For people with anxiety, especially for those who feel that their symptoms are embarrassing or that they will be judged and for people who are anxious about meeting strangers, it can be tempting to try to treat your anxiety disorder yourself. After all, there is a great deal of information available via the web, and you can even buy medications online. Treating your problems yourself may seem like the perfect solution, but in truth, it can be ineffective, it can make symptoms worse, and in some cases, it can even be dangerous.
Seeking the treatment that you need from therapists and other professionals can be costly, especially for people with no insurance or insufficient coverage. This can certainly increase the appeal of trying to find your own treatment. But it is important to realize that professional therapists have a great deal of experience with anxiety and panic disorders and that they are trained not only in the techniques that can help you overcome symptoms, but also in ways to help you cope if panic or unpleasant symptoms arise during the therapeutic process.
At-Home Therapy- A Good Idea?
It can be very tempting to try out new therapies that you learn about at home. After all, in the era of technology, it can be easy to research exactly how these therapies are done. When you find something that seems to help significantly with other people who share your diagnosis, it is only natural that you would want to reap the same benefits. So what is the harm in trying these things at home?
There are a number of reasons why this could be a bad decision. One thing that it is important to realize is that treating many anxiety disorders means finding the trauma or issues that caused them. With PTSD and acute stress disorder, for example, it is often necessary to talk about and discuss not only the trauma that initiated the symptoms, but also the feelings that the trauma created. For some people, this can be very distressing and it is often best done in a safe therapeutic environment with someone who has the training needed to help you process those emotions and to put them away when therapy is over.
For people with agoraphobia and other phobias as well as panic disorders, treatment typically involves gradual exposure to the object that you fear or to the symptoms of a panic attack itself. This can be very unsettling and even downright terrifying for patients. Therapy is a very controlled environment, and your therapist has experience implementing these techniques in a manner that lets you know that you are completely safe. Your therapist also knows how to stop the sensation of fear and panic if it becomes too overwhelming. At home therapy cannot offer these same benefits, and it can be very hard to bring yourself out of a state of terror and panic even if you have read how to do so, simply because the emotions can be so overwhelming.
Even when it comes to relaxation techniques and cognitive or behavioral exercises, it is important to first work with a therapist to learn exactly how they are done. While therapeutic techniques and thought changes are different depending on the patient, the basic principles and guidelines of these therapies are the same. By allowing your therapist to show you the proper way to utilize these strategies, you can ensure that they are being done in the correct way so that they offer you the most benefit. Learning to recognize and change anxiety provoking thoughts is only helpful if the thoughts you replace them with serve to help you experience less panic, and breathing exercises designed to prevent hyperventilation need to be done in a specific way.
Another reason that therapy is so important is that it helps you maintain the right attitude and perspective. A therapist can act much like a coach, guiding you in the right direction, offering the tips and techniques that you need to improve, and reminding you that practice will indeed make you better. Your therapist has the skills needed to face any symptoms or situations that arise and can ensure that all therapeutic techniques are always safe for you. He or she will also know if you are in danger of becoming overwhelmed and knows when it is time to take a break.
While the temptation to try out new techniques and therapies on your own is a good idea, it can certainly be risky. Some therapies are designed to help you bring about emotions surrounding a trauma, and you don’t want to accidentally open a floodgate when there is nobody there to help you close it. If a new therapy seems like it may be beneficial for you, speak with your therapist about trying it or ask for a recommendation to someone who has experience with it so that you can do so in a safe and controlled environment.
New therapies are being developed all the time that can help improve symptoms for people with anxiety, and your therapist may be willing to research and learn these techniques. Remember that your therapist is always looking for better ways to help patients overcome their symptoms. If you have learned about something that could be beneficial, speak with your therapist to learn about the potential pros and cons of trying it.
Self Medicating
While many people who self medicate may not think of it as treating their anxiety, the simple fact is that many people with anxiety and panic disorders take in certain substances in an attempt to do just that. Self-medicating is dangerous and can lead to addiction, worsened symptoms, and even severe health problems or death. As someone with a predisposition to a number of symptoms, it is very important that you avoid taking in substances that can exacerbate anxiety or make your condition worse in the long run, even if they make you feel better in the short term.
Self-medicating can take a number of different forms, all of which are unsafe. While adding vitamins or herbal supplements to your diet can be regarded as generally safe, even these should be discussed with your physician to ensure that you are taking them properly and that they will not interact with any health conditions you may have or any medications you may be taking. Even something that is safe for most people could have side effects or interactions, and no possible benefit is worth putting your health at risk.
The most common substances for self-medication are usually caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. All of these substances are legal and easily available, and each can provide a sensation of relief or benefit. Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee and most soft drinks and teas, and it is one of the most frequently ingested drugs in the nation. While not inherently dangerous for most people, in people with anxiety and panic, it can severely exacerbate symptoms. Coffee increases the heart rate, affects blood flow, and creates a sensation of alertness. For people with anxiety, this can cause greater symptoms or even panic attacks.
When it comes to nicotine, the drug is also a stimulant. Common in cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and even nicotine replacement products, nicotine provides a brief sensation of calm or relaxation. It also stays in the body for a very short period of time, however, and as the drug leaves the system, it creates feelings of anxiety that are exacerbated by the sensations of nicotine withdrawal, which also mimic anxiety. Quitting smoking can be one of the hardest things for many people to do, especially because withdrawals can create such severe anxiety, but it can offer a world of benefit not only in terms of long-term anxiety reduction, but in improved overall health as well.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. In small quantities, it can produce a sensation of calm and relaxation that can help to quickly alleviate symptoms of anxiety. Unfortunately, alcohol is also a poison. As your body tries to process the substance and remove it from the blood, you utilize a great deal of nutrients and sugars from your system, creating worsened anxiety. In large doses, alcohol can be extremely damaging to the body and even potentially fatal, and like nicotine, it can be easy to become dependent on it. The use of alcohol is certainly very contraindicated for people with anxiety or panic disorders.
For some people, illegal drugs are used as a form of self-medication. Not everyone who uses these drugs realizes that they are doing so for the purposes of relieving anxiety, but when using a drug provides short-term relief from symptoms that can seem unbearable, it can be easy to become dependent on them as a means of stopping the effects of anxiety.
In addition to dependency, illegal drugs also offer a high risk of overdose. The risks that come with using illegal drugs are never worth the potential for temporary relief that they may offer, and the after effects of using them can irreversibly change your anxiety disorder. Taking illegal drugs can lead to a wide variety of negative consequences, including physical, emotional, financial, and legal problems.
Of course, using drugs only provides short-term relief, while offering a laundry list of risks and dangers. Illegal drugs are often mixed with all manner of substances that can be as deadly as the drugs themselves, and drug use can destroy the organs, result in overdose, and even greatly alter your brain chemistry, making it even harder for treatment to be effective. Using drugs even a single time as someone with anxiety or panic disorder puts you at great risk for dependence, and substance abuse can make anxiety disorders much more difficult to treat.