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If
you, or someone you know, has symptoms of anxiety, a visit to
the family physician is usually the best place to start. A physician
can help determine whether the symptoms are due to an anxiety
disorder, some other medical condition, or both. Frequently,
the next step in getting treatment for an anxiety disorder is
referral to a mental health professional.
Among the professionals who can help are psychiatrists, psychologists,
social workers, and counselors. However, it's best to look for
a professional who has specialized training in cognitive-behavioral
therapy and/or behavioral therapy, as appropriate, and who is
open to the use of medications, should they be needed.
As stated earlier, psychologists, social workers, and counselors
sometimes work closely with a psychiatrist or other physician,
who will prescribe medications when they are required. For some
people, group therapy is a helpful part of treatment.
It's important that you feel comfortable with the therapy that
the mental health professional suggests. If this is not the
case, seek help elsewhere. However, if you've been taking medication,
it's important not to discontinue it abruptly, as stated before.
Certain drugs have to be tapered off under the supervision of
your physician.
Remember, though, that when you find a health care professional
that you're satisfied with, the two of you are working together
as a team. Together you will be able to develop a plan to treat
your anxiety disorder that may involve medications, cognitive-behavioral
or other talk therapy, or both, as appropriate.
You may be concerned about paying for treatment for an anxiety
disorder. If you belong to a Health Maintenance Organization
(HMO) or have some other kind of health insurance, the costs
of your treatment may be fully or partially covered. There are
also public mental health centers that charge people according
to how much they are able to pay. If you are on public assistance,
you may be able to get care through your state Medicaid plan.
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| Strategies
To Make Treatment More Effective |
Many people with
anxiety disorders benefit from joining a self-help group and
sharing their problems and achievements with others. Talking
with trusted friends or a trusted member of the clergy can also
be very helpful, although not a substitute for mental health
care. Participating in an Internet chat room may also be of
value in sharing concerns and decreasing a sense of isolation,
but any advice received should be viewed with caution.
The family is of great importance in the recovery of a person
with an anxiety disorder. Ideally, the family should be supportive
without helping to perpetuate the person's symptoms. If the
family tends to trivialize the disorder or demand improvement
without treatment, the affected person will suffer. You may
wish to show this booklet to your family and enlist their help
as educated allies in your fight against your anxiety disorder.
Stress management techniques and meditation may help you to
calm yourself and enhance the effects of therapy, although there
is as yet no scientific evidence to support the value of these
"wellness" approaches to recovery from anxiety disorders.
There is preliminary evidence that aerobic exercise may be of
value, and it is known that caffeine, illicit drugs, and even
some over-the-counter cold medications can aggravate the symptoms
of an anxiety disorder. Check with your physician or pharmacist
before taking any additional medicines.
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