What is the Opposite of Anxiety?

June 23, 2025

Authored by: Taylor Shaw, B.S.

Edited by: Eric Schlothan, LCSW

Anxiety is characterized by feelings of intense apprehension, self-doubt, overthinking and physical symptoms like panic attacks. According to the Merriam-Webster thesaurus, some antonyms for anxiety would be “unconcern,” “carefree,” “ease,” “inner peace,” and more.¹ A person who has overcome anxiety may have a sense of self-assurance and inner peace.

An individual facing the physical symptoms of anxiety may live in a distressed state of mind, constantly worrying and overthinking what others may think of them; the opposite of this would be someone who does not need external validation, someone who is carefree, confident or secure. The goal of working through mental health treatment, therapy and managing symptoms with psychiatry, is to help an individual living with feelings of anxiety to transition into a mental state of self-assurance, self-control, self-awareness, and self-confidence. If you or a loved one are looking for a personalized treatment plan to overcome panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder, or another mental health condition, call our compassionate care team today.

From Anxiety to Letting Go

Anxiety can be hard to face alone–it goes hand-in-hand with lots of fear, distress, and a heightened emotional state. There are a variety of ways, however, to help move through anxiety, manage its symptoms, and to come out as a more resilient, confident and carefree person. Most mental health professionals recommend a combination of cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy. Cognitive and behavioral therapy helps an individual with anxiety to learn their triggers, recognize their surroundings, and to find different coping mechanisms and techniques to overcome anxiety either in the short-term, or in the long term:

Short-Term Strategies to Calm Anxiety

Anxiety symptoms can be deeply uncomfortable, and it makes sense to need relaxation techniques in the moment.

Grounding Techniques

Grounding techniques can be helpful to break the cycle of anxious thoughts when you or your loved one might feel an anxiety attack coming on. One simple but effective grounding technique is the 5-4-3-2-1 method: name five things you see, four things you can touch, three things you hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This practice can help you acknowledge your surroundings and get you out of your head’s negative thought cycles.²

Breathing Exercises

There are a variety of breathing techniques and deep breathing exercises that are helpful when your anxiety symptoms feel overwhelming or out of control. One simple deep breathing exercise is to use a count to five as you breathe in, hold it for four counts, then release it for five counts, and repeat until you begin to feel yourself relax.

Physical Stimulation

Physical stimulation can help you to jump start your body out of the fight-or-flight physical response of anxiety. Taking a cold shower, splashing your face with cold water, tasting sour candy, going for a run (and other types of physical activity) are all ways to trick your body into remembering that it is in a safe place.

Long-Term Strategies to Manage Anxiety

If you’ve been living with Generalized Anxiety Disorder for a while, and you’re looking for ways to supplement therapeutic care for anxiety day by day, some of the following can help:

Physical Exercise

Regular physical exercise like walks, yoga or running can help regulate the nervous system, lessening anxiety symptoms over time.

Expressive Arts

Wellness activities like journaling, making playlists, art therapy and more can help build the mind-body connection through a more holistic healing process.

Psychiatric Care

There are a variety of different antidepressant medications that have been proven as effective treatment (in combination with psychological treatment) for depression and other mental health issues. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are antidepressant/anti-anxiety medications that treat different neurotransmitters in order to block the reabsorption of serotonin or norepinephrine, keeping more of the chemicals in the synaptic cleft. Both can be effective treatments for anxiety, but depend upon the individual, and should be approached with medical guidance and professional advice.

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More About Anxiety

An estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience any anxiety disorder at some time in their lives, and approximately 31.9% of adolescents struggle with any anxiety disorder.³ Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure and increased heart rate; it’s considered a future-oriented, long-acting response broadly focused on a diffuse threat. Anxiety can manifest in a variety of ways, from anxiety attacks, enacting the fight-or-flight response, to raised heart rates and cortisol (a stress hormone).

Because anxiety activates the fight-or-flight response in the nervous systems, the physical symptoms of anxiety may feel life-threatening in the moment. If you’re experiencing common and frequent anxiety symptoms, mental health treatment may be helpful to provide you with a proper treatment plan. If you or your loved one are struggling with anxiety and looking for effective treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out to AMFM Mental Health Treatment to begin your mental health recovery process today.

Symptoms of anxiety:

Panic Attack
Hyperventilation
Shortness of Breath‌
Muscle Tension
Chest Tightness
Heart Palpitations
Increased Heart Rate

Anxiety disorders can include but are not limited to:

Panic Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Agoraphobia
Specific Phobias
Social Anxiety Disorder (social phobia)
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Separation Anxiety Disorder

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AMFM Treatment Center for Anxiety

A Mission for Michael (AMFM) Mental Health Treatment has multiple mental health treatment facilities conveniently located in California, Washington, and Virginia. At all of our mental health treatment centers, we offer comprehensive therapy and treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders, self-harm, social anxiety, and other mental health disorders of the like. Facing anxiety symptoms can be overwhelming, and looking for help isn’t easy. At AMFM, our admissions team is trained to help you find the right fit for you. We provide personalized care, crisis counseling, and behavioral health services to help you manage and overcome your anxiety.

California

Mental Health Treatment Program in California

AMFM’s California treatment centers are located up and down the coast of Southern California, from the greater Los Angeles area, to Orange County, down to San Diego. Our inpatient mental mental health treatment program locations are: Fallbrook, Carlsbad, Lake Forest, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Nigel. For personalized support and for insurance verification, contact us.

Virginia

Mental Health Treatment Program in Virginia

If you’re searching for mental health treatment options in Virginia, AMFM’s mental health treatment programs are available in Fairfax Station, Vienna, and Great Falls, VA.These locations in Virginia are qualified to assist with anxiety treatment and to meet your needs.

Washington

Mental Health Treatment Program in Washington

AMFM Mental Health Treatment Center offers outpatient mental health treatment programs in Washington, conveniently located at 6900 East Green Lake Way N, Suite G, Seattle, WA 98115. A Mission For Michael Mental Health Treatment has one location in the state, providing dedicated and comprehensive mental health care for lasting mental well-being.

What is Anxiety Mental Health Treatment Like?

In a mental health treatment center, the day-to-day may vary depending upon your diagnoses and personalized treatment plan, but it will often consist of some combination of individual therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, psychiatry services, and more. AMFM Mental Health Treatment combines holistic and evidence-based mental health services in order to help each person overcome their particular obstacles and mental health conditions with a fresh toolkit of skills.

Group Therapy

Group therapy sessions can be used to help provide structured times to help you understand that you are not alone in your struggles, offering peer support, and the reminder that others are also walking through these challenges. At the same time, groups provide guidance from qualified mental health professionals, with suggestions and communication from psychologists with specialized backgrounds. These groups can span a variety of backgrounds, including but not limited to art therapy, somatic therapy, and narrative therapy.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that’s focused on restructuring and reprogramming maladaptive and negative thought processes. Psychologists are trained to help adults and young adults change their cognitive and emotional processes in order to outgrow maladaptive coping mechanisms.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is most commonly referred to as “talk therapy,” and is designed to help process emotions. Qualified professionals offer psychological therapy to move forward with healthy ways of engaging in interpersonal relationships and alleviating physical and emotional distress.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

EMDR Therapy is a renowned method of reprocessing most often used in trauma therapy. By activating the prefrontal cortex through a series of bilateral stimulation, qualified mental health professionals can lead you through traumatic experiences, helping you to alleviate the distress symptomized by trauma.

Family Therapy

AMFM Mental Health Treatment offers family therapy through virtual family support groups that provide a dedicated time for family members to engage in supportive and constructive interactions, fostering stronger relationships, and enhancing the overall treatment experience. Recovery takes a village, and it’s often helpful for family members to be involved in behavioral growth.

Citations

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Anxiety synonyms: 118 similar and opposite words. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxiety

Smith, Sara. “BHP Blog – Behavioral Health Partners (BHP).” BHP Blog – Behavioral Health Partners (BHP) – University of Rochester Medical Center, 10 April 2018, https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/behavioral-health-partners/bhp-blog/april-2018/5-4-3-2-1-coping-technique-for-anxiety. Accessed 9 April 2025.

“Any Anxiety Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).” National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder. Accessed 8 April 2025