Anxiety Disorders are among the most treatable problems seen by mental health professionals, provided you seek the right kind of help. While medication has been shown to be quite effective in reducing problems with anxiety in the short-term, people who receive psychotherapy are less likely to suffer a relapse than those who only take medication. There are many different types of psychotherapy, and some approaches have proven to be much more effective than others when it comes to treating anxiety.
The two approaches to treating anxiety that have received the most support from scientific research in clinical settings are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Clinicians specializing in treating anxiety may use a combination of these approaches.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety includes the following components:
Relaxation Training
Use breathing and muscle relaxation techniques to recognize and reduce fight-or-flight arousal in the body.
Cognitive Training
Learn to notice, record, and challenge the distorted thinking patterns — like overestimating probability and catastrophizing — that fuel anxiety.
Exposure
Deliberately face the situations you have been avoiding, so you can build willingness and change your relationship to anxiety.
Skill Training
Build practical skills in problem-solving, planning, time management, and assertiveness that anxiety often erodes.