Anxiety disorders respond well to any type of anxiety treatment, and usually, within a short period of time. The choice of treatment often depends on the type of anxiety disorder, the frequency of attacks, the severity of the condition, as well as the choice of the patient and the advice of the doctor. Generally, a combination of treatments are warranted to fully address the host of symptoms manifested by the patient.
Psychological Therapies For Anxiety
Psychological therapies that are most effective for anxiety are those that try to modify the behaviors and thinking pattern of the patient. Unlike with other conditions, these tools don not treat the underlying psychological conflicts or issues contributing to anxiety. Such techniques are often administered for a period of 5 to 20 weeks or sessions.
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy or CBT is arguably among the best psychological tool there is for anxiety disorders. As its name suggests, this therapy targets the cognitions or thoughts of the patient that contribute to the occurrence of the condition. As a treatment option for anxiety, this will try to uncover the negative beliefs and thinking patterns of the patient that are directly contributing to the severity of the condition. In many ways, this therapy tries to expose what is wrong with the pattern of thinking that leads to triggering the symptoms. Once the culprit has been identified, it is corrected and psychological tools are used to encourage the development of new and healthier thinking patterns.
Exposure therapy, another very effective therapy against anxiety, uses simulation to help encourage the development of more appropriate responses. This basically exposes the patient to the exact object of fear, either in imagination or reality. With the assistance of a clinician, patients are helped with identifying their source of fear and whether or not their responses to their fears are appropriate. In this psychological therapy, patients are helped with how to handle, respond and cope with their objects of fear. Ultimately, the patient will learn how to respond to situations more appropriately, thereby slowly diminishing his anxiety.
Prescription Medications
For immediate relief from symptoms, medications often come in handy. A variety of choices are available for patients. Some target specific symptoms like trembling, shaking, depression, and heart palpitations while other medications try to suppress the occurrence of an impending attack.
There are medications for short-term relief from symptoms, typically used for disorders such as social anxiety and other types of phobia. Other medications are used for long-term treatments.
The main drawback of medications is that these often cause adverse side effects that often risk the general well-being and health of patients. For medications that work on relaxing the brain, common side effects include prolonged drowsiness, dizziness, impaired thinking and memory loss. Other side effects that patients suffer include sleep disturbance, tremors, sexual problems, and elevated blood pressure.
Complementary Treatments
Non-mainstream that are promising to bring newer and more effective alternatives are also available. These alternative methods include exercise, relaxation techniques, breathing techniques, biofeedback, and hypnosis.
To find out whether a particular anxiety treatment would work for you, seek the professional advice of your doctor.
Any anxiety treatment has the main goal of restoring the normalcy in the thinking and behavior of a patient with anxiety disorders. Find out more about your treatment options by talking to your doctor. You can also drop by my website to find more helpful information.
