Anxiety generally comes in five forms: generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and specific phobia disorder. The relief for any of these forms of anxiety depends on the symptoms and their severity. While mild forms of anxiety such as generalized anxiety disorder are easily treated, other anxiety forms can prove harder to treat.
Meditation and Exercise
Meditation combined with exercise such as yoga or mindfulness exercises may alleviate some symptoms of mild forms of anxiety, according to Help Guide. Focusing on breathing in and out while lightly lengthening the muscles in yoga can slow the heart rate and relax the mind during or preceding an anxiety attack. Mindfulness exercises are a form of meditation where the practitioner focuses on the here and now and purposefully concentrates on breathing and relaxing the muscles through concentrating on one body part at a time. This helps to calm the mind as well as relax the body and relieve anxiety.
Medications
According to Help Guide, some problems with anxiety are so severe that medication is required. Many times depression will follow problems with severe anxiety. Medications for anxiety or depression -- or a combination of both -- must be prescribed by a psychiatrist or a medical doctor. Many drugs can treat anxiety, and with only mild side effects, including alprazolam, brand name Xanax, and clonazepam, brand name Klonopin.
Therapy
Some people respond best to therapy with a therapist as a means to alleviate symptoms of anxiety. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, a therapeutic approach that's particularly effective in treating anxiety is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy teaches new thought patterns and different means of coping with anxiety or anxious situations. Sometimes medications are needed along with therapy -- the therapist usually makes this decision. Therapists can be counselors who hold a master's degree in counseling or psychology, psychologists who hold a Ph.D. or psychiatrists who are medical doctors. Only psychiatrists can prescribe medication.
