There are many types of anxiety disorders and each one has to be treated differently. This means that people with different anxiety problems might need to try out different ways to treat them before finding the right ones for their respective issues.
1. CBT Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most popular and highly effective treatments for a wide range of psychological issues. It uses two elements: — Cognitive Restructuring: the process of identifying and changing unhelpful thinking styles that might be leading to emotional problems, such as unrealistic expectations or black-and-white thinking; and — Exposure Techniques: a gradual exposure to the feared object or situation, so that an individual can learn that they are not actually dangerous. Like, for example, CBT for anxiety has been proven in controlled studies to drastically reduce symptoms of all forms. This makes it easier for people experiencing this disorder.
2. Meditation And Mindfulness Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Therapy works through teaching people to be attentive to their thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and the surrounding environment exactly as they are without feeling the need to react to them; it has been shown to help with all sorts of mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Meditation is essentially a physical exercise that trains attention; meditation techniques include focusing on an object like breathing or relaxing sounds (such as waves), practice mindful yoga postures, practice awareness of daily activities or train attention through intentional movement exercises like tai chi or QI gong. Through regular practice of these meditation techniques over time, people learn not just how to focus better but also about their own thought processes and feelings, which can help them build a sense of self and real confidence.
3. Self-Help Books
Self-help books are not only a practical starting point towards overcoming anxiety, but there is also an abundance of practical information on anxiety that can be found in them. The problem with self-help books is that simply reading through it might not be enough to stop the symptoms of anxiety; this form of treatment requires some form of action by the individual, so they can actually resolve their issues. They are best used as a support mechanism for more active treatments like counselling or CBT, rather than actual standalone solutions.
4. Relaxation Exercises
Relaxation exercises are the simplest way to treat mild forms of stress and anxiety. They include a variety of techniques such as breathing exercises, visualization exercises (imagining calming scenes like green fields or relaxing by the beach), meditation (like mindfulness), massage, yoga, and tai chi. All these exercises work by teaching people how to relax their body and mind; some even work with biofeedback to improve the effectiveness of the treatment.
5. Neurolinguistic Programming
Neurolinguistic Programming is an early form of therapy that uses different forms of communication about thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to influence positive change; this has been shown to be effective for treating people with all sorts of problems, including anxiety. This form of therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts and actions are influenced by different neural pathways in the brain; by changing the ways we communicate about these aspects, it is possible to influence a change in behavior. In this way, NLP works as a mechanism for treating symptoms of anxiety without specifically treating them as symptoms of anxiety.
6. Group therapy
Group therapy is a form of talking therapy that usually involves between 5-20 people attending sessions to problem-solve, learn about different treatments and develop ways of coping with their issues. A therapist acts as facilitator for the session, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunity to share their stories and participate in discussions, while also taking time to focus on individuals if they are struggling more than the rest. Group therapy has been shown to be particularly beneficial for treating social anxiety because it allows people who are shy or have trouble expressing themselves an opportunity to speak up without being judged by others.
7. Exposure Therapy
Exposure Therapy is based on the idea that people with anxiety try to avoid anything that causes them fear and anxiety, which only makes their feelings of anxiety stronger. The treatment involves exposing the person to these situations until they learn how to cope with them enough, so it no longer creates an issue for them. It works by teaching people how to stop reacting compulsively or excessively to triggers by halting the urge at its source; this way they will not rely on short-term solutions like avoidance.
It is important that you do not attempt this form of therapy without medical supervision because it can cause severe reactions if done incorrectly. For example, there is a chance that attending crowded places could trigger panic attacks in sensitive individuals unless the individual has already learned how to manage their symptoms before attempting exposure therapy.
8. Virtual reality therapy
Virtual Reality Therapy is a relatively new form of treatment that uses computer software to create virtual worlds that can be used to treat phobias like spider or heights. These programs are created for people with anxiety, so they can gradually expose them to what causes them fear, while still in a safe environment where the person has control over their feelings. The computer program will usually monitor the level of fear and anxiety each one shows, which it uses along with the person’s responses to progressively increase levels until they reach their goal.
How many people suffer from anxiety?
According to a report published by the World Health Organization, about 800 million people suffer from anxiety worldwide. This is approximately 13% of the global population. Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and phobias, are the most common mental illness in young people. Young people between 18-24 years of age experience anxiety at twice the rate of older adults (45% versus25%).
Summary
Anxiety is a common mental illness that can greatly affect quality of life. There are many ways to treat anxiety, each focusing on the root cause of the issue in order to provide long-term relief. If you find yourself experiencing this disorder, it is important to visit a doctor or therapist, so they can recommend the best form of treatment for you personally.