Before Hannah Emory was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), she says that despite her passion for dance, she felt like she just wasn’t cut out for it. She was overwhelmed by the amount of stimuli in class, had trouble concentrating and found criticism hard to take – and this deeply affected her self-esteem. “It was really disappointing for me because I loved dance and felt committed to it,” she says. “But then I constantly felt like I just wasn’t good enough.”
After receiving her diagnosis and finding treatment that worked for her, Emory reconnected with her dance and is now pursuing a dance degree at the University of Limerick in Ireland, in addition to performing with Ohr Dance Company and developing her own choreography projects.
What is GAD?
According to Kristen Mackel, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with athletes and artists, when talking about GAD, it’s important to distinguish between the disorder and anxiety as an emotion. This can be done by thinking in terms of what she calls “states” and “traits.” “Emotion is a state; it comes and goes,” she explains. “The disorder is much more than a trait; it’s more pervasive, persistent, and pervasive.”
GAD is characterized by a variety of physical and mental symptoms, such as uncontrollable, excessive worry, feeling anxious or on edge, or, on the other hand, feeling frozen and unable to move. Individuals with GAD may also experience palpitations, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal distress, trouble sleeping, and increased irritability.
Dancing with GAD
GAD can present itself in dancers in many ways, explains Lee Skvarla, MD, LPC, who along with Mackel founded the Center for Grit and Growth to work with athletes and artists. For example, people with GAD may find it difficult to sit still and may be more likely to fidget in class. Also, learning choreography can be challenging, says Skvarla, who explains that “if you’re anxious, you probably have trouble focusing on the present moment.” And, she says, that can sometimes put dancers at greater risk of injury, both because they’re not mentally present and because anxiety is associated with muscle tension that makes it difficult to execute certain moves.
Aspects of the class, such as being asked to improvise, can also trigger anxious feelings. “Vulnerability is uncomfortable for most of us as humans, and it’s certainly extremely uncomfortable for people who are already troubled by the judgmental thoughts in their heads, and then maybe even the thoughts they think other people have about them “, says Skvarla.
Treatment and Coping:
There are various treatment options for GAD, Mackel and Skvarla say. One of the most common is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which encourages patients to challenge their thoughts and question whether they are distortions of reality instead of facts. Aspects of GAD can also be treated with exposure-based therapy, especially if the disorder prevents you from doing the things you love. Developing coping skills such as self-soothing, which can help regulate emotions in difficult situations, is also recommended.
An important aspect of treatment is finding a provider or group of providers who specialize in dealing with your symptoms, Mackel says. A team may include a licensed mental health clinician, such as a counselor or social worker; a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner, for medication management; and a registered dietitian to make sure you’re getting enough fuel to support an active lifestyle.
Moving towards healing
Although GAD presents many unique challenges for dancers, Emory says that when she began treatment—which for her was a combination of therapy and medication—she felt like the world opened up to her. “Therapy helped me retrain my thought processes so that I was less focused on the outcome and more focused on the process,” she explains. “It helped me in the studio and being able to start my own dance projects.”
And while you’re in treatment, don’t forget that dancing can help you recover. Skvarla says exercise can play a big role in improving mood and overall well-being. For Emory, the studio has actually become a place where she can leave her worries behind, especially when she can express herself through improvisation or other personal projects.
“For people with different anxiety disorders and mood disorders, you can get so trapped in your space that you just feel closed in,” says Emory. “I think dance is the perfect outlet for that.”
resources:
If you’re struggling or want to learn more, Lee Skvarla, PhD, LPC, and Kristen Mackel, LCSW, recommend these resources.