Crippling anxiety can make it hard for you to function in day to day life. It can be triggered by social settings, unknown factors, driving, and more. Everyone’s condition looks different, but knowing how to deal with crippling anxiety can make it easier to function daily. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in the U.S. with 40 million people or 19% of the population having the condition. Because it is so common, there are many different coping methods and treatment programs available to help people manage it.
What is Crippling Anxiety?
The term “crippling” is defined as “causing serious injuries or harm.” People with crippling anxiety suffer more acutely from their condition than those with less serious diagnoses. For people with crippling anxiety it may be a challenge for them to carry out basic daily tasks like getting up, getting ready for the day, and leaving the house. Oftentimes, they let their anxiety dictate what they do each and every day.
Crippling anxiety has a massive impact on relationships with others.
Entering social settings with unfamiliar people may intimidate an anxious person, making it hard for them to make new friends and maintain old friendships. Unexpected events or changes in plans may trigger an anxious person. Having crippling anxiety is more than being nervous to go somewhere – it is intense fear and discomfort surrounding whatever triggers an individual, often foreign them to avoid public or crowded spaces.
Common Symptoms of Crippling Anxiety
Anxiety is a mental health condition that affects the entire body. Crippling anxiety has physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that can be present at any given time.
Physical symptoms include:
- Muscle tension
- Racing or pounding heart rate
- Restlessness
- Muscle twitching or tremors
- Intense sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Frequent restroom needs
Emotional signs that point to anxiety are:
- Persistent worrying
- Feelings of dread or nervousness
- Believing the worst is going to happen
- “All or nothing” mentality
- Overgeneralizing
Behavioral symptoms may be harder to spot but can appear as:
- Being paranoid of danger or risk
- Avoiding situations or events that cause fear
- Feeling irritable or overstimulated in situations that cause fear
- Social withdrawal
- Seeking reassurance
- Second-guessing choices
- Compulsive actions, such as repeatedly washing hands
This is not a comprehensive list of all symptoms that indicate crippling anxiety. Each person is different, and what may appear as anxiety in one person may be something else entirely in another. It’s important to seek a professional diagnosis from a licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or clinician to confirm whether or not you or a loved one is experiencing this condition.
Dealing with Crippling Anxiety
Management of mental health conditions like crippling anxiety is a lifelong commitment. It is often a condition that stays with you for life, requiring consistent effort. Treatment methods for crippling anxiety include but are not limited to:
- Individual and group therapy
- Medication management
- Acceptance And Commitment Therapy
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Exposure Therapy
- Mindfulness / Meditation
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
At Alter Behavioral Health we offer all of these treatment programs and more. Everyone’s diagnosis looks differently, so everyone deserves treatment that speaks to their needs. When you give our admissions team a call, they work closely with you and our medical team to determine the right program for you. We offer all levels of care to ensure you’re taken care of no matter what. You can choose from crisis and stabilization care, residential mental health treatment, partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient treatment.
Don’t Let Crippling Anxiety Reign Supreme
Finding out you have crippling anxiety can give you clarity and confusion all at once. On the one hand it’s a relief to know why you feel the way you do, but on the other there’s a stigma surrounding mental health that makes it feel intimidating. Crippling anxiety is more common than you think, with hundreds of thousands of people managing their symptoms daily. Anxiety does not have to run your life. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of crippling anxiety or have already been diagnosed – give the team at Alter a call. We’re ready to help you take back control of your life.
About Alter
Alter is a behavioral healthcare provider that specializes in evidence-based clinical treatment approaches. We provide a wide range of programs for adults and families experiencing mental health conditions including schizophrenia, depression, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, substance abuse, and more. This is done through client-centered care for a full-continuum of treatment. We serve the entire U.S. population from our revolutionary locations throughout sunny Southern California. Whether an individual needs 24/7 care or wants an outpatient program – we are there to guide every step of the journey. For more information, give us a call at (877) 613-9776 or visit our website at alterbehavioralhealth.com.
