Does Anxiety Therapy Work?
Medically Reviewed By Whitney White, MS. CMHC, NCC., LPCAccording to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, there are 40 million Americans that struggle with anxiety. This makes it the most common mental health challenge that the country faces. While anxiety is very treatable, "anxiety therapy" itself is not a real thing. Instead, there many different types of therapy options that can be used to manage and treat anxiety. That means the good news is there is help for you in dealing with your anxiety. However, it's not as simple as finding "anxiety therapy." You will need to find a solution that works best for you.
- Anxiety Disorder
Someone who is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder is most likely experiencing high levels of fear to the point that it disrupts their normal behavior. There are several kinds of disorders that fall within this category:
- Separation anxiety
- Social anxiety
- Specific phobia
- Panic disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
Some common symptoms that come with anxiety disorders include irritability, fatigue, muscle aches, problems sleeping, fatigue, and worry that feels impossible to control.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
When you look at descriptions of OCD, you might be able to identify with some of the descriptions and recognize the symptoms in yourself. While most people can relate to some of the descriptions and symptoms that doesn't mean they'll be diagnosed with it. A doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed therapist must evaluate a person carefully before a diagnosis is made.
- Trichotillomania - hair pulling
- Body dysmorphic disorder - becoming obsessed with a physical trait that you believe is flawed, preoccupation with appearance
- Hoarding disorder - unable to part with objects
- Excoriation - skin picking
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder - persistent thoughts and obsessions often of which people believe it they don't do certain behaviors it could result in harm.
- Stress and Trauma-Related Disorders
These disorders are ones that are directly related to the experience of trauma or stressors such as divorce, moving, or beginning college.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Symptoms include reliving past events, dissociative episodes, trying to avoid reminders of the traumatic situation, inability to feel happy, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, sleep disturbance, exaggerated startle response, and problems concentrating.
- Adjustment Disorder - This is when you experience symptoms as a result of a specific event within three months of that happening.
Who Experiences Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health challenges. They impact people of all ages. While many people have heard of separation anxiety in children, they can be impacted by any of these anxiety disorders. If you have a child that seems to be struggling with anxiety it's important to see that they get the help they need. Early detection is important for helping people, including children, recover without the situation getting worse in the future.
Treatments Used for Anxiety
There are many different therapy options available to treat anxiety. The most common ones are described here:
Psychotherapy
Multiple forms of psychotherapy are used to treat anxiety. The goal of this type of therapy is to help you better understand your behavior and then learn ways to cope with your feelings, fears, and anxieties in a healthier way. Some of the most commonly used forms of psychotherapy for treating anxiety include:
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy - This is commonly used when treating PTSD. It works by helping people learn to gain control of their thoughts and behaviors when they are reminded of the trigger situation. It's important to work with a professional that knows how to use this type of therapy. They will help you to start working through the memories of the situation and identify reminders and things that could trigger your PTSD. The goal is to help you expose yourself to these things long enough that over time they begin to lose the power they had on you.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT is all about learning how to identify the thoughts and feelings that bring on your anxiety and like panic attacks and then learn how to change your thinking around them. It teaches you a new way of processing your thoughts and feelings, which helps lessen anxiety and its symptoms.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy - DBT is used to teach people effective ways to control their emotions. The focus is on mindfulness and stress management.
Medication
Some medications can be prescribed by a psychiatrist or doctor to help you gain control of your anxiety. If you are taking medication for your anxiety, it's a good idea to use other forms of therapies as well to learn how to manage your emotions.
Alternative Therapies
Many people find relief with alternative therapies. Even if you are using other treatments with your anxiety, these options can still be helpful in addition to your other treatments. This can include things like meditation, mindfulness, yoga, journaling, self-care, and aromatherapy.
Self-care includes things like making sure you are eating right, getting enough rest, and taking time to do things that you enjoy.
How Do I Find an Anxiety Therapist Near Me?
If you are ready to seek help for your anxiety, your first step is to find a licensed therapist in your area. You could start by asking for personal recommendations from friends and family members. Or, you can start with an online search like, "anxiety therapists near me." Remember that different therapist specializes in different things. You'll want to find someone who is experienced in treating people dealing with anxiety.
Don't be afraid to talk to several different therapists to see who you are most comfortable with. You will need to be very open with your therapist, which means you need to feel comfortable with them.
Some other things that you might want to consider when looking for a therapist include what their credentials are, where they are located, and how much they cost. If you have health insurance, you can check with the company to see if they will cover any of the cost. If not, you can talk to your therapist to see what kind of help they can offer. Many therapists offer sliding scale pricing to make it easier for everyone to get the help they need.
If you don't want to go into an office or don't have a therapist in your local area, you can try online therapy. Websites like BetterHelp exist to connect you with therapists that can help you with your mental health challenges. Usually, with a simple form, they will gather information and match you up with a therapist that will fit your needs.
Whichever option you choose to go with the most important thing is that you get help to overcome your anxiety and improve your life. If the first thing that you try doesn't work, don't give up. There are plenty of options available when it comes to treatment for anxiety.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How long does it take for therapy to work for anxiety?
Seeing success from therapy in regard to social anxiety disorder or one of the other types of anxiety disorders can vary. If there is medicinal treatment involved, then it takes an average of 12 to 16 weeks to see potential benefits in behavior patterns and physical symptoms such as heart rate. Other types of medicinal treatment or therapy for anxiety may have differing lengths of time for seeing results in reducing anxiety. For those who experience anxiety, therapy treatment can help regardless of whether or not there is medicinal treatment involved. Research suggests that therapy can lower both the mental and physical toll anxiety takes on the body and should be an option for consideration for anybody looking to reduce anxiety.
How do therapists treat anxiety?
The methods by which a therapist may treat anxiety differs depending on the type of therapy treatment options available. Medicinal treatment sometimes proves to be an effective treatment strategy whereas talk therapy works best for others suffering from anxiety. Patients learn over time what strategies work best for them and a therapist will work closely with a client to develop and effective treatment plan for people with anxiety. This could be medicinal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or some other type of mental health treatment plan. Therapy for anxiety looks different depending on both a therapist and the client.
What helps severe anxiety?
In a natural sense, getting more exercise and studying relaxation training exercises are great ways to begin to manage anxiety. For those who have anxiety in social situations, starting slow and practicing meditation has proven to be effective in the past. Additionally, therapy for anxiety is extremely effective at reducing anxiety symptoms and the other effects of social anxiety disorder. Working with a therapist can allow a person to build a treatment plan for themselves that will use both natural and therapeutic methods to benefit their mental health.
How many therapy sessions are needed for anxiety?
The amount of sessions needed in regards to therapy for anxiety differ from case to case, but on average a person can expect to see results within eight to ten therapy sessions. Most sessions of therapy for anxiety are short, regardless of if they are cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, exposure therapy, or something else. Treating anxiety is less about the sessions and more about the effective treatment plan implemented by a therapist and their client. Additionally, some people don’t have the time to dedicate to multiple sessions in a week or month and must go at a slower pace than others. Therapy for anxiety can be a long journey, but the exact amount of time before improvements can be seen will vary from person to person.
Does CBD help anxiety?
Currently, CBD is commonly used in therapy for anxiety and treating other mental health issues. CBD is often used in relaxation training exercises or as a health care treatment for helping a patient fall asleep and stay asleep. CBD has also been known to help with chronic pain that a person living with anxiety may experience, as well as serve as a relaxation tool prior to social situations or when faced with specific phobias. CBD treatment isn’t always used in therapy for anxiety, but if you believe it may be effective at reducing anxiety symptoms in your case, mention the option to your therapist or doctor.
Is anxiety a mental illness?
There are a number of different types of anxiety disorders, some of which have to do with social situations, specific phobias, or other causes. Severe anxiety disorders that impede on a person’s daily life are qualified as a mental health illness due to their severity. Through therapy for anxiety, whether exposure therapy or dialectal behavior therapy, patients learn acceptance and change. Interpersonal therapy and support groups have been highly effective at treating anxiety disorders based on research from the institute of mental health. If you believe therapy for anxiety can benefit your mental health illness, find a therapist in your area today.
Can youself treat anxiety?
Living with anxiety on a regular basis, even when attending therapy for anxiety, can be challenging. Exposure therapy or interpersonal therapy in regard to social situations or phobias can only help so much. During the course of therapy for anxiety, patients learn mental health strategies that can help them self-treat anxiety, such as meditation and getting more exercise. During the course of therapy, something as small as putting yourself slowly into social situations and practicing calming techniques is a form of mental health self-treatment. Additionally, ensuring your body is healthy and taking natural remedies such as fatty acids has also been known to be effective at treating some symptoms of anxiety. Speak with your therapist or doctor about natural anxiety remedies if you believe they may help.
