Anxiety disorders are a common and sometimes debilitating psychological problem. While milder cases may be treatable with breathing and relaxation techniques, more intense cases benefit from anxiety disorder therapy. The following are the most common treatments.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is the most commonly used Anxiety Disorder Therapy because it is often the most effective. CBT is a combination of two separate types of therapy, cognitive and behavioral. These therapies, while effective on their own, are most effective when combined as CBT.
The cognitive therapy branch focuses on rationally pointing out the flaws in the patient’s overly negative thoughts that are perpetuating the anxiety. Examining these unhealthy thoughts on a cognitive, rather than emotional, level helps to understand why the anxiety is happening. Next, thinking strategies are implemented to increase positive thinking patterns, thus reducing the emotional anxiety response to formerly stressful stimuli.
Click here for more information about Anxiety Disorder Therapy!
The behavioral therapy branch focuses on one’s behavioral response to anxiety-triggering stimuli. By analyzing a patient’s behavior, it is possible to determine what rewards one is gaining by giving into his or her anxiety response, for instance, by avoiding a social party. By identifying these rewards and trying to replace them with more healthy forms of reinforcement, it is possible to modify the anxious behavior. While the combination of these two branches, CBT, is the most common anxiety disorder therapy, there are other effective treatments as well.
Exposure Therapy
This method of anxiety disorder therapy entails exposing the patient to situations that make him or her anxious. Through repeated exposure to stressful stimuli, the patient learns there is no danger and anxiety lessens or goes away. This anxiety disorder therapy can be carried out by either having the patient imagine the anxiety-provoking situation, or by having him or her exposed to it in real life. Exposure therapy is usually carried out with “Systematic Desensitization,” which allows patients to gradually conquer situations that provoke their anxiety. Through this method of anxiety disorder therapy, a patient is first asked to perform tasks that provoke minimal anxiety. For instance, a flight phobic individual might first be asked to look at pictures of an airport. Gradually, more challenging tasks will be performed until the patient conquers his or her ultimate fear of flying in an airplane.
While sometimes prescribed by itself, medication is usually most effective as an anxiety disorder therapy when combined with the above face-to-face therapies. Some medications prevent the body from reabsorbing its own hormones that promote relaxation, such as Serotonin and Norepinephrine. These drugs are called SSRIs and SNRIs, depending on their function. Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs used only for short-term relief. While effective at reducing anxiety symptoms, they do not treat the cause and lead to dependency. Tricyclic Antidepressants are another class of anxiety drug, but unlike Benzodiazepines, they can be used long-term. Unfortunately, they tend to have the most severe side effects.
Anxiety disorders are both common and destructive to one’s quality of life. CBT, Exposure, and Medication therapies offer substantial relief. Fortunately, sufferers are usually able to use one or more of these anxiety disorder therapy options to get their lives on track.
Click here for more information about Anxiety Disorder Therapy!
Related posts:
