Anxiety Prevention
- Health
- 810
OVERVIEW OF ANXIETY PREVENTION
The reason why people come down with anxiety or anxiety disorders is still unclear. The main causes are unknown thereby making the prevention of anxiety a hard task. Also, since the causes are not known, it is difficult to make a prediction of the category of people likely to come down with them.
Irrespective of this, research is still ongoing on anxiety and anxiety disorders and there are paths to follow to lessen anxiety and reduce possible future occurrences.
EARLY INTERVENTION
If children who develop symptoms and signs of anxiety receive intervention soon enough, there will be a reduction in the possible future complications they would have come down with.
The Journal of Clinical Psychology has a publication which revealed that those preschool children with anxiety whose parents and caretakers interceded early enough had a better outcome. The particular characteristics of the study subjects were children who were fearful or withdrawn as these are the necessary attributes that serve as risks for anxiety in later life. The parents were also not left out in the study as they took part in an anxiety awareness program. The children of the parents that took part had a higher likelihood of actually having anxiety.
These results were helpful. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to the prevention of future complications both for adults and in children. Some people feel shameful if they attempt to ask for help regarding anxiety. They feel as though they are failures simply because of anxiety disorder. In addition, they are scared of what others may think about them (have a low self-esteem). Like other diseases, anxiety disorder when treated either with medication or life-style modification, curbs the symptoms experienced and lessens complications.
STRESS REDUCTION HELPS IN ANXIETY PREVENTION
Those with anxiety disorders should try not to engage in stressful activities. Seek ways to relax. Mere exercising can help relieve stress. Exercise should be incorporated into one’s daily schedule. Do the following;
- Walk regularly
- Register at a gym or an exercise class
- Practice core relaxation exercises like yoga
Also, plan towards having a vacation or excuse yourself from your routine and just do something new. If there is anything you love doing, devote time to it and also do things that keeps you relaxed and happy.
EAT HEALTHY – THE ROLE OF DIET IN ANXIETY PREVENTION
A healthy/balanced diet improves both the physical and mental functions. Do not be confused about what to eat. Do well to eat foods from all the food classes. Take more of healthy foods and not junk foods. Take plenty fruits and vegetables with whole grains too. Try not to eat much of sugary foods, high-fat foods and processed foods. Do not forget that “you are what you eat”.
KEEPING A JOURNAL
You may want to keep a journal to help you monitor your anxiety, mood and stress levels. You know yourself more than anyone. Some people discover that recognizing and writing down their problems help to manage it better. A journal can be used both by you and the mental health specialist to identify stress triggers and what makes you happy.
AVOIDING UNHEALTHY SUBSTANCES
Tobacco, hard drugs and alcohol though called stress alleviators actually cause harm to the body thus making it difficult for one to cope with anxiety and stress. Caffeine also causes anxiety or worsens it. A state of addiction to these substances can further worsen the anxiety and stress. Withdrawal from the same substances can worsen anxiety. Before quitting the substances, for an addict, speak to a doctor or engage in group therapy.
LIVING WITH ANXIETY
The commonest form of mental disorders in the United States is anxiety disorders, this result is from the National Institute of Mental Health. They proposed that a-third of people will come down with an anxiety disorder in their life course while letting people know that there are potent modalities of treatment and even ongoing research to further create new ones. People who feel they might have an anxiety disorder are strongly advised to get intervention as soon as possible.
Anxiety disorders can manifest as psychological and biological symptoms that prevent an optimum state of health. Despite its occurrence, combining the proper treatment with regular exercising, balanced diet and stress alleviating techniques can help one feel good about oneself. In a report published by The Anxiety and Depression Association of America, most people were said to experience a relief of symptoms and an enhancement of quality of life.
Tonika Bruce, MSN, RN, MBA. is an accomplished nurse leader, published author, and personal development expert passionate about advancing healthcare management and quality patient outcomes.
She taps into the years of experience in healthcare management to produce credible and easy-to-understand health and leadership content. Her exceptional work has been featured in reputable publications, including Forbes, Recruiter, Inc, and the Color of Wellness magazine.
