Treating Debilitating Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal emotion we all experience occasionally.  It may be due to stress at work, fear of life events, or health issues. Even the calmest and most relaxed people know what it feels like to be nervous when they are taken out of their comfort zone.
 
Over 40 million adults in the United States suffer from debilitating anxiety or other forms of anxiety disorders. Not only can this be painful and uncomfortable, but it can also diminish social and occupational aspects of life.
 
Treat Your Anxiety:
 
1.Relaxation Techniques and Other Therapies
 
There are relaxation techniques you can follow with the guidance of a therapist or psychiatrist to treat anxiety and recover from triggers and attacks, including:

• Yoga to help calm the mind and reduce stress
• A guided meditation that utilizes imagery and suggestion with audio tracks
• Art therapy, including drawing, painting, or sketching
• Deep breathing techniques to increase mindfulness
• Mindfulness training to help reduce the distracting or disturbing thoughts, acknowledging the moment and senses, and accepting the experience
• Massage therapy can relieve stress by manipulating one’s soft muscle tissue
• Aromatherapy
• Aerobic therapy helps the brain to produce serotonin and dopamine

 
2.Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
 
This is a common and effective form of therapy that involves practice and homework. It involves various strategies to identify negative emotions and change the response to triggers and accompanying negative emotions.
 
Step 1 is identifying possible triggers, thoughts, or related actions that cause anxiety attacks. Through identifying triggers, it can help patients avoid them or work through finding ways to change negative thoughts and perspective towards the trigger.
 
CBT also includes learning coping skills and relaxation techniques to manage the severe symptoms of anxiety.  See your psychiatrist or counselor for help with CBT.
 
3.Exposure through Forms of Talk Therapy
 
This type of treatment is sometimes recommended for trauma-related anxiety or phobias. Through thinking, discussing, and feeling emotions towards the anxiety-provoking subject along with building up toward prolonged exposure to the subject, you can help dissipate the negative response towards it gradually.
 
 4.Medication
 
There are numerous medications that your psychiatrist may prescribe to treat anxiety or panic disorders. Such medications include:

• Benzodiazepines for short-term use
• SSRI or SNRI antidepressants for long-term use or situational events

 
When one’s response to anxiety becomes excessive, it may become regularly debilitating. This can affect one’s relationships, work, and ability to function when paralyzed in fear. It can also cause physical symptoms such as insomnia, agitation, chronic pain, or weight changes.
 
If you believe you or a loved one has debilitating anxiety, it is time for an evaluation with a licensed psychiatrist. We can help.