Many treatments for anxiety, the most common global health problem, are available to reduce and manage anxiety symptoms. The two main treatments for anxiety disorders are psychotherapy and medication. You can get the most out of a combination of both. It may take some trial and error to discover which treatment works best for you. Treatments for anxiety disorders include:
Psychotherapy
This is a type of counseling that helps you
learn how your emotions influence your behavior. Psychotherapy involves working
with a therapist to reduce your anxiety symptoms. It can be an effective
treatment for anxiety. This is sometimes called talk therapy. Psychotherapy.
Therapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure response
prevention.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the
most effective form of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. This common type of
psychotherapy teaches you how to change negative, or troubling, thoughts and
behaviors into positive ones. Usually a short-term treatment, CBT focuses on
teaching you specific skills to improve your symptoms and gradually getting you
back into activities you avoid because of anxiety.
Medications
Medications commonly used to treat anxiety
include benzodiazepines for short-term symptom relief, but these are avoided,
if possible, because of the high risk of dependence. A variety of medications
are used to treat anxiety disorders, depending on the type of anxiety disorder
you have and whether you also have other mental or physical health problems.
Some other commonly used medications include:
Benzodiazepines: If
you have persistent feelings of fear or anxiety, your doctor may prescribe one
of these medications. They help reduce anxiety. Examples are alprazolam (Xanax)
and clonazepam (Klonopin).
Antipsychotics: Quetiapine
and aripiprazole are common antipsychotic medications.
Anxiolytics: Buspirone is a
common anxiolytic.
Antidepressants: Modern
antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) are usually the first drugs prescribed to
people with anxiety disorders. Examples of SSRIs are escitalopram (Lexapro) and
fluoxetine (Prozac). SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine
(Effexor).
Bupropion: This is another type
of antidepressant commonly used to treat chronic anxiety. It works differently
from SSRIs and SNRIs.
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