Treating Severe Anxiety Disorder
Severe anxiety disorder is much more common that many people think. It has been said that at least twenty-six percent of Americans are affected by anxiety disorders. There have been leaps and bounds in severe anxiety disorder treatment over the last few years. Here is an overview of some of the most common.
Behavioral Therapy
Medication is usually the first thing people think of when they think "treatment," but there are also non-medication treatments for severe anxiety disorder as well. In fact, many doctors prescribe therapy in conjunction with medication because they find that the combination is more effective for long-term treatment.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or CBT is a common type of severe anxiety disorder therapy. This method is a three-fold treatment that focuses on the cognitive (thinking and belief processes), behavioral, and emotional. This can include working to stop negative thoughts, finding ways to de-stress, and learning techniques to calm.
Medications
Medication has been found to be a very effective way to treat severe anxiety disorder. The three different types of drugs that are used are serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, Benzodiazepines, and antidepressants.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that keeps the body and mind happy, calm, and satisfied. Scientists believe that a lack of serotonin is the cause of anxiety, and panic attacks. You may have heard about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the well-known name brands' Prozac and Zoloft commercials.
Benzodiazepines are a type of psychoactive drugs, or better known as minor tranquilizers. They do just what it sounds like. They slow down the body's nervous system, which produces a calming effect. These types of anxiety disorder medications can be addictive, so they should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. Some well-known name brands that use Benzodiazepines are Xanax and Valium.
Last, but not least, are antidepressants. Antidepressants affect the neurotransmitters in the brain. Effexor is a brand name antidepressant. A type of antidepressant that should be avoided is called Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, better known as MAOIs. These are very powerful antidepressant drugs and they should only be used as a last resort after all other treatments have been tried. These drugs can be toxic when combined with certain other drugs and foods.
An important note: The FDA has put out a warning on all antidepressants. Anyone taking them may be more susceptible to suicide, especially when they start to take them or when their dosage is changed. A person taking them should contact his or her doctor right away if they are experiencing thoughts of suicide.
It is important to work out a plan of action with a doctor to get the best treatment for severe anxiety disorder.
