In the United States, anxiety is the most common mental health disorder, impacting up to 30% of Americans each year, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. Despite the fact that anxiety is highly treatable, most people still struggle to find relief. If this describes you, know that you are not alone. If talk therapy, medicine, and mindfulness practices haven’t alleviated your anxiety-associated symptoms, it’s time to seek a new anxiety treatment in Dallas.
But, before we go into the top alternative treatments available today, let’s take a look at what anxiety is and how it affects the brain.
What exactly is anxiety?
Anxiety is the body and mind’s overreaction to new, uncomfortable, or stressful situations. It frequently results in feelings of unease, worry, or dread. While a certain amount of anxiety can help us stay conscious and vigilant, too much anxiety becomes difficult to deal with. Anxiety disorders can be quite debilitating for those who suffer from them.
Excessive worry or fear about a perceived or real threat is a common symptom of anxiety disorders. This can have harmful psychological and behavioral repercussions. The following are the most common anxiety disorders:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder
- PTSD or other stress/trauma-related disorders
- Social anxiety disorder
What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety?
The specific symptoms of anxiety that you experience will be determined by the type of anxiety you have. However, the following are the most prevalent indications and symptoms of anxiety disorders:
- Nervous feelings
- Restlessness
- Concentration problems
- Sleeping problems
- Problems with the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract)
- A consistent feeling of impending danger or doom
- Racing heart
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Excessive sweating
- Trembling and shaking
- Difficulty controlling stress
The brain and anxiety
You might have heard that anxiety is caused by a brain imbalance. But what exactly does that even mean? Simply put, the emotional and stress inhibitory regions of the brain aren’t functioning the way they should when you have anxiety.
More specifically, the amygdala, an almond-shaped cluster of neurons responsible for your “fight or flight” response, is hyperactive and hypersensitive. That’s not the only difference in the brains of people with anxiety though. Research has revealed that anxious thoughts are not solely isolated to one region of the brain. Rather, interactions between many areas of the brain can contribute to anxiety. The prefrontal cortex in particular is often ineffective at distinguishing between true threats and false alarms.
Treating anxiety
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), generally known as antidepressants, are typically used as the first-line treatment for anxiety. These drugs function by increasing serotonin production. In many circumstances, these prescription medications are effective in the short term. They do not, however, correct the problem or address the source of the anxiety issues. Neurofeedback does.
Neurofeedback therapy for anxiety
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive treatment that aims to retrain your brain and correct imbalances. With this therapy, people with anxiety can learn to manage their brain function and change the way it responds to stress.
As previously stated, those who suffer from anxiety frequently have a hyperactive amygdala. This can create too many fast-moving brainwave frequencies. Neurofeedback teaches your brain how to produce more slow-wave frequencies, thus alleviating feelings of stress and anxiety.
Learn more about this state-of-the-art anxiety treatment in Dallas
If you’re interested in treating your anxiety at source, contact us today at Braincode Centers. Not only can neurofeedback help determine which medications your brain will respond to best, but it can also eliminate the need for medication altogether.
Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about this all-natural, research-backed anxiety treatment in Dallas.
