The first thing that is done at the doctor’s or therapist’s office is the diagnostic evaluation which will help the doctor determine if you have an anxiety disorder, which one you have and any coexisting conditions that may be present.  If the coexisting disorder is having a big impact that it may be necessary to treat that first before the anxiety.

If medication is needed for the anxiety disorder, this is usually prescribed by a psychiatrist or sometimes by a family doctor. Ask your doctor about the side effects of the drug and how the drug is supposed to work to help you.  Many of the medications for anxiety must be taken daily and cannot be stopped abruptly but must be tapered off slowly.

The recommended treatment for most anxiety disorders whether medication is needed or not is psychotherapy. This involves talking with a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, counselor, psychotherapist or social worker to learn how to deal with problems like anxiety disorder.

Some of the most effective psychotherapies for anxiety disorders is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), behavior therapy and a treatment approach called exposure and response therapy.  These types of therapies usually last around 12 weeks.  Many “homework” assignments are also given to the patient to work on between sessions. 

Stress management techniques, meditation or guided imagery may help to calm the patient down and enhance the effects of therapy.  Also exercise, yoga and other forms of aerobic activity may be of value.  Of course, anyone with an anxiety disorder should consider decreasing or eliminating their use of caffeine or any illicit drugs.

So if you are suffering with an anxiety disorder, please seek help with a professional mental health worker in your area and consider the different forms of treatment we have discussed above.

Most people that have GAD realize that their concerns and worries are more intense than the situation warrants.  Their anxiety also can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as muscle aches or tension, fatigue, headaches, irritability, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, sweating and hot flashes.  Also they may often feel nauseated and have frequent trips to the bathroom.  People with GAD find it difficult to relax and often have difficulty concentrating. Trouble falling and staying asleep may also be a problem.

There are many other anxiety related disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, post traumatic stress disorder and others that will be discussed in subsequent posts as well as the treatment and statistics of these disorders.