The best treatment for anxiety usually is a combination of medication and psychotherapy. However, it is often difficult to find a successful treatment right away, and you will likely have to try different combinations before you find the one that works for you.
Medication often used to treat anxiety include:
Benzodiazepines
Buspirone
Antidepressants
Benzodiazepines are not a standard option, but doctors sometimes prescribe them. It’s important to note that they are habit-forming sedatives for many individuals. If your doctor does decide to prescribe them, it will be for short-term use only. If you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, let your doctor know as you should avoid taking this medication.
Buspirone is a medication made explicitly for the treatment of anxiety. This is a type of antidepressant that you will need to take daily and long-term. It may not produce results for a few weeks.
Antidepressants, such as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are among the choice to treat anxiety. Specific medications doctors may prescribe, include venlafaxine, escitalopram, and duloxetine.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy approach that often works best for anxiety treatment. This type of talk therapy or counseling will help you learn skills for dealing with anxiety and the things that trigger it. If you have been avoiding certain things due to anxiety, you will learn through therapy how to overcome these symptoms and incorporate the activities back into your daily life.
To help you determine if you have symptoms of an anxiety disorder, take Monarch’s 2-minute, free anxiety quiz.
Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.