Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress. In regular doses, anxiety can be beneficial to our overall well-being. However, when anxiety is chronic and persistent, it is harmful to our physical and mental health. Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can range from mild to severe and include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and various phobias. If you or someone you love experiences severe anxiety lasting for six months or longer that interferes with daily functioning, you need professional treatment for anxiety.
Many people struggling with substance use disorders also have mental health disorders, including anxiety. Next Wind Recovery is an addiction treatment center in New Jersey offering dual diagnosis treatment. To learn more about how we can help you, reach out to us today at 201.331.6569 or use our online form.
Signs You Need an Anxiety Treatment Program
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable. Outpatient treatment for anxiety offers a safe, supportive environment for people whose anxiety interferes with regular daily functioning. At Next Wind Recovery, our anxiety treatment program provides you or your loved one with the skills and tools to simultaneously overcome an anxiety disorder and substance use disorder.
Anxiety manifests itself differently for everyone, but the following symptoms are common across all types of anxiety disorders:
- Feeling on edge, irritable, or restless
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Feeling fatigued most of the time
- Excessive worry or a sense of doom and danger
- Obsessively avoidance of particular objects, people, or places
- Persistent headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and muscle tension
Experiencing any of the above symptoms on most days, for at least six months, indicates an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders respond well to a combination of group and individual therapy, medications, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. With a proper diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, anxiety symptoms can be reduced, leading to a better quality of life.
When to Seek Treatment for Anxiety
The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed significantly to increased rates of anxiety and depression. In 2020, over a third of adults in New Jersey reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. When a person experiences mild symptoms, lifestyle changes are often enough to help. Lifestyle changes include getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, exercising, practicing yoga, meditation, and avoiding drugs and alcohol. However, when anxiety disrupts your daily functioning, it is time to seek help from an anxiety treatment program. Treatment for anxiety disorders usually includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Some of the evidence-based therapies offered at Next Wind Recovery include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- EMDR therapy
- Medication management
- Mindfulness practices, meditation, and yoga
- Individual, group, and family counseling
- Lifestyle management
Anxiety does not usually go away altogether, but t is possible to learn how to manage your symptoms so that they no longer negatively impact your daily functioning. At Next Wind Recovery, you will learn to identify the underlying causes of your anxiety and the coping skills needed to keep your symptoms at bay.
Risk Factors for Anxiety Disorders
There is no specific known cause for anxiety disorders. However, they tend to run in families, suggesting a genetic component that likely combines environmental, psychological, and developmental factors. While you cannot change genetic risk factors, you can influence other factors. Risk factors for anxiety disorders include:
- History of a mental health disorder
- Severe or chronic health issues
- Substance use disorders
- Low self-esteem
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Trauma or adverse life events
If you have any of these risk factors and experience anxiety that interferes with your functioning, it is time to call a professional anxiety treatment program.
Next Wind Recovery Offers Anxiety Treatment in NJ
Anxiety and addiction often go hand-in-hand and create a cycle that is difficult to break without professional treatment. At Next Wind Recovery in New Jersey, we provide evidence-based and holistic dual diagnosis treatment. Our outpatient treatment options offer flexibility to enable you to continue to meet school, work, and family obligations while receiving the treatment you deserve. To learn more, call us today at 201.331.6569.