Anxiety Disorders

The two main treatments for anxiety disorders are psychotherapy and medications.  You may benefit from a combination of the two. It may take some trial and error to discover which treatments work best for you.  

Psychotherapy:  Also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, psychotherapy involves working with a therapist to reduce your anxiety symptoms.  It can be an effective treatment for anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders.  Generally a short-term treatment, CBT focuses on teaching you specific skills to improve your symptoms and gradually return to the activities you’ve avoided because of anxiety.

CBT includes exposure therapy, in which you gradually encounter the object or situation that triggers your anxiety so you build confidence that you can manage the situation and anxiety symptoms.

Mindfulness Meditation:  is another counseling modality which shows efficacy in treatment of anxiety disorders.

Medications:  Several types of medications are used to help relieve symptoms, depending on the type of anxiety disorder you have and whether you also have other mental or physical health issues.  

For Example:

-Certain antidepressants are also used to treat anxiety disorders.

-An anti-anxiety medication called busiprone may be prescribed.

-In limited circumstances, your doctor may prescribe other types of medications, such as sedatives, also called benzodiazepines, or beta blockers.  These medications are for short-term relief of anxiety symptoms and are not intended to be used long term.

-Talk with your psychiatrist about benefits, risks and possible side effects of medications.