Anxiety disorder refers to a group of mental illnesses that causes distress while carrying out day-to-day activities. There are multiple treatments that are available for anxiety disorder. While some people may respond to the treatments quickly, others may take time, depending on the severity of the condition.
Some of the popular treatments for anxiety disorder are:
- Prescribed medications
- Therapies
- Natural remedies
Medications prescribed
It is always advisable to go for medications that are prescribed by your specialist or physician. There are a number of medications that are available for treating anxiety disorders. Most of these prescribed medications are given along with therapy. One can also be prescribed a combination of medications.
Two of the most general medication types used for treating anxiety disorders are:
- Medications for anti-anxiety
- Antidepressants
Medications are considered cheaper than therapy but the former alone cannot treat anxiety disorder completely. It has been observed that a combination of both medications and therapies will help in treating the disorder.
Therapy
Research shows that therapy has been an effective treatment for anxiety disorders. Different types of therapies are known to treat anxiety completely unlike medications, in which the symptoms may reoccur. Here are some of the therapies that are considered as a part of the popular anxiety treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
One of the most widely used therapies for treating anxiety disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is known to be an effective treatment for social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and general anxiety disorder. The treatment primarily works around the idea that an individual’s thoughts are the reason for anxiety and not an external event.
The treatment addresses the distortions and negative patterns in the patient. There are two prime components of the cognitive behavioral therapy treatment and these are:
- Cognitive therapy-In cognitive therapy, there is a thorough examination of how the negative thoughts of the patients are contributing to his or her thought process.
- Behavioral therapy– Herein, the therapy takes a look at how the patient reacts or behaves under certain situations that trigger anxiety.
Some of the other complementary therapies include:
- Relaxation techniques
- Exercise
- Hypnosis
- Biofeedback
Natural remedies for anxiety disorder
Yoga
The combination of breathing exercises, meditation, and bodily postures is known as yoga and various yoga postures help in relaxing the mind, thereby helping in reducing anxiety.
Acupuncture
Some research shows that acupuncture helps in reducing the symptoms of anxiety. However, acupuncture along with CBT can be an effective treatment. It is best to consult a doctor before going ahead with any treatment, whether medication or therapy.
Valerian
For centuries, valerian has been an effective herb in treating depression and anxiety. Although there is not enough evidence that valerian can be the right choice for treating anxiety disorder, it has been used in some of the cases.
Lavender
Used widely in aromatherapy, lavender oil is a known natural remedy for treating anxiety disorder. Some research shows that the fragrance of lavender oil has a soothing and calming effect, which may help in treating anxiety.
One can always take the advice of a specialist before using any of these natural remedies to avoid any unforeseen complications.
