Anxiety Disorder Treatment

“Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strengths.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

Men are generally less likely to suffer from anxiety than women and are less likely to talk about the issue. In general, 1 out of 5 men will experience anxiety at some point in his life. Like depression, anxiety can be a severe condition; however, there is no need to let anxiety take control.

Anxiety Disorder Treatment Program

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a general term given for several disorders that can cause symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• Restlessness
• Concentration and attention problems
• Muscle tension
• Headaches
• Lethargy
• Sleep problems

Anxiety is often associated with different phobias and may also result in avoidance of certain situations that can trigger a cause for panic attacks. Panic attacks, on the other hand, are abrupt episodes of strong fear or physical distress that heightens within minutes. Certain symptoms you may experience with panic attack include:

• Palpitations
• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating palms
• Nausea
• Trembling
• Dizziness
• Hot flashes

Why is Anxiety Uncommon in Men?

One of the reasons why men are not prone to have anxiety attacks is because of the male hormone testosterone. The male hormone boosts the release of GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) and serotonin in the blood. These are two brain neurotransmitters that have low levels in people who suffer from anxiety. Testosterone also lessens the activity of the amygdala, the part of the brain that dictates a fight or flight reaction to certain situations.

How Men Cope

Men tend to cope differently than women. Studies have shown that nearly half of the men suffering from anxiety turn to substance abuse as a way of coping with the symptoms. Men’s higher impulsivity also explains why men turn towards reliance on drugs or alcohol.

In addition, men often hold firm beliefs about the effects of alcohol. Many men ease their tensions and act on the presumption that alcohol will relieve their anxiety when feeling stressed. In general, taking substances such as alcohol or marijuana can mimic the natural effect provided by endorphins.

Reasons Why Men are Less Likely to Talk About Anxiety

Men are less likely to talk about anxiety because of several factors. Mostly it has to do with how masculinity is perceived by society. Some other reasons may include:

• Fear of judgment: Being judged by society as someone who is weak is one aspect why men tend to most likely fear when disclosing anxiety. It is what inhibits men from talking about the issue and leads them to act irresponsibly to seek temporary relief from anxiety.
• Embarrassment: Men are more likely to keep the problem to themselves because they are embarrassed about the issue. Generally, men seek to remedy the problem by hoping that the problem would disappear by itself. This causes a greater risk to seek out temporary remedies through substance abuse.

Anxiety Treatment

“I promise you nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear.” – Steve Maraboli

If you are constantly suffering from symptoms like:

• Panic attacks
• Continuous worries
• Obsessive thoughts
• Paralyzing phobias

These are generally signs of anxiety disorder. But you do not have to live in constant fear and anxiety. Treatment can be beneficial for many anxiety problems. Proper men’s anxiety treatment is a good way to take the first steps back towards the life you once had. Some therapies for anxiety include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most widely accepted therapy for anxiety disorder. It acknowledges negative behavioral patterns and biases in the way we look at ourselves and in society. It also examines how we react to certain situations that can trigger anxiety.

Studies have shown it to be effective in the treatment of cases like:

• Panic Disorder
• Phobias
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• General Anxiety Disorder

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy exposes patients to the situations or objects they are anxious about. The concept is that through constant exposure to the same scenario, you will have a good sense of control over the situation thereby lessening your anxiety.

Relaxation

Certain relaxation techniques can be employed to relieve the stresses of anxiety. They can be done for overall well-being as well as an increased sense of self-control.

Relaxation techniques can be in the form of:

• Meditation
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Controlled breathing
• Visualization

Benefits of Anxiety Treatment

Anxiety treatment for men can be very beneficial because it gives you enough ability to adapt to difficult situations in your life. Some of the many benefits of anxiety treatment include:

• Quick progress when facing social anxiety. With the proper cognitive structure, we are able to be sensible about our improvement, so we are able to move forward with behavioral attempts. This takes us away from setbacks and negative thoughts residing in our past. This pushes us forward and hampers depression.
• Treatment gives us the energy to move forward. Facing your fears in a guided manner, with the help and support of the treatment gives us momentum and builds a stronger emotional and mental foundation.
• Behavioral reversal with brain physiology. Anxiety treatment changes the neural passageways in the brain. This permanently alters our perception of ourselves and how we see the world. Studies have shown that the brain changes its neural pathway and chemistry with anxiety treatment.
• We learn how to move with the world. Anxiety treatment teaches us how to cope with stressors, take positive action, and learn to systematically and persistently combat anxiety.

“Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” – Hermann Hesse

For more information on our anxiety treatment options, please contact us today.