Medication Vs. Therapy For Anxiety
All anxiety disorders share one thing in common: an overwhelming and often debilitating sense of dread or fear. Whether you suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder or panic attacks – there are treatments available that can help.
Anxiety medications – Medication can offer temporary relief from symptoms, but it won’t cure your anxiety disorders. Instead, these drugs help you feel better by stimulating certain chemicals in the brain. These drugs come in various forms like antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and beta blockers.
Medication for anxiety can be used either alone or combined with therapy to treat GAD, phobias and other mental health problems. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most successful type of treatment; it aims to alter your thoughts and how you react to situations while teaching you how to cope with fears and gain control over them.
If you’re considering therapy for anxiety, the most beneficial approach is to work with a licensed therapist who can offer an assessment and personalized treatment plan. Sites like BetterHelp offer over 20,000 therapists who offer convenient and affordable therapy at any time of day or night – perfect if you need something urgent!
Therapists may specialize in specific anxiety disorders, such as social phobia or OCD. Talking with a therapist can provide you with the tools needed to conquer your fears and lead a more fulfilling life.
Medication for Anxiety – The most widely prescribed anti-anxiety drugs are serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These block the action of serotonin receptors in the brain, helping reduce anxious feelings by blocking these chemical transmitters. Common SSRIs include paroxetine, sertraline and citalopram; several have been clinically effective with low side effect rates.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), another class of antidepressant medications, work by decreasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in your brain. While they have been used previously to treat anxiety disorders, there is a higher risk that they will cause weight gain and other side effects than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Psychotherapy – Most anxiety disorders respond well to talk therapy. Your therapist can use techniques like exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy, helping you identify any irrational or unrealistic ways of thinking about particular situations and replacing those thoughts with more realistic ones.
A qualified therapist can assist in uncovering the sources of your anxiety and teaching you new, more useful coping mechanisms. They may also give exercises to help keep you on track and manage your condition effectively.
If you suffer from severe anxiety, medication and therapy combined can be more beneficial than either treatment alone and greatly enhance your quality of life.
There’s ample evidence that both therapy and medication can be effective, but finding the right one for you may require trial and error. It’s likely that you need to try several different options before finding one that works best for your individual needs.