According to the Anxiety Disorder Association of America, an estimated 40 million adult Americans suffer from anxiety disorders and only one-third of those receive treatment. Anxiety disorders affect sufferers, their families and society at large. Treatment of anxiety disorders can be highly effective, states Dr. Dennis Charney, director of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, or NIMH.
Stress Reduction Techniques
Stress or anxiety reduction techniques are most often taught by a therapist. According to the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders, a variety of techniques fall into this category including progressive muscle relaxation, guided visualization and imagery, diaphragmatic breathing and meditation. The type of technique employed will vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder and what works for the patient. For example, diaphragmatic breathing can be used successfully for people with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder as both of these types of anxiety often result in shallow breathing which diaphragmatic breathing can help correct.
Medications
According to the MayoClinic.com, both anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications can be effective; however, medications work best in combination with psychotherapy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are often the first choice among anti-depressants. They usually take several weeks to work and finding the right medication for an individual can also take time. For acute anxiety or for the person needing short-term help, benzodiazepines are often given. These can be habit-forming, however. Buspirone is another drug that is recommended; like an SSRI, this drug also can take several weeks to take effect.
Cognitive Behaviorial Therapy
The National Institute for Mental Health recommends cognitive behavioral therapy as an effective tool in treating anxiety. It can help people change the thinking patterns that drive their fears and the way they react to anxiety-provoking situations. Therapists will sometimes ask patients to track their anxiety and panic attacks by writing down what they were thinking at the time and how they might change their thinking to avert an attack. Patients may also be asked to face their fears by exposing themselves to the very situations that cause the problem. To be effective, the therapy must be directed at the person's specific anxieties and tailored to his needs.
Exercise
Accordng to the Anxiety Disorder Association of America, exercise can work as well as medication to reduce anxiety. A study by Jasper Smits, PhD and Michael Otto, PhD, demonstrated that for patients with anxiety disorders, exercise reduces their fears of fear and related bodily sensations such as a racing heart and rapid breathing. For patients with anxiety, they recommend up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week such as brisk walking, and 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity exercise, such as riding a bicycle at a good pace or running. The sufferer should first pass a health assessment by a physician.
Support Groups
Finding support is an important part of recovery for many people. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America maintains a list of support groups by state for various types of anxiety disorders. The power of a support group lies in sharing similar experiences, receiving empathy and exchanging ideas.
References
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Exercise for Stress and Anxiety
- National Institute of Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders
- Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders: Anxiety Reduction Techniques
- Physorg.com/Study: Exercise should be prescribed more often for depression, anxiety
- MayoClinic.com: Effective Treatments Available for Anxiety Disorder
