Anxiety: Psychotherapy Treatment Options Explored
Anxiety is an umbrella term that ranges from nerves before a big meeting, and escalating to a fear of leaving your home. With all of the difference labels anxiety brings, it can be overwhelming to embark on the process of self-care. Anxiety psychotherapy treatment options vary, and it is important to explore all of the options available, and ask the appropriate questions to get the care that's right for you. Here are a few of the main anxiety psychotherapy treatments options to help steer you on a path that is right for you.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is an anxiety psychotherapy treatment option that involves working one-on-one with a therapist who is able to help you identify the triggers for your anxiety, how anxiety manifests by what symptoms you struggle with, and the ability to then utilize coping strategies to help you decrease your symptoms. Individual therapy is beneficial no matter what stage of treatment you are working on. When you are first identifying symptoms of anxiety, it is helpful to have a therapist assist you with breathing exercises, strategies to elicit calming of the nerves, reassurance that you are not “going crazy” and that although your symptoms are very real, feeling that your heart will leap out of your chest, light-headed and/or dizzy, nauseous, having blurry vision, and tingling in your limbs are not life threatening when related to your anxiety. A therapist may also be able to help you identify the triggers for why these symptoms occur, which may seem like a daunting task when trying to solve this on your own while dealing with your physical and emotional symptoms. Individual therapy is also helpful when you are working on coping strategies, because they would be targeted specifically to your needs. You may also enjoy having the therapy session times carved out to air out your feelings in a confidential and comforting environment.
Support Groups
Support groups are designed with a specific topic in mind, with like-minded individuals meeting in a group setting with a therapist as a facilitator. Although group sizes, format, and topics vary by group, the idea is that an individual that is struggling can get assistance not only from a therapist, but by members going through the same thing you are. The benefit to this type of therapy is first and foremost the comforting feeling that you are not alone in what you are going through. When it comes to anxiety, physical and emotional symptoms can be frustrating when they are affecting your quality of life. By meeting members in different stages of their life with anxiety, you can hear stories to help motivate, “life hacks” or strategies for how they survived different aspects of their anxiety, and tools to utilize from people who experienced firsthand what you are going through. Another great aspect of support groups are working with others to demonstrate the tools that are explained by the therapist. Just like with a school project, having a “workout buddy”, having a team is a great way to motivate each other to stay on task and keep your focus on staying positive and pushing towards the goal of decreasing your anxiety.
Psychiatric Care
Psychiatrists are helpful to get affirmation that what you are feeling is real and that there a name, diagnosed by an MD to go with the struggle you are going through. A psychiatrist is specially trained to identify mental health concerns and can help you identify if psychotherapy, and or medication, would be the best approach towards treatment. Sometimes medication is indicated if you have tried psychotherapy and found it hard to utilize the skills learned in the therapy session because your symptoms were overtaking your ability to engage. Medication can be very helpful to supplement therapy. Psychotherapy and / or medication options are both available at The Center for Growth / Therapy in Philadelphia. If you are still unsure of which type of anxiety psychotherapy treatment option is right for you, feel free to call us for more information and assistance.
