There is a wide range of acceptable treatments for anxiety disorders beginning with talk therapy and medications.

 

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) uses cognitive restructuring as a way to attack the cognitive distortions that cause needless anxiety. CBT often employs coping strategies to help manage volatile emotions. Here is a podcast from Mentalhelp.net that talks about CBT and specifically Cognitive restructuring.

• Psychodynamic Therapy addresses present and past relationships that influence our anxiety.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) trains the client on ways of controlling and handling the anxiety we have. DBT begins with mindfulness meditation.

• Medication can only be prescribed by a psychiatrist or a medical doctor but can be very effective to reduce anxiety along with talk therapy. 

 

When working with anxiety the first thing I'll do as your therapist is to listen. I'll need you to tell me what is happening in as much detail as you feel comfortable providing.

 

The second thing I'll do is help to educate you on some of the neurology and mechanics behind this experience. I'll teach some very simple relaxation techniques including mindfulness and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). It's also important to develop strong coping strategies for managing anxiety. There are many good books I can recommend that offer good insight alongside therapy. 

 

So in reading through all the internet has to offer on reducing stress and relaxing, I’ve collected all the “Tips” “Strategies” “Skills” “Rules” and “Steps” to reduce your anxiety.  Shockingly, most of them overlap or are painfully repackaged, so I’ve boiled them down to the essentials.  You can find most of the articles I used below or go to my page on:

Ways to Relax Right Now.