How to Find Help for Your Anxiety Issues Without Seeking Formal Therapy

Stress is a part of human existence, being a physiological response to a perceived threat or an injury. While people experience it on many occasions, it is relatively short-term. Anxiety is a far bigger concern, specifically if it becomes chronic and severe.

More than one in four Americans reported that they anticipate more stress in 2023, considerably higher than 20% last year.  Recent statistics from August 2023 show that 28% of adults reported anxiety symptoms during the preceding week. The numbers are gross, and they show that the country is on the brink of a mental health crisis.

The growing awareness around mental health is a silver lining because it normalizes anxiety disorders in the first place. Secondly, it encourages patients to recognize symptoms and seek help sooner rather than later. The good thing about seeking help early is that you have better chances of quick recovery.

Here are a few actionable tips for people suffering from anxiety issues to find help without seeking formal therapy.

Be Aware of Anxiety Symptoms

Being aware of anxiety symptoms gives you a head start with diagnosis. The sooner you know about the condition, the faster you adopt a coping strategy. In most cases, people can get through without seeing a therapist if they recognize the risk and work on their mindset. Here is a list of common early-stage anxiety symptoms:

• Constant and excessive feelings of worry
• Restlessness
• Headache
• Difficulty concentrating
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Sweating
• Heavy breathing

Know Your Triggers

Prevention is the best therapy for anxiety, and it doesn’t require professional help. You only need to know your triggers and avoid them to steer clear of negative thoughts and reactions. Anxiety triggers differ for everyone, so you cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach to identifying them.

Losing a loved one, workplace stress, and a financial crisis may make you anxious. Research also links anxiety risk with personality types. For example, people with high emotional reactivity and introverted tendencies are more prone to these disorders.

While you cannot do much about your personality type, being aware of your triggers can make all the difference. You subconsciously build your defenses against them with self-awareness.

Connect With a Non-Clinical Professional

You may not want to consult a therapist to deal with anxiety, but seeking help from a non-clinical professional is an option. For example, you can connect with a social worker if you feel anxious due to a toxic relationship or family issues.

Social work is a thriving profession in the US, with 2020 estimates showing 715,600 social workers employed in the field. The online Master of Social Work has made entry into the workforce easy for professionals looking to upgrade or swap careers to become social workers.

According to Cleveland State University, aspiring social workers can choose the clinical or advanced generalist field. A generalist social worker can support people looking for non-clinical support to deal with anxiety disorders.

Open Up About Anxiety

Besides seeking professional support, you can open up about your condition with a trusted friend or family member. Many people tend to bottle up due to stigma or the fear of social isolation, but it can only worsen the situation. Talk to an empathic person ready to give time and listen patiently without judging you.

Consider joining a support group because people going through similar situations can understand your problems. You may also get some valuable advice from those who have conquered anxiety with self-belief and compassion. If you’re dealing with pent-up frustrations, the best solution is to let them out.

Adopt a Positive Lifestyle

Several studies indicate that lifestyle can have a positive impact on anxiety symptoms. Unhealthy habits, on the other hand, may aggravate it. Adopting a healthy lifestyle should be a top priority to overcome anxious behavior.

Here is a checklist to get your lifestyle on track:

• Load up on a nutritious diet, and ditch stress culprits like sugar, caffeine, and alcohol
• Embrace a realistic and actionable exercise routine that blends seamlessly into your schedule
• Get adequate sleep and maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle with 7-8 hours of bedtime
• Adopt activities promoting stress relief, such as meditation, deep breathing, or a hobby
• Spend time with loved ones and cultivate positive relationships
• Maintain an optimal work-life balance

Conclusion

Handling anxiety without therapy is doable, provided you act fast and take a proactive approach. You can overcome it without worrying about the cost, medication, and privacy concerns of visiting a professional therapist. Commit to self-compassion and maintain realistic expectations toward everything. Following these tips can help you keep anxiety at bay and lead a happy life.