Treating Anxiety Disorders

With about 20 million sufferers of anxiety disorder in America alone, this is a very real problem. It’s a problem not only for those who suffer but for society as a whole if you consider the costs involved in the days off work, health care and even emergency services.

There is also a psychological cost to the family of the sufferer who has to deal with the effects of the disorder every day.

Fortunately, there are very successful treatments for anxiety disorders. The first step though is getting the person to ask for or seek help. This isn’t always easy as not many of us like to admit that we have a problem, especially when that problem can’t always be understood by a non-sufferer.

If you break your arm, everyone feels bad for you and the evidence is there in the x-ray and plaster cast. But how do admit to being so afraid of walking into a room full of people that you literally feel as if you are going to die? Or if you can admit it, how many people are going to support you or feel bad for you? There is no plaster cast, no x-ray.

So, assuming that huge first step has been taken, then the door opens wide to an array of therapies proven to work effectively in treating anxiety disorders.

The first treatment we will look at here is that of cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy focuses on changing behavior and thinking patterns which then leads to a change in emotions. The idea is to involve the patient in the process and give them as much control over the therapy as possible.

This feeling of being able to exercise some control over the disorder is very important as one of the main feelings present in anxiety attacks is that of helplessness over the situation. By teaching the sufferer skills for handling anxiety, these skills can then be used whenever needed without the intervention of health care providers.

Relaxation techniques are also very important as those suffering from anxiety disorders are simply unable to relax. They worry and fret over everything and find it very difficult to just spend a Sunday afternoon reading a book, for example. Relaxation techniques include exercises for controlling breathing which then can be implemented during an anxiety attack.

Medication can be used either alone or in conjunction with the above therapies. In fact, using a combination of therapies has been found to give the best long-term results. There are concerns over whether the medications will lead to more problems like dependency and side effects.

These concerns should be discussed with your doctor who should go through the medications he or she prescribes with you carefully. Always make sure you are well informed before agreeing to take any medication.

You should always feel comfortable discussing your condition with your health care provider. They could be psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers or your family doctor.

The ADAA, the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, give a list of questions you should ask during a consultation:

  • What training and experience do you have in treating anxiety disorders?
  • What is your basic approach to treatment?
  • Can you prescribe medication or refer me to someone who can, if that proves necessary?
  • How long is the course of treatment?
  • How frequent are treatment sessions and how long do they last?
  • Do you include family members in therapy?
  • What kinds of health insurance do you accept?
  • Will you or a staff member go to the home of a phobic person, if necessary?
  • What is your fee schedule, and do you have a sliding scale for varying financial circumstances?

If you feel uncomfortable asking these questions or feel you are not getting complete answers, you should think about changing your health care provider.