Anxiety Treatment

While many individuals who suffer from the chronic mental illness of an anxiety disorder achieve success in finding relief over their symptoms of anxiety through treatment, the methods and success of these treatments often varies as they are typically unique and tailored for the individual.

These treatments can be complex in nature given the fact that there are six different major types of anxiety disorders as well as sub-types and are often combined with other disorders such as substance abuse or clinical depression.

Although these treatments are somewhat unique to each individual, there are a few standard forms of treatment which are recommended and may be used in combination with each other or tailored to meet the needs of the individual. 

The Different Types of Therapy used in the Treatment of an Anxiety Disorder 

The most commonly used form of therapy in the treatment of an anxiety disorder is called "CBT" or "cognitive-behavioral therapy".   CBT is a very effective form of treatment that focuses on changing behavioral patterns that the patient learns to do through educating themselves on the type of anxiety disorder that they suffer from as well as homework assignments that they must complete between appointments that include using the methods and skills which they have been taught in order to cope with their illness.

The patient must also keep a diary by writing down their progress or set-backs in between their appointments.  Positive results from this type of therapy are usually seen within twelve to sixteen weeks. 

Exposure therapy - which is a form of CBT - is typically used as form of treatment for panic disorders, phobias, and is also known to be very effective among patients with "OCD" or "obsessive compulsive disorder".  This therapy focuses on the patient facing their fears by slowly exposing them to the situations, objects, or other things which they have been avoiding out of extreme fear, worry, or anxiety.

This form of treatment is effective with a vast majority of patients' overtime as they become gradually desensitized to these situations.  "ACT" or "acceptance and commitment therapy teaches the individual skills to accept and experience their surroundings without judgment by committing to make the behavioral changes needed to cope with their unwanted emotions. 

Medications Commonly Prescribed for Anxiety Disorders 

There are four different types of medications that can be used in the treatment of anxiety disorders of which the most commonly used are "SSRIs" or "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors".  SSRIs are antidepressants which work effectively in the treatment of anxiety disorders by blocking the re-absorption of serotonin that occurs within the nerve cells of the brain which keeps the levels of serotonin higher that helps to improve mood. 

There are many different types of SSRIs that can be prescribed and the results of each vary among individuals, therefore, it may take some time to find the medication which is right for each patient. Some of the most commonly known SSRI's include Prozac, Zoloft, and Celexa. While these are the most commonly used methods in the treatment of anxiety disorders, there are also other various treatment forms available of which a vast number of individuals have found to be successful.