What Are the Treatments for Severe Anxiety?

Anxiety symptoms range from mild, moderate to severe and can be very debilitating to an individual. Anxiety can occur in conditions such as social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder. Anxiety often occurs as a symptom in mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. There are counseling and medication options that manage symptoms depending on the diagnostic presentation of a patient needing help for anxiety.

Psychotherapy

• Establishing a relationship with a professional counselor or therapist can help an individual with severe anxiety learn different ways of managing stress. Relaxation techniques can be taught in addition to different types of cognitive behavioral techniques such as thought stopping to modify cognitive reactions to stress and anxiety.

Antidepressant Medication

• Taking an antidepressant medication is helpful in treating anxiety. The most common types of antidepressants used for anxiety are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. These medications, such as Prozac or Zoloft, are taken daily and become effective about three weeks after starting the medication.

Anxiolytic Medication

• Feeling anxious may occur in episodes or can be generalized across events in everyday life. If anxiety is episodic, benzodiazepines can be effective in managing the acute onset of symptoms. Medications such as Xanax or Valium have an immediate effect. These can be taken regularly or on an as-needed basis. These medications need to be closely monitored because of the potential for abuse and addiction.

Anticonvulsant Medication

• Being prescribed anticonvulsant medication, such as Depakote or Tegretol, is effective in managing anxiety symptoms that occur along with bipolar disorders. These medications are taken on a daily basis, build up in the system and require the proper dose to be effective. Frequent blood draws are necessary to responsibly manage the medication at a therapeutic level.

Antipsychotic Medication

• Feeling anxious often occurs as a part of other conditions such as mood disorders or thought disorders. Antipsychotics such as Risperdal or Zyprexa can be used alone or in conjunction with other types of medications to manage anxiety. The side effects can be undesirable and should be closely supervised by a physician.