Treating Severe Anxiety

Severe Anxiety Treatment Methods Offer Hope

Anxiety in normal levels is something that we all deal with from time to time in the course of day to day life. It helps us to deal with and focus on tense situations but once the tense situation is gone then the anxiety is gone and we’re our jolly old selves.

However, there are some people that will experience excessive and even severe anxiety under the same circumstances, and that severe anxiety doesn’t go away. Often times the severe anxiety comes on and is unexplainable, having nothing to do with the present situation the individual is currently facing in their life.

This then becomes a serious disorder that requires treatment. Fortunately successful treatment methods are available through licensed therapists and psychiatrist who are trained to identify what type of anxiety disorder the patient is suffering with and with experience treating severe anxiety disorders.

Most Anxiety Sufferers Will Not Volunteer

Unfortunately, one of the biggest impediments to treating severe anxiety is the patient, they rarely come forward and express their desire to be treated. As a result treatment is often delayed, further aggravating the condition.

There are treatments that are known to be effective in treating severe anxiety. However, in order for these treatments to be effective they must be administered by a licensed therapist or a psychiatrist trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating severe anxiety.

Treating Severe Anxiety

An effective method of treating severe anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy helps the patient to change the thought and patterns that bring on and support their fears. And, the behavior part teaches the patient how to change the way they react to situations that create severe anxiety.

Anxiety Medications

There are a number of medications that are used in treating severe anxiety that are used in concert with psychotherapy. Anti-depressants are generally effective in treating severe anxiety though even then it involves using a trial and error method to find out which medication works the best on a particular patient. These can be anti-depressants such as Paxil, tofranil, Effexor & Lexapro which act on certain neurotansmitters that play a role in anxiety disorders.

Anti-anxiety drugs that are commonly used are Xanax, Librium, Klonopin, Valium and Ativan. These medications are sedatives that ease the anxiety and tension. The problem with these particular medications is that they can be habit forming when taken for more than a few weeks and they can cause drowsiness and unsteadiness. Often an anti-anxiety medication called Buspar (Busipirone) is prescribed because it doesn’t pose the risk of dependence even though it may take several weeks before improving symptoms.

Benzodiazepines are anti-anxiety drugs that can also be considered for treating severe anxiety symptoms. They are fast acting, starting to work within an hour of being taken so they can give quick relief when taken during an anxiety or panic attack and these drugs aren’t addictive.

Whether using anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications the therapist will likely need to try several medications in order to determine which works most effectively with the fewest side effects. Also, it’s good to keep in mind that some of the medications do not work right away. Some, especially antidepressants, may take several weeks before the patient notices full relief from anxiety.

Get Help

Left untreated stress and anxiety can wreak havoc with a person’s life and so it is necessary that sufferers seek help in treating severe anxiety at an early stage in their condition. It is important to note that treating severe anxiety usually lasts a few months as opposed to some other types of psychiatric disorders that can take years to treat.

So remember, if you are suffering with anxiety there are effective treatments and medications that are used in treating severe anxiety disorders that can help you.  Do yourself a favor and find a therapist that you have confidence in and that has experience in treating severe anxiety and get back to a normal life.