Treating Anxiety Disorder
There a wide range of options now nowadays to treat sufferers and the best one for you will be decided by your health professional any yourself. The symptoms that you have will also be considered when decided on the best treatment. If the symptoms are secondary to another illness, such as depression, the treatment will be structured to focus on this.
Treatments include psychological and drug treatments, and depend to a certain extent on the type of symptoms or disorder the person is suffering from.
A person’s full range of symptoms needs to be understood; this enables any underlying disorder that causes the anxiety symptoms to be treated. For example, if the anxiety symptoms are secondary to a depressive illness, the focus of the treatment will be on the depressive illness.
Usually, the first aim of a treatment will be to discuss the symptoms with the patient. This is to help them realise, that although the symptoms are frightening, they are in no danger medically from them. Ultimately, it is the fear itself which is the problem and once the underlying causes are revealed, work can be started to rebuild confidence. Visualization and relaxation techniques have proved valuable and should be used regularly.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mentally debilitating condition and often begins as a response to stressful situations. The individual affected will repeat behaviours many times, sometimes physically and sometimes in their head. Techniques have been developed specifically to help stop these thoughts and can be taught to sufferers. Again, it is important to seek help and not allow OCD to take over your life.
Phobias are often treated by first encouraging the person to visualise the thing that causes the phobic response. This would include having them also recreate the symptoms they experience. Once they begin to realise that there is no actual danger in the situation, they can move onto exposing themselves to the object of their fear in a controlled and safe environment. The key is to take small, measured steps, until the negative thoughts about the phobic trigger are replaced by positive, confident ones.
Medication specifically designed to help alleviate can also offer relief from symptoms. Diazepam and lorazepam are known to be effective, but only for up to three weeks as the body quickly becomes used to them. They can also be addictive.
Antidepressants are often the first medicines prescribed for treating an anxiety disorder, as depression and anxiety are often closely linked. It is important to remember that each medicine is designed for a specific task and should therefore only be used in association with medical advice after a professional assessment.
There are many avenues of help that sufferers of an anxiety disorder can choose and many people who suffer from disorders who never actually seek help. Do not think that you have to suffer in silence and simply `put up` with anxiety and stress. Help is available, you only need to ask for it.
