Anxiety disorders are considered the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 18% of the adult population. Despite the high prevalence of this condition, only one-third of people suffering from anxiety ever receive treatment. Whether you have recently been diagnosed with anxiety or you have started to experience some of the signs of anxiety disorder, there are a number of treatment options available for you. In the guide below, we will discuss different treatments for anxiety disorder and how they can help you get to a better quality of life.

Different Types Of Anxiety Disorders

In order to determine how to treat anxiety disorder, a professional must first determine what type of anxiety disorder you have. Some clients suffer from more than one form of anxiety, depression, or other mental condition, while others may only need treatment for a single disorder. Common forms of anxiety and depression include:

• Social Anxiety Disorder: Affects 15 million U.S. adults
• General Anxiety Disorder: Affects 6.8 million U.S adults
• Panic Disorder: Affects 6 million U.S. adults
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Affects 7.7 million U.S. adults
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Affects 2.2 million U.S. adults
• Personal Phobias: Affects 19 million U.S. adults

The statistics above are courtesy of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

The goal in any anxiety diagnosis is to determine what the cause of the condition is. Do you suffer from anxiety because of abuse as a child, or are you experiencing a chemical imbalance in your body? Did you recently go through a traumatic experience, or has your anxiety been triggered by a health condition? Answering these questions will help your counselor, therapist, or doctor determine what the best form of anxiety treatment is for you.

Anxiety Disorder Treatment Through Therapy

Many clients can learn to control their anxiety disorder symptoms through counseling. The goal here is to determine what triggers the onset of anxiety and what can be done to eliminate or minimize those triggers moving forward. Some clients respond well to breathing exercises or mental strategizing, while others learn how to reevaluate the events going on in their environment so they feel less anxious from day to day.

Anxiety therapy may be coupled with other forms of counseling, such as depression therapy, child counseling, OCD counseling, and more. Every client has different circumstances leading to their anxiety, so your counseling needs may be entirely different than someone else’s. Here at In-Home Counseling Services, we work closely with each of our clients to ensure they get the best possible care for their unique situation. When you are matched with a counselor who specializes in anxiety treatment, you can learn the tools and solutions best fit for you.

In order to figure out the best anxiety treatment for you, work with a mental health expert to better understand your current condition. With proper guidance and evaluation, you will be on track to a better quality of life.

As you may already know, mental illness doesn’t necessarily manifest in a recognizable form.  You’re not always going to recognize who is suffering.  Arguably that’s one of the toughest things about any mental illness, it can go unnoticed for a long time.

Mental Illness as defined by the Mayo Clinic:

Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.

How Does it Affect Seniors?

Mental illness can and will affect them in a similar way to people of any age, but with seniors you combine frailty and degeneration of the body & mind.  It’s common for older adults to have an onset of a depressive episode due to loss of cognition, loss of hearing, incontinence and many other factors, including loss of independence.  It can be hard to see life from their perspective, especially when we still have our independence and our faculties.

Common Mental Illness in Seniors

Depression :  Aging, loss of independence and loss of loved ones, undoubtedly attribute to growing depression in older adults

Anxiety :  Aging adults also become anxious about their failing bodies, the changing world around them and worries about what the future holds.

Dementia :  A decline in mental cognition that can be the culmination of untreated mental illness, among other things.

Suicidal Ideation :  The feeling of hopelessness and losing the desire to live when experiencing mental illnesses, trauma from the loss of a loved one, diagnosis of a terminal illness, and many others.

14 Warning Signs of Mental Illness

• Feeling sad or down
• Withdrawal from family & friends
• Confusion
• Changes in eating habits
• Withdrawal from activities they once loved
• Mood changes
• Prominent low energy
• Delusions
• Problems sleeping
• Cannot cope with stress
• Problems with alcohol or drug use
• Abundant fears or worries
• Frequent anger or violence
• Suicidal thinking

If you or someone you love is suffering from what appears to be mental illness, or you think they may be contemplating suicide, you’re not alone. Assess your local resources to get help.  Remember, you’re loved and you have a purpose in this life that’s worth living!

To see the entire article please visit: https://loverightcare.com/willbhawk3/company-blog/mental-illness-how-does-it-effect-seniors/10/10/2019/

From an early age, I was conditioned to believe that mental illnesses are embarrassing and shameful. I was taught to build walls around my feelings, and in doing so I have condemned myself to fighting them alone.

Being part of the Hispanic community has proven to be a challenging experience when it comes to mental health. Mental health disorders are one of many battles negatively affecting our community due to the stigma and misconceptions surrounding them. Sometimes those who have the courage to ask for help wind up feeling unsupported or belittled by their own family and cultural misconceptions.

A year ago, I witnessed my family drown in guilt for not taking the signs more seriously. The night my 16-year-old cousin lost his battle with depression, around 80 members of the Hispanic community who previously did not believe in mental health disorders became advocates. Although I was not close to him, a small part of me still feels guilty for not checking up on him or advocating for his struggles sooner, after he expressed clear signs on social media. We were so conditioned to dismiss his cries for help as attention-seeking that we ended up missing vital signs of someone gasping for air.

Unfortunately, there are many members from our community who lose their battle. It is not common for individuals in the Hispanic community who struggle with mental health to not receive the treatment they need. More than 16% of Hispanics battle some kind of mental illness, but only 35% of those who struggle receive the help they need. That’s 10% lower than the U.S. average.

The Hispanic community and mental health care

According to the University of Houston, there are many factors that come to play for Hispanics who are not able to receive the help they need. These factors include:

Language Barriers: Members may have a difficult time communicating with providers due to not speaking the same language.

Lack of health insurance: In 2019 the Kaiser Family Foundation discovered that 20% of Hispanics had no form of health insurance.

Cultural Beliefs: Due to upbringing many Hispanics may have a difficult time expressing their symptoms to providers, causing providers to misdiagnose them.

Immigration Status: For those who have no documentation, the fear of separation and deportation is often for a barrier to getting help.

We pride our culture on support, love, family, and unity. Yet when family members describe the gruesome war happening inside of their head, we often struggle with stigmatizing beliefs. Once we hear the words depression or anxiety, we may be quick to turn a blind eye.

“Maybe if you prayed more and talked to God, you wouldn’t feel the way you do”

“You’re a man; men don’t cry.”

“You are too young to know anything about stress or depression.”

To those families who have lost someone to depression, I am truly sorry, and I understand your pain. As we fight against the stigma around mental health disorders, we can start by familiarizing ourselves with the signs of a mental health struggle.

Here are some clear signs that should raise awareness:

• Social withdrawal
• Dramatic changes in eating and sleeping
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Substance use
• Changes in ability to manage responsibilities at home and/or at school

If I could go back and tell my cousin anything, I would say: Do not give up. Your life is worth so much, and your family would miss you for the rest of their lives. Help is available, and you deserve support.

It is important to remind our community that depression is real. Mental illnesses exist, and they do not discriminate based on your age, skin color, abilities, or financial status.

If we can learn how to support our loved ones during a mental health struggle, we can lean on those values that make our community strong: support, love, family, and unity.

You are not alone.

If you need more support, please reach out for help.

To see the full article please visit: https://blog.bcbsnc.com/2022/10/challenging-mental-health-stigma-in-the-hispanic-community/

Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Oftentimes as therapists/clinicians we forget to take care of our mental health and engage in self-care. We forget that we too are humans and without self-check-ins we are a disservice to others.

Taking care of our mental health is even more critical as we live through a pandemic (COVID-19), which can elevate levels of stress. Therefore, it’s important that we assess our needs, identify coping skills and develop and maintain a support network.

Self-care means many things: physical: sleep, stretching, walking, healthy eating; emotional: stress management, emotional maturity, forgiveness, compassion; social: boundaries, support system, positive social media, communication, ask for help and spiritual: time alone, meditation, yoga, connection, and journaling. Self-care also means focus on what you can control.

Identifying coping skills may look different during the pandemic. Strategies that were effective pre-pandemic may not be currently relevant. Write a list of effective coping skills. Reach out to others to see what works for them. Try new strategies. Keep an open mind.

Lastly, everybody needs a support network. Ask yourself who are your trusted supports. The pandemic may have limited the way in which you interact, including the frequency at which you connect with your support system. Significant supports may have been lost due to the pandemic. As social beings, we need each other. During stressful times that becomes more apparent. Utilize your resources and supports.

Caregivers face a great deal of stress in their line of work. In fact, they often refer to this as “caregiver stress” because the experience is so common and unique. If you have felt the pressure of this lifestyle lately, the team at In-Home Counseling Services is here to help. Here are some stress management tips for caregivers, specifically designed to address your needs.

Don’t Be Ashamed to Ask for Help (Or Accept It)

Caregivers often think they have to do everything on their own, but that simply isn’t the case. If someone offers to help you, do not be afraid to accept that help. It’s not a handout – it’s a hand-up. We all need those from time to time.

If you know you need help, don’t hesitate to ask. If you work with a caregiver agency, talk to them about getting coverage for a mental health day, or ask for an adjustment in your hours. If you care for a friend or family member, ask a trusted companion to handle a certain task for you. Something as simple as having a second set of hands to fold laundry or run errands will make a big difference in your stress levels.

Keep Your Commitments to a Minimum Outside of Work

You may feel like you have to do as much as possible on your days off because your caregiving shifts are so long. The stress of those commitments can quickly bleed into your work. You can spend time with friends or enjoy your favorite hobbies, but schedule some down time as well. You shouldn’t feel like every minute of the day is filled to the max.

Know What You Can Realistically Handle, and Set Goals to Match

The goals set by your employer or your client may not fit the reality of the situation. You know what you can handle, how long each task takes, and how much you can realistically achieve in a day/week. Set goals to match your capabilities. Explain issues you experience that may cause delays, such as unexpected errands or additional tasks you’ve had to take on. As long as you’re honest with yourself and everyone involved, you can find a setup that won’t strain your mental health.

Get Plenty of Rest on Your Days off

Caregiving requires a series of physical and mental tasks. Even if you are not moving around much during one shift, your brain is probably in overdrive. You need to be able to recharge during your days off. This aligns with a tip above: don’t pack your days too full. Instead, allow time for rest and relaxation. You’re allowed to spend a day doing absolutely nothing. In fact, we encourage it! When you go back to work, you will feel revitalized and ready to take on the day.

Talk to Someone about the Stress

You don’t have to carry this stress alone. There are many caregiver support groups to participate in, or you can speak to a therapist about your stress. At In-Home Counseling Services, we provide confidential counseling solutions when and where you need it most. Our therapists come to you, and we can work around your busy schedule. Discuss your stress in a confidential session and get personalized care for you.