Myths about anxiety disorders

A handful of the major things patients with anxiety disorders (and doctors who treat them) face and probably add more complication to their anxiety are the misconceptions about anxiety disorders that typical people impose and subscribe to. In addition, these misconceptions are simply thrown around mindlessly and are immediately available to media such as the internet. Here are some examples to condone.

1. People with anxiety are mentally weak. Although it is tine that the core characteristic of any anxiety disorder is fear, it is entirely unjust to define any patient as weak or feeble. To dismiss any patient with anxiety disorder as someone who cannot deal with his or her own problems is the same as to say that life is generally and universally the same for everyone and that all kinds of fears can be managed with standard amount of strength every single person is fairly given. It is important to note that anxiety disorders are caused by a combinationof biological, environmental, social, and behavioral factors. People have different compositions, weaknesses, and strength. Dealing with anxiety problems does not make one person weak as a whole, the same as having difficulty with chemistry does not make anyone academically poor.

2. One can simply avoid the causes of anxiety to handle it. This is one advice usually given freely to most of the patients. It may work for a moment, but this only contributes to complications in the long run. This only gives instant gratification that conditions the patient to resort to complete avoidance which is extremely disabling, feeding the fear instead of conditioning the patient to gradually face them and feel less anxious. Evading a cause of anxiety increases the risk of enforcing the idea that the patient is fragile and helpless with the things he or she is anxious or panicking about.
3. Anxiety disorders are not a big deal. Even a handful of patients think this way sometimes. People tend to think that personal turmoil only causes them trouble when they tell other people or when they make a big deal out of it. This land of thinking from patients and the people around them only makes the condition worse as it feeds the idea that it does not get worse and will eventually go away. Not recognizing the importance of dealing with anxiety right away and properly paves the way for more serious conditions such as depression and substance abuse. It is essential for patients and surrounding people to acknowledge the crippling effects of anxiety and give patients the opportunity to manage the disorder without dismissing its seriousness.

4. Anxiety issues are caused by poor childhood. While difficulties in the past particularly in childhood may contribute to the development of anxiety disorders, it is not the sole reason. Some people tend to think that poor childhood—growing up with much difficulty, being raised in restrictive environment, or having incapable parents— made anxiety patients not prepared and armed for the realities of life and that wiien it got difficult at some point, they just succumb to anxiety. While it is true that a great childhood may help develop a child’s compositions, behaviors and mental patterns, some people with great childhood are still at risk of developing anxiety disorders.

5. Anxiety will go away on its own when one decides to stay more positive. As much as optimism has its role in treating and managing anxiety disorders, most, if not all, patients need to be assisted by doctors and supported by family and Mends. Contributing factors such as brain structure or massive psychological trauma do not dissolve 011 their own. Treatments for anxiety disorders are not short and simple. Cognitive conditioning and pharmacological treatments do not come freely and easily. Mere positive thinking and mid-over-matter principles are not enough to cut it.
6. People with anxiety disorders are difficult to handle. Anxiety disorderpatients may seem to be difficult as tlieir dispositions and temperaments may be quite hard to relate to but they are not that much different from normal people. Take away the seemingly unreasonable and out of proportion worries and one can see a person trying as hard as anyone to get through everyday life. Even normal people experience anxiety at some point of tlieir lives and the struggles and troubles of people with anxiety disorders are not entirely unfamiliar. All of know what it is like to be nervous, worried, scared, and regretful. It is just that patients with anxiety disorders experience these emotions on a chronic level.

7. Medication is the only solution for anxiety disorders. Properly diagnosed anxiety disorders may warrant prescription medication in order to be treated appropriately, but studies have shown that psychotherapy, particularly Cognitive Behavioral therapy or CBT, is as effective, if not more, as medication. Prescription medications are given to address physiological symptoms of anxiety disorders such as lapses in brain processes and muscular tensions. Some of them are prescribed to promote relaxation and sleep. However, cognitive behavioral symptoms such as avoidance of triggers or excessive fear reactions need assisted readjustment and conditioning. This is where the therapies come in.

8. Medications are addictive and cause dependence so they must only be taken when deemed necessary. All medications prescribed for anxiety disorders are NOT in any way addictive. However, dependence is possible for people who have been under medication for longer terms. Some patients may also develop tolerant anxiety symptoms that require them to take increased dosage of medication. The key to this is to consult a respectable medical professional who would prescribe the most suitable and appropriate medication for a patient.
9. Just carry a brown paper bag around in case you hyperventilate. In any case, and not just for anxiety disorders and panic attacks, breathing into a brown paper bag whenever hyperventilating is an instant gratification tactic. In short, it’s an inefficient shortcut. As a matter of fact, hyperventilating is not a physical threat hi itself, although it is impleasant, uncomfortable, and most of the time embarrassing. Carrying a brown bag, even for caution, may reinforce the notion that hyperventilating or a panic attack is somehow expected and that when it happens, there is no other resort than breathe into the bag. In addition, the preemption of an attack further contributes to anxiety.

10. An anxiety disorder is lifelong case. The length of treatment for anxiety disorders vary from case to case and the progress of the process differ from one phase to another. Regardless of how long it may take for treatment to be fully successful, it is important that a patient be offered options to battle the disabilities caused by chronic anxiety.