Anxiety is a term used for feeling anxious about a problem or situation, but anxiety disorder is a medical condition that is much more serious. Symptoms of anxiety disorder include stress that’s disproportionate to the impact of an event or problem, an inability to stop worrying, and restlessness that interferes in a person’s life. Anxiety disorder can also manifest in different ways, from panic attacks to obsessive-compulsive behavior.
Fortunately, anxiety disorder is treatable. Anxiety treatment is customized to each patient’s medical needs and individual preferences, taking into account other conditions that are also present, such as alcohol dependence or depression. As a basic guideline, here are some common approaches to treating anxiety:
Prevention and self-care
Anxiety disorder presents in a range of severity, so not every case will require professional intervention. A person with mild to moderate anxiety disorder may be able to manage symptoms by maintaining a nutritious diet and regular sleep patterns, limiting consumption of caffeine, tea, soda and chocolate, and avoiding alcohol, cannabis, and other recreational drugs. Mild symptoms of anxiety disorder can sometimes be minimized with relaxation techniques, physical exercise, social connection with trusted, supportive friends, positive affirmations, and visualization techniques.
Therapy and counseling
For more intermediate cases of anxiety disorder, therapy and psychological counseling might be necessary. Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help a person recognize situations and thoughts that trigger anxiety episodes, learn how to limit distorted thinking, and adjust reactions to specific stressors. Psychotherapy can also help explore the roots of the anxiety disorder, leading to more effective symptom management.
Medications
Medications help control physical and mental symptoms of anxiety disorder, allowing the individual to focus on other areas of treatment. The most common medications used to treat anxiety disorder fall into four main categories:
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Commonly known as antidepressants, SSRIs relieve anxiety symptoms by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin, a brain chemical that maintains mood balance.
- Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): Similar to SSRIs, SNRIs block the reabsorption of serotonin as well as norepinephrine, which is a brain chemical that mobilizes the brain and body for action.
- Benzodiazepines: Used for short-term management of anxiety symptoms due to risks of dependence, benzodiazepines promote relaxation and reduce muscle tension and other physical symptoms of anxiety.
- Tricyclics: Tricyclics are a form of antidepressant that can be effective in many cases of anxiety disorder, but they do not work well for social anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Residential treatment
Patients with severe cases of anxiety disorder can seek care in a residential treatment facility for a short period to manage immediate symptoms. Partial residential care is also available, involving several hours of daily treatment without staying in-residence until the patient can be transferred to a therapist or psychological counselor for long-term management and treatment.
Anxiety treatment in San Diego
If you or someone you love needs help managing an anxiety disorder, Alvarado Parkway Institute can help. We offer a variety of customized inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for anxiety, dual-diagnosis treatment for those with a co-occuring substance use disorder. For more information about our programs and services, fill out our contact form or call (619) 667-6125 today.
