How to manage doorbell anxiety?

This post answers: How to manage doorbell anxiety? What is a smart doorbell? How do smart doorbells help people with doorbell anxiety? Why do doorbells make people anxious? What is Anxiety? What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? What are the causes of anxiety? What are some ways to manage anxiety? What are the therapy options for anxiety?

 

How to manage doorbell anxiety?

People sometimes get extremely worried when they hear the doorbell ring. They almost see the doorbell as something that announces that something bad is going to happen. 

So, when the doorbell rings, they panic. Also, people with anxiety are more vulnerable to getting anxious when they hear the doorbell ring. In either case, the best way to deal with doorbell anxiety would be to use smart doorbells.

What is a smart doorbell?

Smart dolls are like smartphones. They are the modern version of old analog doorbells. These doorbells make a lot of difference because they are highly secure and easy to operate.

With the help of a smart doorbell, one can even attend to visitors without getting in contact with them. This is extremely helpful for people with doorbell anxiety because they are worried that the person on the door may harm them or their loved ones.

How do smart doorbells help people with doorbell anxiety?

Here are how smart doorbells can help people with doorbell anxiety.

Camera

Smart doorbells have an inbuilt camera facility. This means that you can actually see the person standing at the door without getting in contact with the person. This is good for people with anxiety, specifically people with doorbell anxiety, because they don’t want to get into contact with people unless they are one hundred percent sure that the person and the situation are safe.

Safe and easy communication

Smart doorbells allow for safe and easy communication. You don’t have to physically get in contact with the person or be in the person’s vicinity in order to talk to him or her.

With the help of smart doorbells, you can talk to the person on the door, watching him or her on the camera while sitting on your couch. This buys people enough time to assess whether the person and the situation outside is safe or not. People with doorbell anxiety find it very helpful.

Night vision facility

Darkness is naturally terrifying. In people with anxiety, the fear of darkness is severe. A stranger, who they cannot see, ringing the bell in the middle of the night can make them very anxious.

Smart doorbells solve this problem by enabling us to see clearly in the dark. That’s why they are the best and most convenient for security.

They scare away thieves

When a burglar or a thief sees that a house has a smart doorbell on it, he or she will think twice before even getting closer to that house. This is best for security. This can lessen the anxiety of people with doorbell anxiety because they are now sure that the smart doorbell adds a lot to their safety.

Recording

Smart doorbells also have the facility of recording, just like a CCTV camera. This can be very useful in case anything bad happens.

Why do doorbells make people anxious?

When it comes to anxiety, anything can trigger it. It’s not the things per se that make us anxious or worried, it’s the uncertainty that makes us worried. When your phone rings at an unusual time, and it’s an unknown number, you naturally get anxious. Why? It’s because you don’t know who that person might be. It can be someone who wants to harass you or maybe just bother you. It may be someone with bad news. It may be someone bad. These thoughts constantly flow through your mind at that moment. And, as a result of that, you become extremely anxious.

This is exactly what some people feel when their doorbell rings. When their doorbell rings, they become extremely anxious. They think it might be an unwelcome or potentially harmful visitor. It may be a thief or a burglar. They instantly assume that the person who is ringing the doorbell has brought trouble with him/her.

It may be because they had a painful past experience associated with the doorbell. Maybe someone in the past once rang the bell, and then something terrible happened after that. Ever since that, they may have started seeing the doorbell as an alarm of bad news. They start to see the doorbell as some sort of alarm of bad news.

It may also be that the person already has anxiety, and it’s making him or her paranoid about the doorbell. Anxiety makes us extremely alert. People in this state of hypervigilance see everything as potentially threatening. So, the doorbell ringing is almost like a bomb going off.

What is Anxiety?

Problems and resulting stress are usually accompanied by some common emotions like confusion, feeling at the edge, a sense of helplessness, and recurrent negative thoughts which can collectively be seen as an individual experiencing what’s commonly called  Anxiety. 

Every human has their unique ways of dealing with these difficult situations and the following emotions, some try to adapt to the circumstances and find the best and most comfortable solution while others try to find an escape route for the same, in both cases the main aim is usually to get over the uncomfortable emotions of anxiety. 

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? 

Anxiety is characterized by a set of signs and symptoms such as 

• Sweating
• Difficulty in breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Sense of choking
• Complaints of chest pain
• Shaking or trembling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or Lightheadedness
• Fear of losing control over oneself and their environment
• Fear of impending doom
• Hot or cold flashes
• Tingling or numbness
• Increased heart rate

These symptoms vary in severity from person to person. However, it is noted that many people experience anxiety attacks that are not significantly displayed.

What are the causes of anxiety?

Anxiety often results from accumulated stress or overwhelming feelings. Some common causes of anxiety include.

• Increased and challenging situations and demands in day-to-day life.
• Major changes in family dynamics such as marriage, divorce, death of a loved one.
• Strain interpersonal relationships
• Intrapersonal conflicts
• Ineffective coping mechanisms
• Comorbid conditions both physical and mental
• Chronic health conditions
• Genetic factors
• Changes in the brain region
• Overdose of caffeine
• Prolonged use of medications
• Significant traumatic experiences in the past or recent times
• Comorbid mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder or any other phobias.

What are some ways to manage anxiety?

Identify and acknowledge the triggers

The most significant strategy that can be used to control one’s anxiety is by identifying and acknowledging those triggers.

Being able to recognize what makes an individual anxious makes them better equipped to take action.

Relaxation techniques

 

Even though anxiety can be bought under an individual’s control it cannot be predicted. In such situations, it is necessary that an individual actively carries out relaxation techniques.

These might include meditation, yoga, and deep breathing which helps to reduce the intensity of anxiety within a short period.

Socialization

 

A key to reducing the frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks could be spending time with close family and friends.

The kind of emotional and practical support provided by these social and personal groups help the person feel connected and aid in distracting one’s mind from negative and recurring thoughts that lead to anxiety.

Apart from friends and families, individuals can also consider speaking to groups of people that are experiencing similar problems.

Set realistic goals

When an individual is feeling overwhelmed, setting goals and targets keeping in mind priorities can help resolve overwhelming feelings of fear or panic.

Setting goals provides structure and routine to an individual’s life reducing space for uncertainty which can be a major trigger for anxiety in many cases.

Take up new challenges

Apart from doing activities that an individual is usually fond of and has expertise in, trying new and challenging activities that put an individual outside their comfort zone in a healthy manner may help reduce the stress and anger temporarily.

Signing up for new activities also provides a path to meeting people with similar stories and concerns.

Lifestyle changes

An individual’s lifestyle plays a major role in their experience of anxiety. An unhealthy and busy lifestyle usually leads to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, lack of adequate sleep.

A combination of a well-set diet, exercise, and sleep can help to regulate an individual’s mood and equip them with a favorable coping mechanism.

These coping mechanisms in turn help to get control over once anxiety concerns in a more adaptable manner.

lack of proper diet, sleep, and exercise can make an individual sluggish, dependent, moody and vulnerable to anxiety attacks.

Making journal entries

Last but not least having a journal to write down how a person is feeling and thinking when they are anxious helps them to reflect upon their thoughts and feelings.

Putting down one’s thoughts and feelings onto a paper helps to provide a sense of temporary relief.

In the case of journal entry, a person does not even have to fear being judged by another person regarding their thoughts and feelings.

What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.

As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session, individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.

Group therapy

 

It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.

Medication

Anxiety can also be treated with the help of medication prescribed by a health care professional.

Though medication alone cannot help in reducing persistent anxiety it can help in restoring a sense of control and bring temporary relief. 

Online therapy  

In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium. 

In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation. 

Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time

Conclusion:

When to doorbell rings, we naturally get anxious because we don’t know who might be at the door. In people with doorbell anxiety, this worry is so extreme that doorbells almost panic them. However, by using smart doorbells, they can control this anxiety.

Frequently Asked questions: How to manage doorbell anxiety?

Is it okay to get anxious when the doorbell rings?

It depends upon the severity of the anxiety. If it’s too much, then it’s not okay, and one should seek psychological help.

Can the presence of dogs in the home make doorbell anxiety worse?

Yes, because they may bark at the sound of the doorbell, which would make the person who has doorbell anxiety perceive the situation as more threatening. However, it may also help in the sense that if something bad happens, the dog would be there to defend his master.

Which brain area makes us anxious when the doorbell rings?

The brain area that makes us anxious primarily is the amygdala.

 

Citations:

https://www.enlightenedsolutions.com/home-items-that-trigger-anxiety/

https://www.zunpulse.com/blog/?p=678

https://motivators.in/community/anxiety/is-it-normal-to-get-anxiety-when-someone-rings-the-doorbell/