How to Control Anxiety

Dealing with constant anxiety can be overwhelming. Anxiety may strike at any time, and often times it seems to come out of nowhere. Living with any type of mental health disorder is challenging. However, learning how to control anxiety can help you live a more manageable life.

Some people have such trouble coping with the anxiety that they turn to drugs or alcohol to find relief. As a result, they end up with another problem—substance use disorder. When these two disorders occur simultaneously, seeking an anxiety treatment center in Houston will bring relief. However, if you are dealing with anxiety now, what can you do?

What is Anxiety?

Some people think that if they are nervous about things or sometimes worry, then they have anxiety. That is not necessarily true. While nervousness and worry are both symptoms of anxiety disorder, it involves more than that. An anxiety disorder:

• Affects your daily life or at least more days of your life
• Are extremely intense
• Makes you act in a way that is out of proportion to the situation

In other words, when you are experiencing clinical anxiety, you will be suffering intense anxiety often, and it will be out of proportion for the situation. This describes generalized anxiety disorder. There are other forms of anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and separation anxiety.

How to Control Anxiety

Learning how to control anxiety is a critical first step in regaining your life. Anxiety can take over your life and cause much stress and unhappiness. It’s important to get a handle on the situation before it gets out of control. As stated above, sometimes people begin using drugs or alcohol in an effort to deal with ongoing anxiety. However, drugs and alcohol actually aggravate anxiety. Along with help from a substance abuse treatment center in Houston, the following methods may help you learn how to control anxiety:

Practice daily self-care

Take time for yourself. Do the things that are good for your body, mind, and spirit. This will make you feel a lot happier and less stress, thereby reducing anxiety.

Seek help from a trusted therapist

Talking to a trained therapist is a great first step. You will learn the reasons behind your anxiety as well as identify ways to cope.

Learn self-soothing techniques

When an anxiety attack strikes you, it’s helpful to have some self-soothing techniques already in place. You can try deep breathing exercises, calming self-talk, or prayer. Whatever methods work for you is worth trying.

Write down your triggers

If you can identify what sets you off into an anxiety attack, then it may help you to be prepared to handle situations that arise in the future.

Exercise

If you take time for exercise weekly, you’ll feel better. Exercise is known to reduce anxiety.

Consider reducing caffeine (if it affects you)

Caffeine makes you more energetic and jittery. Your heart rate and blood pressure can rise. The overall effect is more anxiety. Everyone reacts differently to caffeine so if it causes you these problems, then leave it alone.

Hope for Anxiety

Serenity Light Recovery can help you leave anxiety behind you. Staff at our dual diagnosis treatment center in Houston will walk you through the healing process. We have a full medical detox program if you are in the midst of an addiction crisis. Our Intensive Outpatient Program may be right for you if you are struggling with moderate drug addiction. Some of our addiction treatment therapy programs include:

• 12 step program
• Cognitive behavioral therapy program
• Dialectical behavioral therapy program
• EMDR therapy program
• Trauma therapy program

Don’t let anxiety and addiction interfere with your joy in life. You can learn how to control anxiety and become drug-free by going to a quality drug rehab. Contact us at (281) 431-6700, and we’ll get you on the road to recovery.