Anxiety Disorder Treatments

There are two empirically-validated treatments for anxiety disorders (panic disorder, social phobia, GAD, specific phobias) meaning that the treatments are based on scientific studies. They are cognitive behavior therapy and medications used to treat anxiety disorders.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is predicated on the belief that our thoughts influence the way we feel and behave. It provides the means to change how we think in order to change how we feel. It imparts new skills and techniques that give a person more power and control over their feelings and actions. Typically this type of therapy involves exposure to feared stimuli and situations.  This can include exposure to internal body states and feelings.  By creating conditions in which an individual can create new associations with feared stimuli or can learn new ways to deal with anxious feelings, therapy prepares the individual for coping with anxious feelings in everyday situations.

The choice to take medication is a personal one and should be discussed thoroughly with a treating physician.  Medications do not provide a "miracle cure" and many have side effects in addition to their benefits.  Finding the correct medication (one that treats symptoms effectively without too many side-effects) can be difficult and often involves trying several different doses and even different classes of drugs.