It‘s that time again. It is time to say goodbye to this year so we can usher in a new one. Although the New Year can be cause for celebration, it can also be a trigger for anxiety. What new challenges will await us? How will we conquer our fears? What can we do to decrease our symptoms of anxiety so that we can simply enjoy our life? If you are a person who suffers from an anxiety disorder, you may wonder what you can do differently this year to make things better. We are here to help.

Here are five New Year’s resolutions or goals to help you manage your anxiety this coming year:

1. Schedule an annual physical with your general practitioner

There are many symptoms of anxiety which overlap existing medical conditions. Some of these symptoms can include: Headaches, dizziness, diarrhea, shortness of breath, fatigue, sleep disturbance, racing heart, chest pains, muscle tightness stomach aches and more. You want to make sure that there is not some underlying medical condition for your symptoms before you assume that they are all anxiety related.

Anxiety is also known to trigger or exacerbate the symptoms of certain diseases or illnesses. So it is wise to get an overall check up to assess your general health and receive any necessary medical treatment.

2. Seek assistance from a therapist or counselor

If your anxiety, phobias, or panic attacks are beginning to interfere with your day to day functioning or you are simply at your wit’s end to know how to cope, a mental health practitioner can help. There are multiple ways to find a qualified therapist. One way is to get a referral from your general practitioner. A second resource is to find a therapist by conducting an on-line search. The Psychology Today website has a therapist directory where you plug in the type of mental health practitioner you are seeking and your geographic location.

If you are having difficulty finding a therapist due to lack of money or health insurance, there may be some other options. I have written about some of these options in a post detailing low cost or free therapeutic services.

Note: Remember that you are responsible for your mental health and for getting help. We can offer suggestions, resources, and information about accessing services but it is up to you to make the calls and do the leg work necessary. We are not responsible for any links to services or the quality or cost of care you may receive.

3. Try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

There are many studies which show that cognitive behavioral therapy  or CBT is effective for treating a variety of anxiety related disorders. The average length of time for CBT treatment is 12-20 weeks. The therapist will help you to identify triggers for your anxiety symptoms and then will teach you how to decrease your fear response through new ways of thinking and reacting.

We have lots of information for you to read about CBT and here are just a few of those articles: