What Is the Best Treatment for Anxiety?

best treatment for anxiety

Anxiety is a mental health disorder that can be highly disruptive, causing people living with the condition to curtail their lives or activities in various ways. For example, someone with panic disorder may be unwilling to leave the house for fear that they’ll have a panic attack in a public place. Meanwhile, an obsessive-compulsive person may spend hours each day on rituals like cleaning or counting objects.

If you have anxiety, the constant feelings of being on edge may leave you searching for ways to manage symptoms like irritability, sleep disruptions, trouble concentrating and an elevated heart rate. What is the best way to improve your mental health? Try a combination of these strategies.

1. Therapy

The first step in finding a mental health treatment that works for you is to reach out to a professional. For example, you may find it helpful to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. They can examine you to rule out any physical health issues that could be causing your anxiety symptoms. A medical doctor can also refer you to a therapist if they think counseling would benefit you.

Talking with a mental health specialist who has studied the root causes of anxiety disorders may help you find relief from some of your most troubling symptoms. In regular therapy sessions, you can learn grounding techniques and begin identifying ways to reverse the negative thought patterns that characterize anxiety. A therapist may also help you understand your relationships so you can improve your connections with others.

2. Medication

In cases where your anxiety disorder is severe or co-occurs with another mental health issue like depression, a treatment professional may write you a prescription for a medication like an antidepressant or tranquilizer. Though these drugs can be beneficial, they may also be habit-forming, so talk with your therapist about the risks and possible side effects of using them and how long you can safely do so.

3. Exercise

Adding activity to your daily routine can bring an array of mental and physical health benefits. With regular exercise, you’ll have increased energy levels, which may help you get better control of your sleep schedule. If you aren’t already exercising daily, try starting slowly and gradually adding longer, more challenging workouts to your routine as your fitness level improves.

4. Diet

The foods you eat can also be an at-home remedy for anxiety. Focus on eating whole, minimally processed foods like fresh produce and whole grains, and avoid tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and recreational drugs. If you have become overly reliant on these substances as a replacement for healthier ways to manage your symptoms, you may need addiction treatment to regain control of your life.

Healing for Women

According to the Anxiety and Depression Society of America, women are twice as likely as men to develop anxiety disorders throughout their lifetimes. However, women also face unique treatment barriers, including a lack of familial support and outdated societal expectations of gender roles.

At Rising Roads Recovery, we believe all women who are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders deserve compassionate, informed care in a nurturing environment. To verify your health insurance coverage and learn about the benefits of women’s-only treatment, please reach out to us today.

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