As modern life grows in complexity and becomes more difficult for individuals, a growing number of people are experiencing anxiety attacks. Sadly, many people do not watch their signs of an anxiety attack and do not take them seriously. They are putting themselves at serious risk if they ignore these signs, though. They may even run into the increased risk of addiction if they do not take the proper steps to manage their health. Read on to learn more about the most common signs of an anxiety attack and how to treat anxiety when it happens.
What are the Most Common Signs of an Anxiety Attack?
Anxiety attacks often sneak up on a person and cause real emotional difficulties rather unexpectedly. However, the signs of an anxiety attack can frequently occur for days – or even weeks – before a person finally breaks. Just a few of the most common symptoms to watch for include:
- Obsessive thoughts on something that causes anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- An underlying sense of dread that will not go away
- Racing thoughts that are hard to control
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Shaking hands or other extremities
- Depression that you cannot shake
All of these signs typically increase in intensity as a person’s anxiety attack nears. And when the anxiety attack finally strikes, they are likely to lose control of themselves in a problematic way. During this time, many people reach out and seek comfort in drugs, opiates, and alcohol, as a coping mechanism. Unfortunately, this is likely to put the individual in a dangerous life position. If you are seeking comfort from anxiety in unhealthy ways, learn more about the ways that you can defeat and treat your anxiety through healthy methods that do not involve drugs or alcohol.
Are There Ways to Defeat Anxiety?
Those worried about the impact of anxiety on addiction need to know how to spot the most common signs of an anxiety attack. This way, they can understand how to react to them when they occur. Each person is likely to have different symptoms when they experience anxiety, so it may be critical to work with a psychiatrist or a rehab specialist to spot them and use various methods to avoid relapse. Some methods to overcome anxiety include:
- Relaxing practices – deep breathing and meditation can all help
- Mindfulness – stay active at the moment to understand that your anxiety is not in control
- Call a friend – contact a friend or loved one if you feel like an anxiety attack is going to happen
- Go for a walk – get outside to relax your mind and body and get a little exercise
- Interact with a pet – pet a cat or dog to lower your anxiety and decrease your fear
These simple steps can help to stop an anxiety attack before it becomes too severe. If you find that you cannot control your anxiety with these steps, you may have a more severe disorder that needs to be treated medically. Make sure that you go through this type of therapy when going through drug rehab, as well, because co-occurring disorders may make this situation even worse.
Beating Anxiety for Good
If you notice any of these signs of an anxiety attack and think that they are related to drug use, please contact us at Crestview Recovery today. When you call 866.262.0531, we will discuss the different options for treatment and recovery such as staying in a partial hospitalization unit, receiving intensive outpatient care, or getting extended treatment. Additionally, we provide dual-diagnosis and trauma therapy to those who need it, so please verify your insurance to get started.
