Common Misconceptions About Anxiety Disorders

Common Myths About Anxiety Disorders

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common and pervasive mental disorders in the United States.¹

This mental health disorder can be so disabling that irrational fears seem to take over your body when you are experiencing an anxiety attack and you feel trapped. When you are feeling distressed and frightened for no apparent reason, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Although anxiety is so common, there are also many myths and misconceptions out there surrounding anxiety disorders and their treatment. But do not believe everything that you hear. Fortunately, with our anxiety disorder treatment in Boca, there are ways you can proactively manage your symptoms.

Anxiety Facts and Myths: Unveiling the Truth About Anxiety

1. 1. Anxiety isn’t a real disorder. - There are many people out there who believe that anxiety is just a silly problem that people exaggerate. This myth about anxiety could not be further from the truth. While everyone experiences anxiety at some points in their lives, anxiety disorders involve intense fears and can interfere with a person’s daily life. For people who struggle to function properly because of their anxiety, it is a very real medical problem. People with anxiety disorders may also suffer from other mental health disorders or turn to drugs or alcohol in an attempt to cope with their anxiety. These extra issues require co-occurring disorder treatment in order to improve both problems.
   2. Medication is the only treatment for anxiety disorders. - While medication can be very effective for treating consistent anxiety, this is not the only method for handling the symptoms. You can combine medication with cognitive behavioral therapy as well as other individualized therapy methods to increase your chances of long-term success. CBT can even be more effective than medication for some individuals suffering from anxiety.
   3. Therapy for anxiety should be focused on the root cause of this disorder. -Another one of the myths about anxiety that we hear about often is that treatment should only focus on the root cause of the anxiety. It is important to try and get to the bottom of why you are experiencing anxiety to begin with (and this may, in fact, be rooted in problems from your childhood, but not always); however, therapy will also work on the present and teach patients how to manage their thoughts and emotions. In anxiety treatment, you learn how to combat negative thoughts to lessen the anxiety symptoms on a daily basis.
   4. Less stress will cure anxiety. - Of all of the myths about anxiety, one of the biggest is that removing stress from your life will completely remove your anxiety. Living a less stressful lifestyle will, of course, help you with your symptoms, but this will not magically cure your mental health disease. Contrary to popular belief, anxiety disorders are not caused by stress, and you should undergo effective treatment in order to learn how to properly manage your symptoms. Learning how to change your thought patterns can be so powerful.
   5. Anxiety attacks can cause you to faint. - When you experience a panic attack, there can be intense feelings of dizziness, and you may start to hyperventilate. This increase in blood pressure does not cause people to faint. In fact, the opposite is what causes someone to pass out.
   6. You don’t need professional help. With time you can get over anxiety on your own. - Of the many common myths about anxiety disorders, this may be one of the most dangerous. Many people mistakenly believe that their anxiety will get better with time and they do not need to seek professional treatment. While some people believe that exercise, eating right, and avoiding caffeine is enough to combat anxiety, you will not see a lot of improvement. In fact, only about a third of people who struggle with anxiety will actually seek treatment even though treatment has proven effective.¹ One study found that medication is effective for 50% of people and cognitive behavioral therapy is highly effective for over 60% of people.²
   7. In order to stop feeling anxious, you should suppress your anxious thoughts. - While this technique may help to push your anxiety away temporarily, it can also make your anxiety worse in the long run. These suppressed thoughts will probably only come back stronger and more frequently.³

When one experiences a panic attack there can be intense feelings of dizziness, and this person may start to hyperventilate. This increase in blood pressure does not cause people to faint. In fact, the opposite is what causes someone to pass out.

If you are struggling with anxiety on a daily basis and you don’t know how to get help, contact our mental health treatment center in Boca Raton today. We can guide you through treatment every step of the way. Call today at 888-280-4763 to seek help for anxiety treatment today.

Sources:

1. 1. Anxiety and Depression Association of America - Understanding the Facts of Anxiety Disorders and Depression is the First Step
   2. NIH - Characteristics of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Older Adults Living in Residential Care: Protocol for a Systematic Review
   3. NIH - Thought Suppression is Associated with Psychological Distress in Homebound Older Adults