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Anxiety

Coping Skills for Adults with Anxiety

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Mark Hrymoc, M.D.
man listening to music, one of many coping skills for adults with anxiety

When anxiety hits, it can seem like an eternity until your symptoms subside. Many times you aren’t sure why you are experiencing anxiety, and your brain won’t let you think of positive ways to alleviate your symptoms. You feel like you must wait it out. Fortunately, coping skills for adults with anxiety can help.  Currently, your thoughts and behaviors may lead you to react to stressful situations negatively. Learning coping skills for adults with anxiety means changing your thoughts and behaviors so that you respond rationally and appropriately. If your goal is to cope with anxiety, keep reading to learn how to develop skills to help you succeed.  Understand The Need for Coping Skills for Adults with Anxiety Knowledge can be powerful when fighting anxiety. Sometimes anxiety occurs due to fear of the unknown. If you know why you get anxious, you will find it easier to overcome. Anxiety is …

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10 Signs of High-functioning Anxiety

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signs of high-functioning anxiety

Medically reviewed by Mark Hrymoc, MD Signs of high-functioning anxiety may include constant overthinking, a tendency to worry excessively, perfectionism, a need for reassurance, difficulty in saying no, over-commitment, restless sleep, and physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches. Despite these, individuals often maintain successful, seemingly ‘normal’ lives, masking their internal struggles. The 2023 Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey found that 32% of American adults have anxiety symptoms, with nearly 50% being between 18 and 24. The second highest percentage, 38%, is with adults between 25 and 49 and 29% of those between 50 and 64.  According to statistics, the age group between 25 and 54 is the prime working age, with 76% working full and part-time jobs. Five percent are unemployed but searching for a job.  These statistics suggest that many people with anxiety symptoms work full and part-time jobs. They fall into a “high functioning” group, meaning they have …

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The Polyvagal Theory: How to Calm the Body

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polyvagal theory

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. AMFT What is Polyvagal Theory? Polyvagal Theory explains the impact that our nervous system has on our experience of threat and safety. Shifts in our autonomic nervous system (which regulates involuntary physiological processes like heart rate, respiration, digestion, etc.) produces key states of being: rest-and-digest (safe), fight-or-flight (unsafe, mobilization), or shutdown (unsafe, freeze). The autonomic nervous system is composed of three divisions, two of which are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.  If we have unresolved trauma in our past, struggle with chronic stress, or experience anxiety and depression, we may live in a version of perpetual fight-or-flight. This is hard on the body and can lead to many adverse health outcomes, both physical and mental. What is the Vagus Nerve? Central to Polyvagal Theory is the vagus nerve, “is the longest cranial nerve in the body, containing both motor and sensory functions in both the …

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How to Support a Family Member with Depression and Anxiety

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How to Support a Family Member with Depression and Anxiety

Data shows that 9.5% of American adults have some form of depressive disorder, and 18% have an anxiety disorder. Most of those millions have family members, like you, who wonder how to support their loved ones. You can take many actions to support someone with mental illness. One thing to avoid doing is ignoring the issue. Symptoms will not go away and will likely worsen if not treated. You may wonder how to start a conversation about mental health with a loved one without offending them. The key is to express empathy and caring in whatever you say.  The more you know about depression and anxiety, the easier it will be to find the right words of support. Learn More About Depression and Anxiety No one chooses to have a mental health disorder; it doesn’t go away without specific treatments and lifestyle changes. Depression and anxiety are mood disorders involving …

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Seeking Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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Seeking treatment for generalized anxiety disorder

Seeking treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) isn’t always easy. People who struggle with this condition may experience the following thoughts or statements from friends and family: “You worry too much.”  “You worry over the smallest things.” “Just relax.” “You are so testy and irritable lately.” Everyone has moments of worry, which can motivate them to complete something. For example, your boss will give you a bonus if you complete the project by a specific date. You don’t want to miss out on the bonus. You feel nervous and worried, which motivates you to complete the project. For some, worry plays a much more significant role in their daily lives. They don’t necessarily worry over one specific thing but about everything, or so it seems. They likely have a generalized anxiety disorder. What is GAD? Generalized anxiety disorder is a constant feeling of dread, doom, or nervousness about things that …

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