How to Treat Severe Anxiety

Severe anxiety can be a miserable, and even disabling, condition. The physical and mental symptoms can become so severe that you are unable to perform everyday tasks. You may not be able to go to work or interact with your family because you're continually in an agitated state. Fortunately, severe anxiety is a treatable condition. There is no reason to suffer with it when help is as close as a psychiatrist's office.

Instructions

• 1

  Make a list of the anxiety symptoms that are causing you the most problems. Severe anxiety can involve mental and physical symptoms such as trouble breathing, a racing heart, dizziness, sweating, stomach problems, fear, restlessness, and an inability to focus and concentrate. When you identify the worst ones, your doctor can focus her treatment on alleviating those specific symptoms.

• 2

  Make an appointment with a psychiatrist for evaluation. Any medical doctor can treat anxiety with medications, but most do not have special expertise in the treatment of this disorder. Psychiatrists specialize in the treatment of mental illness. They can diagnose the severity of your anxiety by talking to you and administering tests and assessments. Then they can put together a comprehensive plan for medication and possibly therapy as well.

• 3

  Discuss treatment options with the psychiatrist. He may strongly recommend one type of treatment or he may give you some choices, depending on how badly the anxiety is interfering with your life and daily activities. If he suggests medication, find out how long it will take before you notice improvement and discuss any possible side effects. If he recommends therapy, ask if it should be a specific type, such as cognitive, and if he can recommend a suitable therapist.

• 4

  Visit a therapist and learn behavior-based treatment to learn how to manage any symptoms that are not controlled by the medication. Different therapists use different techniques, but they may involve elements such as relaxation, objective reality tests, and altering your inner dialogue to reduce the anxiety and keep it from interfering with your life.

• 5

  Continue to follow your treatment plan, even if you start to feel better. Many patients who are struggling with severe anxiety or other mental disorders will get relief from proper treatment. They believe they no longer need the treatment and stop taking their medication or skip their therapy appointments. This can cause a relapse of the anxiety. Don't stop treatment without talking to your psychiatrist.