It can be difficult to manage the effects of anxiety. Symptoms, which can include a pounding heart, shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness, can become uncomfortable. What’s more, if anxiety is left unmanaged, a person may begin to have frequent panic attacks. Sudden waves of fear can interfere with many aspects of life. Aside from learning how to recognize the warning signs of panic disorder, participating in seasonal aquatic exercises at Avalon Malibu can help people effectively cope with panic disorder.
What Is Panic Disorder?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), panic disorder can be defined as a type of anxiety disorder that causes unexpected panic attacks. This mental health condition can be characterized by an abrupt wave of terror or extreme discomfort. Many people facing challenges with panic disorder feel a sense of losing control despite knowing there is no immediate problem.
A panic attack can occur several times a day or as rarely as a few times a year. The onset of panic disorder typically occurs in the late teen or early adult years. Although some men are diagnosed with panic disorder, women are more likely to develop it. There is no known cause of panic disorder but a wide body of research has found that the condition sometimes runs in families. Thus, an individual’s biological makeup plays a critical role in the experience of fear and anxiety.
Warning Signs That Someone May Have Panic Disorder
It can be difficult for someone with anxiety to control their emotions and focus on the present moment. A panic attack can last anywhere from a few minutes to a full hour. It can be easy for an individual with panic disorder to imagine the worst. Impending doom can make one feel as if nothing else matters.
Panic disorder may make a person feel hesitant to go places where they experienced a panic attack in the past. Many people with panic disorder not only experience emotional complications but physical symptoms as well. However, learning to recognize certain triggers or the symptoms that lead up to a panic attack can help people better manage this condition. Physical warning signs include:
- Sinus tachycardia
- Chills or profuse sweating
- Trouble breathing
- Dry swallowing
- Dizziness or overall weakness
- Chest pain
- Nausea, gas, or stomach pain
- Numb or tingly fingers
- Trembling
What Is Aquatic Exercise?
Many people prefer a holistic approach rather than a solely pharmaceutical approach to their mental health issues. Talk therapy and prescription medications sometimes feel like they’re not enough. What’s more, some people may find it difficult to stay dedicated to this type of care as it may not be as enjoyable as expected. Aquatic exercise is the perfect alternative or adjunct therapy to a primary treatment plan.
Engaging in aquatic activities can be a fun way to decompress and cope with daily stressors that may lead to a panic attack. Aquatic exercise is a unique treatment modality that can be effective in quelling anxiety. Knowing this, Avalon Malibu offers a seasonal aquatic exercise program for those who experience unexpected bouts of fear.
Under the supervision of a licensed therapist, people can engage their minds, bodies, and spirits as they allow the water to support them. An individual may engage in different water exercises, aerobics, or low-impact activity within the water. Unique water exercises include the:
- Hallwick concept
- Task type training approach
- Watsu technique
- Fluid movement
- Swim stroke training and modification
- Tai chi
- Aquatic PNF
- Bad Ragaz ring method
The Benefits of Participating in Aquatic Exercise for Anxiety Disorders
According to Frontiers in Psychiatry, around 90% of suicides in the West have been linked to mood disorders. Fortunately, physical activity has been shown to improve mood. Although regular exercise comes with many advantages for a person’s health, the buoyancy of water has a unique effect on overall mood and anxiety symptoms. Water exercise has meditative and healing properties that can improve an individual’s overall well-being. Some advantages that can come from seasonal aquatic exercise at Avalon Malibu include:
- Flexibility for increased range of motion and eased movement
- Low-impact workouts to eliminate excess strain
- Improved balance for both mental and physical stability
- Fewer side effects and injury concerns for reduced anxiety
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Regulated breathing
- Improved mental clarity
Moving Forward With Aquatic Exercise at Avalon Malibu
Searching for the right treatment facility can feel like an overwhelming process. Take comfort in knowing that Avalon Malibu welcomes its clients to a judgment-free and luxurious environment. Many people find great benefit from taking time to speak to one of their trained specialists. Doing so may help with formulating an individualized treatment plan tailored to one’s unique needs.
Avalon Malibu’s facility takes great pride in holistically treating both addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions such as panic disorder. After taking a complete medical background and discovering one’s interests, strengths, and challenges, a specialist may recommend a complementary service like aquatic exercise to enhance recovery.
Avalon Malibu’s oceanfront property provides a natural space for healing that includes aquatic therapy. As one of the Earth’s most powerful and expansive elements, water creates therapeutic inspiration for healing and enlightenment during addiction and mental health treatment. During your therapy sessions, you may practice several aquatic activities that engage various parts of your whole self. As the water offers natural weight-resistance, you are encouraged to use your body as a tool for strength and endurance. Aqua therapy uses the energy of anxiety to propel your mind and spirit into a realm of freedom from panic disorder. Call us at (844) 857-5992 to receive more information about our seasonal aquatic activities.Â
