Anxiety is a fact of life for just about everyone. For some people, the common signs of anxiety only have a minor, temporary effect. However, others have much more serious problems and require professional treatment. In either case, you may find that certain things trigger your feelings of anxiousness. You can take steps to learn how to cope with these anxiety triggers. You can also take steps that will help you avoid them altogether. Here are some tips on how to achieve this goal.
Understand and Recognize Your Anxiety Triggers
Not everyone experiences anxiety in the same kinds of ways. In addition, not everyone has the same kinds of anxiety triggers. Take time to read up on how these triggers form and operate. In addition, take the time needed to recognize your own specific triggers and when they arise. Common sources for bouts of anxiety include things such as:
- Social interactions and/or speaking in public
- Financial pressures
- Strained intimate relationships
- The daily demands of parenting
- Pressures at work or in school
- Serious illness
- Threatening, scary, or unpredictable current events
You may be able to learn about and recognize your triggers on your own. However, you may also need help from your doctor or a mental health expert.
Exercise Can Ease the Intensity of Your Anxiety Triggers
Research shows that regular exercise can be an effective weapon against anxiety. This is possible because exercise helps lower your body’s levels of stress hormones. When the number of these hormones drops, you may find that you’re less sensitive to the things that trigger anxiety. You can get a benefit from aerobic exercises or activities that include:
- Bicycling
- Walking
- Gardening
- Sports such as tennis and basketball
- Jogging
You can also get a benefit from anaerobic exercises like strength training.
Your Diet Has an Impact on Your Susceptibility to Anxiety
The foods you eat and the beverages you drink have a significant impact on your daily mood. A well-balanced, nutritious diet will help you stay on an even keel. In contrast, a diet filled with junk food and empty calories can have the opposite effect. Generally speaking, when your mood is more stable, you are less susceptible to the effects of stress and anxiety.
One common dietary item is known to have an especially notable impact on anxiety: caffeine. When you drink or eat things that contain caffeine, you boost the levels of one of your main stress hormones. By limiting your consumption of these foods and beverages, you help keep anxiety in check.
Seek Mental Health Treatment When Needed
Despite your best efforts, you may find that anxiety dominates your life. If your anxious feelings significantly disrupt your ability to function, you may have a diagnosable anxiety disorder. In such circumstances, professional mental health treatment is a must.
Anxiety treatment has two main components: psychotherapy and medication. There are therapies specifically designed to help you address your anxiety triggers. With their help, you can diminish the impact those triggers have on your life.
The two types of medication most often used to treat anxiety are anti-anxiety meds and antidepressants. Some people also benefit from other medications. Potential options include sedatives and beta-blockers.
Seek Effective Anxiety Treatment With Help From Treatment Connection
At Treatment Connection, we specialize in helping you find the best local providers for mental health treatment. Our nationwide network allows you to do anonymous searches for treatment resources either by name or zip code. And our built-in quality assurance system means that only truly qualified providers will appear in your results. When anxiety treatment is needed, there’s no reason to delay. Let Treatment Connection help you get started today.
