In general, anxiety disorders are treated with a verity of medications, and/or specific types of psychotherapy. It is however safe to say that, even though in some cases medication alone can be enough to curb the symptoms. In most cases the need for a good therapist to monitor our progress or lack there of, is always a good idea. In almost all cases there is some underlying cause for the anxiety. The medication can help us to mask or hide the symptoms but is not a cure. In the end we must focus on that core cause, to have any lasting success, and that is all but impossible without outside help.

  Before a treatment plan can be reached, a health care specialist must conduct a careful diagnostic evaluation to determine the type of anxiety disorder or the combination of disorders that are present, as well as any of the common coexisting conditions, such as substance abuse, alcohol abuse, and almost always depression. These coexisting conditions can have a strong effect on the individual, and in a lot of cases it’s hard to tell where one stops and the other begins. While it would be ideal to treat any coexisting conditions, before treating the anxiety disorder, this may not be possible. If the alcohol or drug abuse are symptoms of the anxiety and have been used to self medicate the condition. It is be unreasonable to expect the person to just simply discontinue there use. It these cases it mite be necessary for the person to go to a “Detox” or crises recovery center where they can be treated for both at the same time. There they can be monitored daily my professionals and as the symptoms of one leave the symptoms of the other can be treated.
  Because anxiety can hide behind symptoms like alcohol and drug abuse, and since anxiety is probably one of the most incorrectly diagnosed mental illnesses in the U.S. today, (especially in men). It is critical at this stage to find the right professional, one that has first hand knowledge of anxiety if possible. Or most certainly someone that has an extensive background dealing with anxiety.

  Keep in mind that it’s hard to remember all the things we would like to ask our therapist and to accurately recall our “up’s and down’s” on a daily basis. So it is helpful, at least in the early days of our treatment, to keep a daily journal. A journal helps keep our focus on day to day events and gives us a place to make notations and keep questions we would like to tell our therapist. Furthermore we can keep track of any treatment that actually works, and keep our doctor up to date about that treatment in detail. All received medications, dosage increases, or decreases, what if any side effects occurred, and how the treatment helped us to become less anxious. Our psychotherapy, how often we attended sessions, and how the therapy was useful. This gives our Doctor all the feed back they need and may in turn help someone else.

  The principal medications used for anxiety disorders are antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and beta-blockers to control some of the physical symptoms. Medication must always be prescribed by a physician, usually your psychiatrist, who either offers psychotherapy themselves or work as a team with psychologists, social workers, or counselors who provide psychotherapy.

  One more thing to consider, people often believe that they have “failed” at treatment or that a particular treatment didn’t work for them when, in fact, it was simply not given for an adequate length of time or was administered incorrectly. Very often people must try several different treatments or combinations of treatment before they find one that works for them. Remember people have a tendency to stop ten foot short of their goal so. Never! Never! Give up. 
 Remember that after the proper treatment is found, it is possible for people with anxiety disorders to lead normal, fulfilling lives.

Lonnie Smith 8-29-08