Anxiety Treatment Altamonte Springs, FL

Benefits of Anxiety Treatment

Anxiety disorders can severely impair a person’s relationships and functioning at work, school, and social activities. Fortunately, they are treatable. The right anxiety treatment can help people effectively reduce or eliminate their symptoms. While there are different types of anxiety disorders, most respond well to the two main treatments, psychotreatment and medications. Often, patients can benefit from a combination of the two.

We tailor treatment plans to each patient’s unique needs. It may take some trial and error to determine which anxiety treatments are right for a client. Psychotreatment is also known as “talk treatment” and involves helping people change their way of thinking, behaving, and reacting so they feel less anxious. Patients can work with a therapist to learn healthy coping strategies and tools to deal with their anxiety. A psychiatrist can prescribe medications for anxiety.

Although they do not cure the disorder, medications such as antidepressants and sedatives can provide patients with significant relief. They work by balancing brain chemistry, preventing anxiety episodes, and stopping the most intense symptoms from occurring. Our team collaborates with patients to develop an individualized anxiety treatment plan that empowers them to overcome their symptoms and lead more manageable lives.

When to Seek Anxiety Treatment

Although some anxiety is healthy and normal, people with anxiety that results in distress or complications, such as secondary depression or alcohol abuse, can benefit from seeking treatment. Such severe anxiety can cause people to experience cognitive and physical symptoms, including an upset stomach, extreme sweating, rapid heart rate, and difficulty breathing. People with an anxiety problem requiring treatment may have trouble remembering, concentrating, and sleeping due to excessive stress.

Excessive avoidance behaviors and procrastination are also signs of an anxiety issue. People affected by this disorder may spend more time avoiding than taking action, needing outside treatment to overcome their disorder. Frequent panic attacks are also indicative of an anxiety disorder. If anxiety prevents a person from sleeping, working, interacting with others, or going about their daily activities, they should seek treatment as soon as possible.

What to Expect During the Treatment Process

People receiving treatment will attend sessions to learn tools and strategies for coping with anxiety in a healthy way. They should expect their first anxiety treatment session to differ from their future ones. The initial appointment is a time for the patient and therapist to get to know each other and make a plan for the future. This is a crucial part of determining whether the therapeutic partnership is a good match.

Patients should expect to answer questions regarding their reason for seeking anxiety treatment, their symptoms, how they experience anxiety, and their background and history. Our personalized approach to anxiety treatment means that the number and frequency of appointments will vary for each patient and their unique needs. We will work with each patient and take their symptom severity and personal preferences into account when determining the optimal number of sessions.

Follow-up Care

Typically, anxiety treatment involves having sessions about once or twice a week. Every patient has different needs, so the length of treatment will vary. Sessions often continue for about three to four months but can continue for longer, depending on the severity of the disorder and type of treatment. There is not a quick fix for anxiety, and overcoming it will take time and commitment. Once patients learn how to manage their symptoms effectively on their own, they may discontinue treatment. Our team will show patients how to incorporate healthier coping mechanisms for their anxiety in their daily lives outside of their sessions.

Some healthy coping mechanisms that can help people manage their anxiety include adopting healthy lifestyle habits, reducing stress, and socializing. Positive lifestyle changes such as exercising, taking up a hobby, or even taking a brisk walk can help people refocus their thoughts away from their worries and relieve tension and anxiety. It is also beneficial for people with anxiety to engage with others instead of isolating themselves from others and social interactions. Loneliness and isolation can increase a person’s vulnerability to anxiety disorders. We also recommend identifying stresses in life and looking for ways to reduce them.