The Anxiety Support Center

Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like anxiety, you are never alone. Countless men, women, and children have faced exactly the same diagnosis and have survived and thrived. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge. 

TSC has scoured the Web to assemble links to the very best anxiety resources: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional, and other challenges you're facing now. 

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this anxiety guide even more helpful to survivors like you.   

JUST FOUND OUT 

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Anxiety

• National Institutes of Health/NIMH: Anxiety Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America
• WebMD.com: Anxiety - Panic
• MedlinePlus: Anxiety
  

The Big Picture

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress -- it helps you deal with tension, work harder, stay focused, and cope with all the things that are part of your life. But when anxiety, concern, and worry turns excessive or irrational, it can become a disabling disorder. The National Institute of Mental Health lists five main types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder; obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); panic disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and social phobia or social anxiety disorder. 

Signs & Symptoms

American Psychological Association: Do you know the signs of an anxiety disorder?

Each type of anxiety disorders has its own criteria for diagnosis:

• Mayoclinic.com: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
• NIMH: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• NIMH: Panic disorder
• NIMH: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• NIMH: Social anxiety disorder

Your Anxiety

Anxiety has its roots in basic survival. Apprehension, fear and alertness all help us survive. Ideally, though, once danger is passed, our bodies return to a relaxed state. People with anxiety disorders can’t turn off that feeling of dread and impending doom. Panic attacks sometimes accompany anxiety, and when that happens an individual may be paralyzed by fear:

AnxietyPanic.com: Signs and Causes

Panic attacks lead people to believe they may be having a heart attack. They may also have difficulty breathing and have a shortness of breath:

WebMD.com: Anxiety and Panic Disorders

Getting a Second Opinion

With any serious medical diagnosiis it never hurts to get a second opinion:

PsychCentral.com: Ask the Therapist - Second Opinion About Anxiety/Depression Diagnosis

Questions for Your Doctor

Part of being an informed patient is communicating well with your health-care provider --  here are some useful questions to ask about anxiety:

Health.NYTimes.com: Anxiety Questions

Your World

Take heart: You are not alone. Millions of people experience debilitating anxiety at some point in their lives - hearing how others cope with anxiety may be useful as you begin your journey into survivorship:

• Anxiety Disorders of America: Support Groups
• Social Anxiety Support: Forums
• My Anxious Mind

Explaining Your Diagnosis to Friends & Family

Those closest to you may be confused by your behavior, and some may even take it personally. You can help them by explaining your diagnosis:

Anxiety2calm - Anxiety/Phobias - Friends and Family

If necessary, they may need some support from the wider community too:

Anxiety Disorders of America: Getting Help

Anxiety Myths

• "All stress is bad for you."
  
• "You can die from a panic attack."
  
• "Exercise can cure anxiety."
  

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

• Social Anxiety Institute
• DailyStrength.org: Anxiety Support Group
• ABCNews.com: Living with Anxiety Disorders
• Anxietypanic.com

Types of Treatment

Anxiety is a treatable condition. Treatment options will depend on the type of anxiety disorder you have, the severity of your symptoms, and your tolerance for any side effects. But generally speaking, treatment will likely consist of a combination of medication (anti-anxiety or antidepressant drugs) and counseling (psychotherapy), as well as learning new techniques to relax and release stress and worry:

• Health.NYTimes.com: Stress and Anxiety Treatment
• NIMH: Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
• American Psychological Association: Anxiety Disorders -- The Role of Psychotherapy in Effective Treatment
• American Association of Anxiety Disorders: Guide to Treatment
• American Association of Anxiety Disordrers: Treating Anxiety Disorders with Medications
• Mayoclinic.com: Generalized Anxiety Disorder - Treatment and Drugs
  

Holistic Therapies

Counseling is an important method of non-drug treatment for severe anxiety, but living a healthy lifestyle overall - eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol - can all make it easier to stay calm and worry less. Here are some sources to consider as supplements to psychotherapy and medication (be sure to tell your doctor about any holistic therapies you decide to try):

• The Anti-Anxiety Diet: Beat Anxiety Disorder Naturally with Food
  
• Holistic Help: Holistic Treatment for Anxiety
• YogaJournal.com: Yoga for Anxiety and Panic Attacks
  
• The Anxiety Community: Treatment - Relaxation Techniques
  

Insurance & Work Matters

Look into your insurance coverage to find out what your company will cover for medication and/or counseling. If you are denied coverage, read this article to explore your options:

• OrganizedWisdom.com: Denied Health Insurance with Anxiety
  
• Health Central.com: Anxiety Insurance Help
• American Psychological Association: Stress in the Workplace
  

Resources to Find Health-care Providers

• Anxiety Treatment Experts: How to Find a Psychiatrist
  
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Find a Therapist

Books Survivors Recommend

• The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne
• Coping with Anxiety: 10 Simple Ways to Relieve Anxiety, Fear and Worry by Edward J. Bourne and Lorna Garano
• Peace From Nervous Suffering by Dr. Claire Weekes

Information and Recommended Links for Co-Survivors

What to Say

• "We will find the right treatment for your anxiety."
• "Remember: A panic attack is not fatal and it will pass."
• "I want to help any way I can."
  

What Not to Say

• "Everyone gets anxious sometimes - it's no big deal."
• "Don't be stupid. You're not having a heart attack."
• "Does this mean that you're crazy?"

What You Can Do to Help a Survivor Today and Every Day

Relationship expert Dr. Seth Myers has some useful tips for co-survivors of those with severe anxiety or panic attacks on his blog. 

Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Helping a Family Member

How to Build a Support Network

• Set up your TSC co-survivor profile.
• Create a support group for your friend or family member.
• Interact and provide updates on your loved one's progress.
  

How to Help a Survivor Deal with Day-to-Day Challenges

Work/School - Help your friend or family member decide if his/her condition merits telling your employer or your child's teachers. If it does, talk about the best way to raise the topic and offer to join the survivor when it's time to tell those at work or school.

Family & Friends - Learn as much as you can about anxiety disorders, and the one your loved one has in particular. If the survivor is a friend, offer to join a discussion with the survivor's family about what they can expect and what the survivor's needs will be. Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Helping a Family Member

Recovery / Recurrence

It may take some time until you feel you've truly reached the recovery stage in your survivor journey. Along the way you will find out many things about yourself and you'll learn strategies to help you manage stress, thereby lowering your anxiety. So try to be patient with yourself throughout recovery, as there are likely to be both ups and downs: 

• Psychcentral.com: Anxiety, Worry and Stress
• NIMH: Role of Research in Improving the Understanding and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
• The Anxiety Community: Treatment - Relaxation Techniques
• About.com: Generalized Anxiety - Anxiety Disorder Relapse and Substance Abuse
• HealthyPlace.com: Anxiety Community - Anxiety Disorder Relapses
• Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland: Helpful Reminders for Dealing with Panic Attacks

Another reason to stay on top of your treatment is to avoid developing other health conditions that are made worse by anxiety, like irritable bowel syndrome, or sleep problems:

• Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Anxiety and Your Health - Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Irritable Bowel Disease
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Anxiety and Sleep Disorders

Give Back

Sometimes reaching out to other people who have similar challenges is a great way to help you recover while being a lifeline for someone else: Take time to share your challenges and stories with The Survivors Club so that others may benefit from your experiences, compassion, and wisdom.