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Prevention and Treatment/Management of Anxiety Disorders

An anxiety disorder is like any other health problem that requires treatment.
You can’t will it away. It’s not a matter of self-discipline or attitude.
Researchers have made a lot of progress in the last few decades in treating
mental health conditions. Your healthcare provider will tailor a treatment plan
that works for you. Your plan may combine medication and psychotherapy.

Medications can’t cure an anxiety disorder. But they can improve symptoms
and help you function better. Medications for anxiety disorders often include:

 Anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines, may decrease

your anxiety, panic and worry. They work quickly, but you can build up
a tolerance to them. That makes them less effective over time. Your
healthcare provider may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for the
short-term, then taper you off or the provider may add an
antidepressant to the mix.
 Antidepressants can also help with anxiety disorders. They tweak
how your brain uses certain chemicals to improve mood and reduce
stress. Antidepressants may take some time to work, so be patient. If
you feel like you’re ready to stop taking antidepressants, talk to your
provider first.
 Beta-blockers, usually used for high blood pressure, can help reduce
some of the physical symptoms of anxiety disorders. They can relieve
rapid heartbeat, shaking and trembling.

Psychotherapy, or counseling, helps you deal with your emotional response to

the illness. A mental health provider talks through strategies to help you better
understand and manage the disorder. Approaches include:

 Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common type of

psychotherapy used with anxiety disorders. CBT for anxiety teaches
you to recognize thought patterns and behaviors that lead to
troublesome feelings. You then work on changing them.
 Exposure therapy focuses on dealing with the fears behind the
anxiety disorder. It helps you engage with activities or situations you
may have been avoiding. Your provider may also use relaxation
exercises and imagery with exposure therapy.

Prevention

You can’t prevent anxiety disorders. But you can take steps to control or
reduce your symptoms:

 Check out medications: Talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist

before taking over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies. Some
of these contain chemicals that may make anxiety symptoms worse.
 Limit caffeine: Stop or limit how much caffeine you consume,
including coffee, tea, cola and chocolate.
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 Live a healthy lifestyle: Exercise regularly and eat a healthy,

balanced diet.
 Seek help: Get counseling and support if you experienced a traumatic
or disturbing event. Doing so can help prevent anxiety and other
unpleasant feelings from disrupting your life.

Reference:

Cleveland Clinic (Anxiety Disorders)

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9536-anxiety-disorders