Understanding Anxiety and Your Treatment Options
Author: Pia Carleson

Generally, we may all experience some level of emotional stress when we are faced with difficult challenges in our lives. Most of us are able to effectively cope with the various situations, circumstances and outcomes that we must deal with on a daily basis. Although for some, this may be a much more difficult task than it is for others.

Just as we are all unique in the way we perceive and interact with the world around us, the potential triggers that may cause emotional stress responses like anxiety and panic are also different for each individual. During moments of anxiety, people may experience racing or automatic thoughts as well as uncontrollable emotions and behaviors that manifest themselves as feelings of helplessness, worry or panic.

Unlike mild and transient forms of anxiety, which may be caused by specific events such as a presentation before a group of co-workers, financial stressors like paying bills or relationship issues with a spouse or family member, anxiety disorders are often diagnosed when they are determined to be chronic conditions.

Some of the more common forms of anxiety include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Social Phobia and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In many cases, the different types may co-occur, meaning that an individual experiences the symptoms of two or three different disorders. For example, people with Social Anxiety Disorder, or Social Phobia, which is characterized by feelings of embarrassment or humiliation in front of others, is closely associated with the symptoms of panic disorder, which manifest themselves as anxiety or panic attacks. Although the exact causes of anxiety are not yet understood, researchers believe that many factors may contribute to the disorder, including chemical (biological), environmental, psychological and behavioral ones.

Physicians typically prescribe prescription medications like SSRIs, SNRIs or MAOIs to “correct” chemical causes, often referred to as a chemical imbalance. Additionally, some may also prescribe sedatives such as Xanax (Alprazolam) or Valium (Diazepam), which are known to be highly addictive in certain individuals. The hope when prescribing these drugs is that they will help to re-balance specific neurotransmitters in the brain such as Serotonin, Norepinephrine and GABA.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), medications won’t cure an anxiety disorder, but they may help to keep the symptoms under control and enable those afflicted with anxiety disorder to experience an improved quality of life. Unfortunately, most doctors and patients consider prescription medications to be a one-stop treatment for anxiety disorders and related emotional stress responses. And some patients may cycle through an endless supply of drugs in an effort to combat the way they feel. Prescription drugs are simply not designed to change a person’s environment, their thought patterns, or their behaviors and they are usually just a part of a complete solution.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT as it is commonly called, is a well-established treatment option that’s designed to counteract the dysfunctional or “warpy” thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to an anxiety disorder. CBT is organized into two primary components: The cognitive, or thought process component, and the behavioral component.


From the cognitive side, CBT helps individuals to identify and then change the negative or dysfunctional thinking patterns that are keeping them from living their life to the fullest. People who experience GAD, for example, may use the cognitive component of CBT to identify irrational thinking patterns by providing positive (rational) evidence to counteract racing thoughts and anxiousness.

In another example, people who are diagnosed with Social Phobia often think that they are being judged by others and so they avoid social situations altogether. Both the cognitive and behavioral factors play important roles with this type of anxiety disorder since the person’s thinking patterns (e.g. they will think I’m stupid) as well as their behavioral responses (e.g. I just won’t go to the company function then) can be effectively treated.

The focus of the behavioral component of CBT seeks to change the way people react to anxiety-provoking situations. One example would be a sub-component known as exposure therapy, which involves the patient directly. Someone with social phobia may be asked to participate in social situations with specific goals in mind, such as having a one to two minute conversation with a complete stranger. Eventually, after an exercise like this has been performed throughout the course of treatment, anxiety in social situations begins to diminish because the individual has gradually been desensitized to it.

It is beneficial for individuals with anxiety disorder to remember that treatment usually takes time. Many people experience noticeable improvements following a period of three to six months of active participation in a wellness plan which includes a form of psychotherapy like CBT, a prescription medication, and/or a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) such as herbal/dietary supplements, physical activity such as walking, jogging or yoga, and other lifestyle changes.

With the help of a qualified physician, psychologist, counselor, CAM practitioner or therapist, a person with anxiety related disorder can find long lasting relief from this debilitating condition.







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Pia Carleson is a wellness advisor for Medicor Labs Corp., a health and wellness company specializing in emerging CAM therapies. Learn more about emotional wellness and feeling better at http://www.clarocet.com .

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