Debilitating Anxiety Disorder

Debilitating anxiety disorder definition involves an intense or extreme sense of fear or dread about everyday situations or tasks. Some people may also refer to this excessive anxiety and worry as “apprehensive expectation.” This type of anxiety can make it difficult for a person to function.

So, what do you consider it to be a debilitating anxiety disorder? I guess if it interferes with your daily life, it’s considered debilitating. I think it depends on the individual. If you can’t function in life because of anxiety, Therefore, I suggest seeing a healthcare provider. It’s something you don’t want to mess with (trust me). I ended up in the hospital because I thought I could “handle it.” All things considered, after that visit, I’m more open about telling my doctor what is going on in my life.

I have for the most part been the “I can handle it” type of person. Altogether, I used to think I didn’t need help from anybody. Boy, was I wrong. I think the “I can do it” attitude came from when I was bullied in school at an early age. No one was going to help me, so I helped myself.

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” ~George Eliot

Debilitating Anxiety Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of crippling anxiety disorder include the following:

Firstly, isolating, or withdrawing from social situations
Unexpected or unexplained weight loss or weight gain
Intense feelings of irritability
Trouble falling asleep, waking through the night, or having nightmares
Feeling agitated or unable to sit still
Physical health concerns like headaches, body aches, etc.
Having an upset stomach/nausea/digestive problems
Problems in relationships
Substance abuse problems
Acting out/aggressive behavior/quick to anger
Thoughts of suicide
Constant worry or racing thoughts
Inability to keep up with life’s tasks
Feelings dizzy or lightheaded
Problems breathing or tightness in the chest
Lastly, a general feeling of uneasiness

“If you want to improve your self-worth, stop giving other people the calculator.” ~Tim Fargo

Debilitating Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Whichever type of treatment or therapy you choose, consider looking for someone specializing in anxiety disorders. Your treatment may include the following interventions.

 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely recognized therapeutic interventions for anxiety. As a problem-specific, goal-oriented approach, CBT focuses on the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT involves various strategies that work together to shift your response to triggers or other underlying causes, including:

Firstly, possible triggers to panic and anxiety attacks.
Identifying thoughts and related behaviors that could lead to heightened anxiety and changing them.
Relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises and mindfulness practices.
Lastly, learning coping skills to manage severe symptoms of anxiety.

 Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy that’s frequently used alongside traditional treatment methods for anxiety. Hence, it’s a short-term, 8-step method that uses repeated bilateral stimuli, as an object or finger moves back and forth while the person follows it with their eyes.

 Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is used to treat people who have extreme anxiety and phobias. Altogether, it involves gradual exposure to the things you’re afraid of through repeated contact over time until it becomes easier to face what triggers your fear.

 Medication

Anxiety can be treated with a variety of medications including benzodiazepines (which only need to be taken as needed), SSRI and SNRI antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa) or duloxetine hydrochloride (Cymbalta).

“Don’t waste a second of your time convincing other people you’re worth loving.” ~Atticus

Living With Debilitating Anxiety Disorder

Living with debilitating anxiety is doable if you have the right techniques in place. Therefore, it’s not so debilitating when you practice those treatments that are going to dial down the anxiety. It’s kind of funny when I look back at when the anxiety started (or when I noticed it). Obviously I had no clue as to what I was dealing with or that it would essentially effect the rest of my life.

In the beginning, anxiety ruled my life. Basically, everything I did was based on how I would react WITH the anxiety in tow. Would I be able to handle this or that with the anxiety?

What changed my life was exposure therapy. Basically, it slowly acclimated me to face the anxiety (or fear) in little pieces at a time. Like taking baby steps. At the same time, it wasn’t overwhelming like some treatments. I was also put on Klonopin, which gave me the one-up to fight the debilitating anxiety. I believe wholeheartedly that just one by itself I wouldn’t have had the same results.

“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” ~Louise L. Hay

Conclusion

Anxiety can be debilitating only if you let it! It’s been a long journey to get where I’m at now. Technically, I shouldn’t even be here. I let the anxiety and depression get so bad that I thought life was not worth it. After I got out of the hospital, I was a new person. I had this resilience that I didn’t have before. Therefore, I WANTED to live life but on my terms. I believe that the man upstairs gave me a second chance and I embraced it with my whole being.

So, stop telling yourself that you “can’t” and start saying “I can.” Now, I realize how good life can be. You know what, all the hardships I’ve been through, I wouldn’t change a thing because I love my life just the way it is. Therefore, I might have had debilitating anxiety in the past, but it made me who I am today and I wouldn’t change that for anything. Until next time…