All About Anxiety Psychological Services Calgary

By Karyn Shields


Anxiety is a condition that ails many people. For starters, anxiety is not bad in itself. It is a perfectly normal reaction to situations worth the reaction. The problem starts when it is so excessive that it takes control of your life. Usually, it is a symptom; muscles feel tensed, state of panic etc. At this point, it is wise to consult anxiety psychological services Calgary for professional help.

Anxiety disorders come in several forms. Phobias are a fear of events, things or situations which never go away. Post traumatic disorder develops following a terrifying event causing victims to constantly relive the trauma through recollections and nightmares when they sleep. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worrying, lasting at least six months long and accompanied by fatigue, restlessness and insomnia.

Prolonged uneasiness is generally characterized by excessive worrying. A lot of people worry about money, work, school, health etc even when there is nothing really to worry about. Another symptom is avoidance. Patients tend to avoid situations which cause them to become anxious which does not help. Patients may also be irritable, suffer sleeplessness, fatigue, trembling and headaches. Other people may find their muscles tense or urinate more frequently than normal.

If you have any of the above symptoms, consult a psychologist. Once you do so, an appointment will be scheduled and during the first session, you will be required to describe your symptoms. Based on the symptoms, the doctor will diagnose your condition appropriately and offer help. The psychologist may prescribe medication or psychotherapy sessions or both.

Medicinal therapy is prescribed if the disorder is not severe or during the course of the psychotherapy to keep symptoms at bay. Medicinal therapy does not cure anxiety disorders as it does not address the cause. Such medicines include antidepressants, beta-blockers and SSRIs which must be prescribed by your doctor.

Psychotherapy sessions are applicable for most individuals with the disorder as they are effective. A patient is required to talk to a professional like psychiatrist, psychologist or counselor to determine what brings about their condition. Discovering the triggers is important as it enables your doctor help you get rid of the symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy is used widely to help change perceptions and reactions to situations triggering the disorder.

So what helps? Some good amount of self care is good to prevent being anxious. For instance, sleep enough, work out and eat healthy and well balanced foods. Self help skills such as meditation, good communication, proper time management and positive self talk also help. If a certain situation may cause you to be anxious, anticipating helps. For example, if school exams make you anxious, prepare for them in advance so that when they come, you are ready.

In the event of an anxious episode, take deep breathing and constant reassuring yourself that you can handle it. Try to focus on other things and not yourself and also the times when you dealt successfully with the situation at hand. This does not always help but a professional like a psychologist always helps. Their training is focused on helping patients deal with such episodes. Over time, after a successful therapy, the attacks become rare and may also go away for good.




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