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What happens if I don’t seek treatment for my anxiety?
Anxiety vs an anxiety disorder
Anxiety is a normal, healthy emotion we all experience from time to time. It has an evolutionary value in that it alerts us to danger or threat. However, for some people, their anxiety becomes disproportionate to what’s happening and they can find themselves feeling anxious without there being any clear trigger. This is when anxiety moves from a healthy response to stress to an anxiety disorder.
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, you might find yourself unable to stop worrying, living in a state of heightened stress. This can become an all-consuming experience that feels as though it has taken over your life.
What are the different types of anxiety?
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) – If you suffer from GAD, you’re likely to feel anxious about most things rather than have a specific focus for your worries. This could have an effect on your concentration, sleep and appetite, and make it difficult to live life the way you’d like to.
Panic disorder – If you suffer from panic disorder, you might find yourself experiencing intense panic. This could be triggered by specific situations or be more generalised. Over time, people who suffer from panic attacks become anxious about experiencing another panic attack so the focus of the anxiety becomes the anticipation of anxiety. Panic disorder often involves physical symptoms of anxiety such as palpitations, dizziness, sweating and more.
Other forms of anxiety are health anxiety, phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
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Types of treatment for anxiety
In the short term, anxiety can be regulated through medication. If this is something we think you could benefit from, we will set up an assessment for a psychiatric review.
However, in the long term, the most effective treatment for anxiety is therapy. The focus of your therapy will be on your thinking and how this influences your anxiety. You will also explore the different behaviours that maintain your anxiety and learn more effective coping mechanisms for dealing with anxious episodes.
Different approaches benefit different people. Following your initial assessment, we will recommend the approach we believe will most benefit you according to your symptoms and what’s at the root of your anxiety.
Frequently asked questions
When should I get help for anxiety?
If your anxiety has begun to interfere in your everyday life and relationships and it’s leaving you feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to seek professional help.
Which treatments are most effective for anxiety?
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) are generally the most effective treatments for anxiety.
Why does my anxiety get heightened by world events?
By default, anxiety is characterised by a feeling of vulnerability in the world. When external events increase this feeling of threat, you may find that your anxiety symptoms get worse.
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