Anxiety Treatment - Top 4 Options

Anxiety treatment has become a hot button issue today because the statistics are astounding. In America alone, approximately 40 million adults, age 18 and above, suffer from anxiety disorders. Add to that number the countless children from dysfunctional families who suffer anxiety due to abuse and neglect, plus children with parents who have exhausted all their prescription drug options, and it is easy to see why more people are looking for a wider range of anxiety treatment choices.

Anxiety Treatment Choices

Whether it is a case of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), general anxiety, panic, or phobia, a patient generally has four treatment choices. However, the severity or nuances of a case will determine the appropriate treatment, which should be agreed upon by both patient and doctor.

1. Alternative Medicine has become popular in recent years because herbal remedies have proven to offer short- and long-term relief without the side effects associated with prescription drugs.

But drugs, whether herbal or prescription, have not been shown to cause permanent relief and can only be considered real treatment when taken in conjunction with mental and behavior therapy.

Some examples of herbal medications are Ashwaghanda Root, Passion Flower, and the popular SJW (St. Johns Wort). B-complex vitamins have also been found to be beneficial.

2. Prescription Medication, although undoubtedly effective, has its disadvantages, such as serious side effects, withdrawal symptoms, tolerance, and even addiction. Drugs, which can provide temporary chemical balance, cannot change the attitudes and thought patterns that are the root cause of anxiety in many patients.

What many people do not know is that clinical research has proven prescription drugs to be NO MORE EFFECTIVE than natural alternatives and, in some cases, placebos!

Examples of prescription drugs are Benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax), Antidepressants (e.g., Prozac, Zoloft), and Azapirones (e.g., BuSpar).

3. Psychotherapy or Cognitive Behavior Therapy addresses anxiety at its core: the thoughts, feelings, and memories that drive it. Drugs and herbal remedies, which help with symptom relief, must be taken with therapy that will work on creating new, positive associative thought patterns in the patient.

4. Exercise has been proven by a growing number of clinical studies to relieve the symptoms of anxiety as well as other mental health conditions such as depression. It has also been shown to prevent relapse after regular treatment.

Studies show that it takes at least half an hour of exercise per day, at least 3 to 5 days per week to impact anxiety symptoms. But even short periods of physical activity, say 10-15 minutes, were shown to enhance short-term moods. Add to that the overall health benefit and it is easy to see why exercise makes a great anxiety treatment.