Anxiety disorders are a group of mood disorders that affect millions of Americans every year. In many cases, people suffering from anxiety will receive medication to alleviate symptoms and help them manage the disorder. But medications only treat symptoms and don’t get at the root cause. As a result, successful anxiety treatment often involves therapy in addition to medicine. Learn more about transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy for anxiety and other treatments available by calling us at 866.273.5017.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Before looking at the range of anxiety therapies available, it is vital to remember that there are five most common anxiety disorders. Each of them is distinct and requires a unique set of treatments. These conditions include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder: This disorder is characterized by pervasive worry or anxiety that is generally not connected to specific triggers.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Commonly referred to as OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder involves constant bothersome thoughts and repetitive behaviors.
- Panic disorder: Panic disorder involves regularly occurring panic attacks. While often unexpected, stress, interpersonal trouble, or a person’s environment can trigger these panic attacks.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: People develop post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, following an instance of extreme trauma. While veterans often experience this condition following combat experience, other causes include childhood abuse, natural disasters, or tragic accidents.
- Social anxiety disorder: Social anxiety disorder is when people experience anxiety specifically in reaction to social situations. It can range from anxiety from being in public and generally socializing. It could also be a specific, phobic reaction to public speaking.
If you’re experiencing an anxiety disorder, it’s best to seek professional treatment that addresses your unique needs.
Best Therapies to Treat Anxiety
The type of therapy employed for anxiety treatment depends on which of the five anxiety disorders a person has. On occasion, a combination of therapies can produce the best results. It is essential to work with a medical professional to understand which treatments will provide healing for you.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most common treatments for anxiety, no matter the disorder in question. It works to address a person’s negative patterns of thought and behavior that are the root cause of their anxiety. It relies on cognitive restructuring, or challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with positive lines of thinking.
Exposure Therapy
For many people, their anxiety may be triggered by specific situations or events. When that is the case, avoidance becomes common as people look to reduce their experience of negative emotions. However, this avoidance can come at a cost. For instance, someone who is terrified of public speaking may turn down their friend’s request to give a toast at their wedding and decide not to attend at all. Exposure therapy forces patients to confront the source of their anxiety through imaginative exercises or physical confrontation. Systematic desensitization, or the baby steps approach, is often part of exposure therapy to guide someone from their anxious reaction to a trigger.
TMS Therapy
TMS therapy is one of the latest anxiety treatment methods in the psychiatric profession. A medical professional will provide magnetic pulses to a patient’s brain to stimulate areas that influence the anxiety response. TMS therapy for anxiety can reduce anxiety symptoms and has no significant side effects. It is also can treat other mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder.
Learn More at South Tampa Psychiatry Today
South Tampa Psychiatry is equipped to provide you and your loved ones high-quality anxiety treatment. Our psychiatrists are experts in a range of therapies, including TMS therapy for anxiety. Your healing journey starts with us. Contact us today at 866.273.5017 to learn more.
