Anxiety is one of the most common mood disorders. It affects millions of people nationwide every year, but it does not affect everyone equally. In fact, women disproportionately suffer from anxiety disorders in comparison to men. Counseling, therapy, and medications have long been the go-to methods for treating anxiety disorders. Something that is often less considered is rehab for anxiety. Most people equate rehab with treating addiction. However, anxiety rehab can benefit people who feel like their anxiety has become unmanageable. Learn more about the anxiety treatment center at The Willows at Red Oak Recovery® by contacting 855.773.0614.
10 Signs You Should Seek Anxiety Rehab
Seeking anxiety rehab is rarely someone’s first choice. Most anxiety treatment starts with your general practitioner in the form of medication or a referral to a counselor or therapist. However, some people need more intensive support. Rehab for anxiety is a viable option when medication and therapy prove insufficient. Explore the following ten signs that indicate it is time to seek anxiety rehab.
1. Therapy Feels Insufficient
Many people experience a plateau in outpatient therapy. It may help a lot at first, but over time, the impact wanes where they feel like they are no longer making much progress. Stalled progress could mean you need more intensive therapy at a rehab center.
2. Medication Is No Longer Effective
Anxiety medication helps numerous people. For some, it is not as much of a cure-all. Alternatively, some people find it helps a lot for a while, but over time, it becomes less effective. The answer is not to double down on medication or take a higher dose. Instead, this is likely a sign that more comprehensive support is necessary.
3. Physical Symptoms Persist
Anxiety disorders manifest as mental health challenges first. They also tend to cause a host of physical symptoms too. Sometimes, people feel like they have gotten their anxiety disorder under control despite their physical symptoms not dissipating. The most common physical impacts of an anxiety disorder are:
- Nausea or related digestive issues
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
- Muscle tension in the neck or back
- Headaches
The persistence of physical symptoms means more work is necessary to address the anxiety disorder fully.
4. Simple Tasks Are Difficult
Anxiety often interrupts clear thinking and the ability to manage tasks. At its most invasive, anxiety makes even completing simple tasks difficult.
5. Relationships Are Suffering
Unmanaged anxiety wrecks relationships with friends and family. Anxiety often produces irritability and other negative emotional expressions. Despite your best efforts, anxiety may become the dominant narrative of your interpersonal relationships. This is a clear sign that more drastic intervention through rehab for anxiety may be necessary.
6. Work Performance Is Suffering
In addition to your relationships, work or school performance often also suffers from anxiety. It may not be every day, and you may feel like you’re still getting by. However, an anxiety rehab could be the answer when you feel like your career is beginning to suffer at the hands of your mental health.
7. Panic Attacks Dominate Your Life
Panic attacks are a common component of anxiety. Some people even have a recognized panic disorder alongside an anxiety disorder. Most days, people can manage their anxiety to some degree or another. However, panic attacks completely disrupt life and are more or less definitionally unmanageable. In addition, panic attacks are often unpredictable, come on suddenly, and produce a host of intense symptoms. Professional treatment is capable of addressing panic attacks.
8. You Use Drugs or Alcohol to Cope
Coping mechanisms to deal with anxiety are essential. Using unhealthy coping mechanisms like drugs or alcohol is a major red flag. So many people start using drugs to cope with anxiety only to wind up with a substance abuse disorder with their pre-existing mood disorder.
9. You Feel Depressed
Depression and anxiety coexist for a lot of people. Dealing with both using medication or outpatient therapy may be insufficient. Rehab for anxiety offers the correct level of support to address both issues comprehensively.
10. Your Doctor Recommends Anxiety Rehab
Many people resist the idea of pursuing rehab for a mood disorder. Additionally, it can be hard to recognize on your own when more intensive support is necessary. That’s why an outside, objective perspective can be so valuable. Don’t get defensive if your doctor or therapist recommends you seek rehab for anxiety. They have your best interests at heart and may be able to see a need you couldn’t self-identify.
Seek Support for Anxiety at The Willows at Red Oak Recovery®
Did any of these ten signs resonate with you? Do you feel like you are in need of anxiety rehab? The Willows at Red Oak Recovery® is here to help. Reach out to 855.773.0614 to find out how we can help you overcome your anxiety disorder and live life to the fullest.
