Email usThere are 5 main components to the recovery process:
It's important never to self-diagnose. Because the symptoms are so distressing, many attempt to discover their own answers by surfing the internet, reading books or talking to friends. However, the very first step on the road to recovery for everyone is knowing exactly what you're dealing with. This is especially important because many anxiety symptoms mimic those of physical illnesses. You need to visit your General Practitioner so this possibility can be excluded.
For some people, accepting they have an anxiety disorder can be very hard. It raises many issues including preconceived ideas about the type of people who develop this type of disorder. It's also difficult to reconcile the seemingly innocuous words 'anxiety' and 'panic attack' with an individual's powerful personal experience. This can lead to repeated trips to hospital emergency rooms or repeated diagnostic testing. Sometimes it can take years before a person finally comes to accept their diagnosis.
Anxiety disorders rarely disappear on their own. Sometimes symptoms may subside for a time, but generally return when the next stressful situation arises. This can also be the case if medication has been the only treatment. Successful treatment should have two components: skills to assist with the day-to-day management of symptoms and a therapy which addresses the underlying causes and brings benefits in the long term. Depending on the individual case, medication may also be required.
Once people start a treatment program and begin to get a much better understanding about anxiety and its management, people can go through a 'honeymoon' period. This is where they see a marked improvement in their symptoms. They begin to feel hopeful again in returning to 'normal' functioning. In other words, they start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is why it can be all the more devastating when the first setback occurs. When it happens, as it inevitably will, many can lose confidence both in the treatment and themselves. This is why its so important to realise setbacks are part of the recovery process. Each setback can be an opportunity to hone your awareness and skills. Rather than being a sign of failure, there's much which can be learned from them. Sometimes people bring about a setback by pushing themselves too hard, too quickly or by attempting a difficult task on a day when their energy levels are low. The best way of dealing with a setback is to look into the many factors which may have caused it.
Part of recovery is addressing the issues that led to the disorder in the first place. While a major life stress may have been the trigger; it only exposed underlying factors such as our need to be in control, our perfectionist attitudes and our vulnerability. In addition, we must also confront feelings of shame, guilt, remorse and grief directly related to experiencing the disorder. So while initially people think recovery is only about the cessation of symptoms, the more you understand about anxiety, the more you become aware of its many layers.
Most people will try to work through their issues themselves, but getting professional help can give that other perspective and depth of understanding difficult to achieve on one's own.
