Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
One of the many types of psychological problems are anxiety disorders. Fortunately, these are treatable, with the majority of people suffering from these problems relying on professional care for their treatment. Of course, the success of treatment for anxiety disorder depends on the individual. While some people can be treated within weeks or months, others may require over a year so that they can live a normal life. There are various means of treatment for generalized anxiety disorder that should be explored.
Therapy
Therapy is one of the best forms of treatment when you are suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. There are also a few different types, but the one that is most widely used and that has been proven to be most effective in treating this particular disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy. The therapy addresses the negative ways people look at the world and at themselves. It can be broken down into subcategories of cognitive and behavioral therapy. The basic premise is to replace negative thoughts with positive and realistic thoughts, and the therapist will help you to replace things that trigger your anxiety with calming thoughts and with statements that can help you to fight off a would-be panic attack.
Medication
There is treatment for generalized anxiety disorder.
Medication may also be required in treating some individuals for generalized anxiety disorder. It can be a short term or long term option, depending on the severity of symptoms. In most cases, it takes time to determine which medication is appropriate for any particular patient who is dealing with anxiety disorder. The most commonly used medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil, selective seotonin and norepinephrine inhibitors such as Cymbalta and Effexor, tetracyclic antidepressants such as Remeron, dopamines such as Wellbutrin and monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as Emsam and Parnate. A doctor is required to prescribe these drugs and you should take them only as directed. They will only work as prescribed by following doctor’s orders but may not work for all anxiety symptoms, which is why other treatment options should be used concurrently.
Alternative Treatments
There are even a number of alternative treatments for generalized anxiety disorder that can help. These include yoga, acupuncture, stress and relaxation techniques and a plant called kava that can be taken in tablet form. Yoga is conducive for meditation in addition to the relaxing and breathing exercises that have positive effects on the body and mind. Acupuncture works to literally pinpoint certain areas of the body and release a natural flow of energy, which can help in treating anxiety. Stress relaxation can help you to avoid panic attacks in stressful situations and kava has been shown in studies to fight the effects of generalized anxiety disorder.
References:
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_therapy.htm
http://www.adaa.org/finding-help/treatment
