Blog > Could Your Dad Be Struggling With Anxiety?

Could Your Dad Be Struggling With Anxiety?

Approximately 40 million adults struggle with anxiety in the U.S. While this mental illness is treatable, less than four out of ten receive treatment. Having anxiety disorder makes you more likely to also suffer from depression. Having in-home care services available for support would be helpful.

Does your dad have an anxiety disorder? He’s been withdrawn, snappy, and doesn’t seem able to concentrate. It’s worth a closer look at anxiety disorders as they are common in older adults.

What Does Anxiety Look Like?

It differs for everyone. Some people have a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep. Others may have a hard time concentrating on anything they need to get done. Anxiety can have you feel trapped and wanting to escape. It can have you feel like you’re trapped in a tunnel and no one else can see you, yet they’re right there.

Your dad is settling into bed. Suddenly, his heart starts racing, his hands and feet feel numb and tingly, he can’t get a deep breath. He’s thinking heart attack, which only makes the symptoms worse. If his anxiety increases to the point he has a panic attack, that’s what it can feel like.

Types of Anxiety Disorder

Phobias related to specific things affect about 19 million adults affected. As this is a catch-all category that includes things like fear of heights, fear of crowds, etc., there are different phobias that your dad may experience. These are all types of anxiety.

The second most common type of anxiety is post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD affects 7.7 million adults. Your dad may have served in the military and have PTSD, or it could be related to his being in a car accident, childhood abuse, or being the victim of a crime. It usually starts with a frightening or traumatic.

Social anxiety disorder affects 15 million adults and often appears in your teens. It’s an easy one to pinpoint. If your dad freezes at the thought of being in a social setting and makes excuses to avoid going to something, social anxiety is likely.

Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and OCD are other anxiety disorders. With all of them, therapies and sometimes prescription medications can help ease the symptoms and make daily routines a little more bearable.

“In-home care services are important if your dad is alone. You may not live close enough for him to lean on, but you can make arrangements to have caregivers with him throughout the week. Sometimes, the easiest way to manage anxiety and any recommended treatments are by having a support person by your side on the tough days. Call our in-home care specialist to schedule companionship services.

Source: https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics