Feeling anxious? You’re not alone. Research shows that anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in the U.S., with more than 40 million adults reporting experiencing some level of anxiety.
Anxiety is most often caused by uncertainty. If the last two years have delivered anything, uncertainty is at the top of the list. Pandemic, economy, politics, racial unrest, unknowns about the Covid-19 vaccines and boosters, education challenges. The list goes on.
No one living today has ever emerged from a global pandemic into a digital world and navigated anything like this before. We’re literally making it up as we go along, so it’s not surprising many of us are feeling anxious. Let’s talk about it.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is two parts, made up of a cognitive element (worry) and a physiological response (stress). This means we experience anxiety in both our mind and our body.
There is a difference between feeling anxious (which is a normal part of everyday life that everyone experiences at one point or another) and having an anxiety disorder. An anxiety disorder is a serious medical condition that may include stress or worry.
Five Ways to Help Your Anxiety
- Cut back on sugar and caffeine. Because anxiety has a physiological element, stimulants can make it worse.
- Practice mindfulness. Take a few deep, cleansing breaths. Wiggle your toes. Listen to music, take a hot shower or a soothing bath. A simple moment of physical refocusing can help calm you and break the anxiety loop.
- Exercise. Develop a routine so that you’re physically active at least three days a week. Exercise is a powerful stress and anxiety reducer. It can improve your mood and help you stay healthy.
- Prioritize sleep. Aim for at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Turn off electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime and try to stick to a regular go-to-sleep/get-up schedule as much as possible.
- Get help. There is no shame in seeking professional help for dealing with persistent anxiety. Talk to a mental health care provider to find out what might be causing your specific condition and what treatments might be best for you.
Remember: Anxiety happens in your mind and your body, so trying to think your way out of it won’t help.
Meet Dr. Paul Wright
Are you looking for a partner dedicated to a holistic approach to your mental health? A practice that embraces leading-edge approaches that explore how biology and personality factor into navigating and overcoming life challenges?
Dr. Paul Wright is the founder of IntegrityMind Psychiatry. He offers Holistic Help for the Whole You. Dr. Wright is a medical doctor with specialization and double board certification in General Adult Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in Public Health.
Dr. Wright offers flexible options for both in-person sessions and secure online sessions. Our brick-and-mortar offices are in Grapevine and Plano, Texas. IntegrityMind works with children, adolescents and adults with an interconnected approach for families. Dr. Wright’s unique approach to helping patients is refreshing, rooted in science, compassionate, comprehensive and hopeful.
Practical Help for Real Life
At IntegrityMind Psychiatry, we know that people are wonderfully unique, with their own life map and personality landscape. Therefore, we don’t over-focus on a specific diagnosis or rush to label people. While a diagnosis can be helpful in gaining a better understanding of a condition and finding the right treatment approach, our focus is less on a label and more on practical help for an improved life.
Dr. Wright sees people for help with issues including:
- Addiction Issues
- Depression/Anxiety
- ADHD
- Navigating Life Transitions
- Relationship Challenges
- PTSD
- Bipolar Disorder
- Schizophrenia
At the heart of serving your mental health needs, we strive to offer help. And hope. IntegrityMind is Holistic Help for the Whole You. If anxiety has a grip on your life and you could use some help moving past it, we can help. We’d be honored to partner with you in helping you step into living a healthy, happy life. Please reach out to schedule an initial consultation.