in North Dakota teaches you how coping with anxiety can help you break the cycle and live a healthy, sober life.
Coping With Anxiety: What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their life. It’s a feeling of apprehension or fear about what’s to come. But for some people, anxiety can be much more than just a feeling. It can be all-consuming, making it hard to focus on anything else. It is the body’s natural response to stress and can be triggered by various factors, such as work, school, or personal relationships.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States. There are different anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias.
Anxiety Symptoms
Anxiety symptoms can vary from person to person, but some common signs are. If you’re experiencing any of the following, it could be a sign that you’re suffering from anxiety:
- Feeling restless or on edge
- Feeling tired all the time
- Feeling irritable
- Having trouble concentrating
- Having trouble sleeping
- Having a hard time controlling feelings of worry
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Stomach problems
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Trembling
Coping Techniques for Anxiety
If you’re one of the millions who suffer from anxiety, you know how debilitating it can be. The constant worry and fear can be all-consuming, making it hard to focus on anything else.
If you are struggling, know that there are many coping techniques for anxiety to help you manage your symptoms and regain control of your life. Here are five coping techniques for anxiety:
1. Identify Your Triggers
What is it that sets off your anxiety? Is it a certain situation, such as public speaking, or is it a certain type of person? Once you know your triggers, you can develop a plan to avoid or cope with them with one or more coping strategies for anxiety.
2. Challenge Your Negative Thoughts
It’s important to challenge these negative thoughts and remind yourself that they’re not true. Write down your negative thoughts and then come up with evidence that disproves them. For example, if you’re worried that you’re not good enough, remind yourself of all the times you’ve been successful.
3. Breathe
When you’re feeling anxious, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode. This means your heart rate and breathing speed up, and you might start to feel dizzy or lightheaded. To counteract this, it’s important to focus on your breath and slow it down. Take deep, slow breaths and count to four as you inhale and eight as you exhale.
4. Exercise
Tension headaches are a common symptom of anxiety. To help relieve the tension, it’s important to relax your muscles. One way to do this is to do a progressive muscle relaxation exercise. Start by tensing the muscles in your toes and then slowly work your way up to your head, tensing and relaxing each muscle group. Exercising also helps release endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects, taking your mind off your anxious thoughts.
5. Seek Professional Help
If your anxiety is severe or interfering with your life, it’s important to seek professional help. A professional can help you understand and manage your life better. They can also provide you with tools and techniques to cope with anxiety. Don’t be afraid to seek help; it can make a big difference.
Prairie Recovery Will Teach You Coping Strategies for Anxiety
If you suffer from anxiety and struggle with substance use disorder, it’s important to get help. The team of highly skilled professionals at Prairie Recovery can teach you how coping with anxiety can improve your life for the better. Contact us today at [Direct] to understand more about our coping strategies for anxiety.