Cures for Severe Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are a classification of mental health conditions in which a person experiences extreme feelings of terror, dread, anxiety and fear. The symptoms of all anxiety disorders have physical and emotional components that treatment should address. There is no "cure" for any anxiety disorder, but there are a number of treatment options available to help individuals cope with their condition and lead fuller, more satisfying lives.

Medication

• According to the article "Treating Anxiety Disorders with Medication" by Justine Kent, M.D., there are a number of medications available to treat the symptoms of anxiety. If you've been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or feel that you may have one, your physician or mental health professional may prescribe or suggest you begin taking an anti-anxiety medication. There are four types of medications recommended for the treatment of anxiety: benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI's).

  Benzodiazepines include Klonopin, Ativan, Librium and Xanax. These medications work to reduce anxiety over a brief period of time, so your doctor may prescribe you the medication for a few weeks and then switch you to something else. Benzodiazepines are effective medications, but because they require a higher and higher dosage as time passes, many mental health professionals see them as appropriate for usage for a short period of time only.

  Tricyclic antidepressants are useful in treating generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Tricyclics can be used for longer periods of time than benzodiazepines, but can have some severe side effects including lowered blood pressure when standing, blurred vision, urination difficulties, and dizziness. Popular tricyclics include Tofranil and Anafranil.

  SSRI's are used to treat the symptoms of both anxiety and depression and are helpful for someone experiencing both conditions simultaneously. Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil are commonly known SSRIs. These medications work by inhibiting the brain's ability to re-absorb the nuerochemical serotonin, which increases mood and feelings of stability.

  SNRI's work similarly to SSRI's as they reduce the brain's ability to re-absorb serotonin and norepinephrine, two brain chemicals thought to greatly influence mood and anxiety levels.

Therapy

• Another effective treatment for severe anxiety includes therapy. According to the National Institute of Mental Health website, the most effective therapy to treat severe anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. Cognitive behavioral therapy works in two ways, by changing people's thought patterns about themselves, others and their anxieties, and by adjusting their behaviors to those situations that incite anxiety. For those suffering from phobias (an irrational yet severe fear), exposure therapy can help to reduce their terror by slowly exposing them to the situation that terrifies them.

Self-Help Techniques

• The MayoClinic.com website suggests that in addition to medication and therapy, people suffering from anxiety disorders should also utilize self-help techniques to help them cope with the symptoms of their disorders and gain a sense of control and accomplishment about their progress. Self-help techniques for those suffering from anxiety disorders often involve relaxation and increasing feelings of calm. Visualization, progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises can help someone experiencing the beginnings of anxiety shift their focus from their anxiety to their breathing or a calm environment. This helps lessen their anxiety and eventually gives them greater control over their own responses to anxiety.