Anxiety: Charting a New Course to Stay on Track
Running. One of my favorite sports. It’s an activity that can be calming, exhilarating, and rewarding. In a certain respect, running mirrors life. Think about it. Life, itself, is a marathon. Within the marathon there are peaks and valleys. Life events can be likened to a sprint or short-distance runs. But what happens when life isn’t a series of rhythmic steps? What happens when nervousness, restlessness, tension, rapid heart rate, a sense of impending doom, sweating, trembling, or difficulty controlling worry eclipse the run and make it nearly impossible to keep on the path? It could mean that you are suffering from debilitating anxiety.
Experiencing anxiety from time-to-time is normal. Anxiety is an important way our body lets us know we are afraid, so we can anticipate difficulties and prepare for those difficulties. However, when the symptoms of anxiety become frequent, intense, or inhibit our ability to function daily, it takes us off course to an overwhelming and destructive impairment. There are many different types of anxiety disorders in the DSM-V: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, specific phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, PTSD, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and so on.
Recognizing or being diagnosed with a disorder does not mean the run is ruined. Think of it as an unplanned route change to allow you to overcome an affliction that is limiting your ability to enjoy life - to enjoy the journey. Treatment for anxiety comes in many forms from a quick fix to the long-term. Quite simply, the quick fix is medication or solution focused counseling. While medication is often necessary for debilitating anxiety, the more effective, long-term solution is therapy.
As there are many types of anxiety disorders, the first step toward continuing your life-journey in a healthy manner is seeking a trained, experienced psychiatrist for a proper diagnosis. A psychiatrist can help you determine if prescription medication is necessary to help alleviate your symptoms. (The good news is that most psychiatrists accept insurance.) The second step is to find a therapist you think is a good fit and begin a regular course of therapy. Depending on your anxiety presentation, you and your therapist will determine the best course of action. Treatment can consist of one-on-one therapy, group therapy, support groups, or a combination.
Participating in therapy for anxiety just means that you’ll be taking a path you hadn’t intended. The unintentional path doesn’t minimize your run, instead it enhances it. Therapy will help you learn to set and keep your stride (effectively communicating your thoughts and feelings) to overcome problematic thought patterns. Therapy will help you learn to know when to sprint (redirecting or reframing your thinking) to move through difficult life situations. And therapy will help you learn to know when to slow down (relaxation or breathing techniques) to learn to overcome unwanted symptoms.
No matter the type or severity of your anxiety, the most important thing to understand is that the nervousness, restlessness, tension, and worry is your body telling you it might be ready for you to change course. Anxiety need not end your ability to function daily. You have the potential to chart a path that allows you to function and even enjoy day-to-day life.
Jeff Grossman offers individual and group therapy in Nashville & Brentwood, Tennessee.