After my last post, I feel it’s necessary to discuss treatment options for those who experience day-to-day anxiety with no relief. My last post was intended to make people aware that some anxiety is normal. If after examining yourself, you find it to become disruptive to your everyday life, you have options. I will go into more detail but the main treatment options include psychotherapy, medication, and other complementary health approaches.
Psychotherapy
There are oh to many psychotherapies to mention in one blog post but I will mention one of the most researched psychotherapies. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works to discover our beliefs and responses that cause spiralling, destructive thoughts. This is the attempt to slowly change our daily thought process when potentially stressful situations occur. Simply put, it is to replace negative thoughts with positive thinking.
Medication
Anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications may be an option when psychotherapy is not enough or to be used in combination with psychotherapy. Many people who experience anxiety have bouts of depression and, therefore, antidepressants work best for them. There is no one medication that works best because anxiety is such a complex disorder that affects each of us differently. Much of the time, trial and error will be used to determine which medication and dosage is best for the individual so be sure to keep your doctor informed of any side effects experienced.
Complementary Health Approaches
Complementary health approaches are non-traditional methods that may help reduce the symptoms of anxiety. It is important to note that these methods are not investigated or approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sometimes, these methods can be used in place of or in combination with medication and psychotherapies. These non-traditional health approaches include: vitamins, minerals, yoga, exercise, meditation, and equine therapy. Like always, it is important to check with your doctor before taking additional vitamins and minerals as they can sometimes be unnecessary or dangerous.
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Complementary-Health-Approaches
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Psychotherapy
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders/Treatment
Understanding Anxiety Disorders 