Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions of people across the United States. While it’s normal to feel anxious at times, clinical anxiety goes beyond temporary worry. It can linger for weeks or months, interfere with daily responsibilities, and affect both physical and emotional well-being. For some, anxiety is tied to trauma or stressful life experiences; for others, it may develop gradually without a clear cause.
The good news is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable. With a combination of therapy, medication, and helpful lifestyle modifications, people with anxiety can find relief and regain balance in their lives.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is an intense feeling of unease. It’s a natural human response to stress, but when it persists long after the event or situation has passed, that’s when it becomes a problem. When anxiety exists for a long period of time and interferes with one’s life and personal functioning, it becomes a clinical disorder. Anxiety disorders affect thoughts, emotions, and physical health, but with the right support, they are treatable.
Anxiety Risk Factors
Several factors can increase the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder, including:
- Family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions
- Chronic stress or trauma
- Imbalances in brain chemistry
- Physical health issues such as thyroid problems or heart conditions
- Substance misuse or withdrawal
- Personality traits, such as being highly sensitive or perfectionistic
There are many ways anxiety can emerge. Adverse childhood experiences, such as neglect, bullying, parental mental illness, or physical or psychological abuse, can open the door to clinical anxiety throughout a person’s life. One large-population study from BMC Psychiatry found that “…47% of anxiety symptoms were attributable to a history of bullying victimisation.”
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety disorders can manifest differently for each person, but common signs include:
- Excessive worrying or intrusive thoughts
- Restlessness or feeling “on edge”
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue and trouble sleeping
- Muscle tension or headaches
- Rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or gastrointestinal issues
Types of Anxiety
GAD involves ongoing, excessive worry about everyday situations, often without a clear reason. People with GAD may struggle with physical symptoms like restlessness, irritability, and sleep difficulties.
Anxiety and PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders often overlap, as both involve heightened fear responses, intrusive thoughts, and difficulty regulating emotions. For Native Americans, experiences tied to poverty, substance abuse, and dysfunctional family formation may contribute to increased vulnerability to both conditions.
Additionally, Native Americans may face:
- Higher exposure to trauma: including violence, poverty, and discrimination.
- Barriers to mental health care: such as limited access to culturally sensitive providers and treatment facilities.
- Cultural stressors: balancing traditional values with modern societal pressures can contribute to feelings of disconnection and anxiety.
Recognizing these unique challenges is important for developing effective, culturally informed treatment approaches that honor traditions, community support, and resilience within Native populations.
Treatment for Anxiety
For many people, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are closely linked. PTSD often develops after experiencing or witnessing trauma, and anxiety symptoms such as hypervigilance, flashbacks, or panic can be part of the condition.
Among Native Americans, the prevalence of both anxiety and PTSD is often higher compared to the general population. Treating these issues in culturally competent ways leads to more treatment adherence and thus better outcomes.
Therapy for Anxiety
Therapy is one of the most effective ways to manage and reduce anxiety. Working with a licensed mental health professional helps individuals identify thought patterns, regulate emotions, and develop coping strategies. Different types of therapy may be recommended depending on a person’s needs and the severity of symptoms.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT encourages individuals to accept distressing thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them. Through mindfulness exercises and a focus on personal values, people learn to face anxiety with greater flexibility and live in alignment with what matters most to them.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is considered the gold standard for treating anxiety. It helps people identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with healthier, more realistic ones. Over time, CBT reduces anxiety symptoms and improves coping skills.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT blends cognitive-behavioral strategies with mindfulness practices. It teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills—helping individuals manage intense anxiety while building healthier relationships.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy gradually introduces individuals to feared objects, situations, or memories in a safe and controlled way. This process reduces avoidance and desensitizes fear responses, making it highly effective for phobias, panic disorder, and PTSD.
Therapy for Anxiety
Medication can provide much-needed fast relief for depressive symptoms. It is often used alongside therapy, which aims to address the underlying drivers of depression, for best results. A healthcare provider chooses medications based on symptom profile, history, and side effect tolerability.
Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), can also be prescribed for anxiety. They work by balancing brain chemicals that regulate mood and can take several weeks to show full effect.
Medications such as benzodiazepines or buspirone may be prescribed for short-term relief of intense anxiety symptoms. While effective, benzodiazepines carry a risk of dependence and are usually recommended only for limited use under close medical supervision.
Treatment for Anxiety at Aliya Native Americans
At Aliya, we recognize that Native Americans may carry unique burdens when it comes to anxiety and PTSD. Our programs are designed to honor cultural traditions while providing research-based care. By addressing both the historical and personal experiences that contribute to anxiety, we create a safe and supportive environment for healing.
Our Holistic Approach to Treatment for Anxiety
We believe healing involves more than just reducing symptoms—it’s about restoring balance in mind, body, and spirit.
Our holistic approach may include:
- Culturally informed therapy that acknowledges incorporates Native practices, such as sweat lodges, drum circles, and more.
- Research-based treatments like CBT, ACT, and DBT to help manage symptoms effectively.
- Mindfulness and meditation practices to build emotional resilience.
- Community support and group therapy to foster connection and reduce isolation.
- Integration of wellness practices such as exercise, nutrition, and stress management techniques.
This whole-person approach ensures that treatment is not only effective but also meaningful and sustainable.
Anxiety Treatment Near You
If you or a loved one are struggling with excessive anxiety, anxiety and depression, or other symptoms of anxiety disorders, now is the time to seek help. Anxiety disorders in adults—including obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and every type of anxiety disorder—are serious mental disorders that can affect daily functioning and quality of life.
At our trusted health facility, our team of experts in clinical psychology offers effective treatments backed by research training in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Through research-based care such as cognitive behavioural therapy, behavioural therapy, and other personalized interventions, we address medical causes, identify factors that can worsen anxiety, and provide a strategic, science-driven path to healing.
Our programs for people with anxiety disorders, including those with substance use disorders, focus on the treatment of anxiety using proven approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy to help you reclaim balance and improve your quality of life. Don’t wait—explore trusted mental health topics, access reliable health information, and request an appointment today to start your journey toward relief and lasting recovery.
Our team is here to guide you every step of the way—from your first phone call to ongoing recovery support. Reach out today to learn more about anxiety treatment options near you and take the first step toward healing