anxiety management Archives - Suzanne Wallach

A healthy support system serves as a foundation for effective anxiety management, offering emotional validation, encouragement, practical assistance, and a sense of belonging. Maintaining a robust support system is paramount when it comes to managing anxiety effectively. In the quest for anxiety management, a healthy support system is of utmost importance as it can offer individuals:

• Emotional Validation and Understanding: A healthy support system provides a safe space for individuals to express their emotions without judgment. The act of sharing one’s feelings and experiences is met with empathy and understanding, fostering emotional validation, and creating a sense of connection.
• Encouragement and Positive Reinforcement: Supportive friends, family, or peers offer encouragement and positive reinforcement, reinforcing individuals’ efforts in managing anxiety. Words of affirmation and acknowledgment of progress contribute to a positive mindset, bolstering confidence in facing challenges.
• Practical Assistance in Coping Strategies: A strong support system actively engages in the learning and implementation of coping strategies. Whether it involves participating in relaxation exercises, accompanying individuals to therapy sessions, or assisting with daily tasks, practical support enhances the effectiveness of anxiety management techniques.
• Challenging Negative Thoughts and Perspectives: Trusted individuals within the support system can play a crucial role in challenging negative thoughts and perspectives. They provide alternative viewpoints, helping individuals reframe situations, and fostering a more balanced and constructive outlook.
• Facilitating Professional Help-Seeking: Supportive networks encourage and facilitate the pursuit of professional help. Whether it is finding a therapist, attending support groups, or seeking medical advice, a healthy support system recognizes the importance of professional interventions in anxiety management.
• Creating a Sense of Belonging: A supportive community fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance. Feeling connected to others alleviates the sense of isolation that often accompanies anxiety. Shared experiences within the support system reinforce that individuals are not alone in their struggles.
• Accountability for Self-Care: Friends and family in a support system play a role in holding individuals accountable for self-care practices. This may involve gentle reminders to prioritize well-being, adhere to treatment plans, and maintain healthy lifestyle habits that contribute to anxiety management.
• Stress Reduction through Social Connection: Social connection itself serves as a powerful stress reducer. Engaging with a supportive network provides opportunities for laughter, shared activities, and meaningful conversations, contributing to a more positive emotional state and overall stress reduction.
• Reducing Stigma and Encouraging Open Communication: A healthy support system helps reduce the stigma associated with anxiety. By fostering an environment of open communication, individuals feel more comfortable discussing their struggles, seeking help, and actively participating in their anxiety management journey.
• Long-Term Stability: Cultivating a strong support system contributes to long-term stability. The ongoing presence of supportive relationships provides a consistent source of strength, enabling individuals to navigate the ebbs and flows of anxiety with greater confidence and adaptability.

A healthy support system operates on multiple levels, addressing emotional, practical, and social aspects of anxiety management. Navigating the challenges of anxiety becomes a more manageable and empowering journey when individuals are surrounded by a healthy and nurturing network. The collective strength of supportive relationships contributes significantly to an individual’s overall well-being and resilience in the face of anxiety.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

Anxiety is a complex response to real or perceived threats that can involve cognitive, physical, and behavioral changes. It is the body’s natural response to stress and will manifest differently in everyone. Experiencing worry, fear, and stress is considered a normal part of life when it is occasional and temporary. However, when those acute emotional reactions become persistent, they can significantly interfere with daily living activities. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety is the most common mental health problem in the United States. Over 40 million adults in America (approximately 19% of the country’s population) are affected by an anxiety disorder every year. Further, nearly all anxiety disorders co-occur with significant sleep abnormalities and vice versa.

Why Sleep Matters

Although anxiety triggers, or things that lead to an increase in one’s anxiety symptoms, are often unique to each person, certain factors are known to exacerbate anxiety, such as sleep deficits. Research suggests that anxiety may lead to a state of dysfunctional arousal which often results in persistent sleep-wake difficulties. Being sleep-deprived has been shown to lead to cognitive impairments, like increased impulsivity, poor judgment, or irritability, which is why prioritizing sleep in anxiety management is essential.

Research from the University of California, Berkeley, indicates that a sleepless night can produce up to a 30% rise in anxiety levels. The same study goes on to suggest “that insufficient sleep amplifies levels of anxiety and, conversely, that deep sleep helps reduce such stress.” Another study revealed that the quality and amount of sleep participants received from one night to the next predicted anxiety levels of the next day, with even subtle nightly sleep changes exhibiting an effect. Evidence indicates that “when one sleeps, the brain reorganizes and recharges itself, and removes toxic waste byproducts which have accumulated throughout the day.” Sleep provides the body’s neurons with an opportunity to shut down and repair themselves. Without sleep, neurons become increasing depleted and polluted, through normal cellular activities, that they begin to malfunction. Sleep increases protein production in cells that fuel growth and repair damage incurred by stress and other factors. Sleep plays a key role in regulating emotion, as good night’s sleep can significantly impact an individual’s stress levels and coping capacity.

The National Sleep Foundation created a chart that illustrates the ideal amount of sleep a person should obtain (ranging from infants into adulthood). The chart is broken up such that adults ideal sleep durations vary. Young adults between ages eighteen to twenty-five should be getting between seven to nine hours of sleep, nightly. Adults between the ages of twenty-six and sixty-four should also obtain between seven to nine hours of sleep. Adults older than sixty-five years of age are recommended to get between seven to eight hours of sleep, nightly. Healthy sleep hygiene practices can result in countless benefits and enhance one’s mental health. Therefore, prioritizing sleep as part of anxiety management is essential for overall well-being.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.