Psychotherapy as treatment for Anxiety Disorders

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Once diagnosed, anxiety disorders can be effectively treated with a number of treatment

modalities. Among the two major treatment options employed are anti-anxiety medication and

psychotherapy. In this article, we will focus on psychotherapy as treatment for anxiety disorders.

Psychotherapy is a treatment modality in which the patient presents to a qualified psychologist.

The psychologist takes a detailed history of the mental issues being faced by the patient. The

psychologist employs various techniques of clinical psychology to assess and examine the

mental state of the patient. After a thorough assessment, the psychologist offers counseling and

advice to the patient to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety.

Psychotherapy is done for a number of mental or psychological conditions. This includes

primarily anxiety and depression. However patients of other associated disorders like

schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and a variety of other disorders

benefit a lot from psychotherapy as well. Psychotherapy aids the sufferers of anxiety in the

following ways:

• By understanding the nature of the symptoms of anxiety and what causes anxiety based

on derangement of thought and beliefs.

• By identifying the key issues leading to the symptoms of anxiety.

• By being considerate with the patient in understanding their problems and suggesting

remedial measures on how to get rid of anxiety.

• By educating the patients with stress-coping techniques and strategies.

There are varieties of techniques employed by psychotherapists to deal with anxiety disorders.

Some of the more practiced ones are described as follows:

Behavioral therapy

This form of psychotherapy focuses on behavior as either an outcome or determinant of anxiety

disorders. As such, it helps patients to manage their behaviors to ease out their anxiety

symptoms.

Cognitive therapy

This therapy is based on the notion that negative thought patterns are responsible for generating

the symptoms of anxiety and depression. As such, it helps the patients with managing their

thoughts to achieve anxiety relief.

Cognitive Behavioral therapy

Cognitive Behavioral therapy is one of the most advanced forms of psychotherapy which

combines the cognitive and behavioral therapies. Using both the techniques combined, a better

result is obtained especially for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.

Inter-personal therapy

This form of psychotherapy is based on the use of inter-personal relationships in managing

anxiety disorder symptoms.

Group therapy

It is a routine psychotherapy. The only difference is that instead of one on one discussion, the

therapist assembles a group of anxiety sufferers of anxiety disorders. They not only take the

benefit from the counselor, but also from each other to learn the coping strategies.

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Once diagnosed, anxiety disorders can be effectively treated with a number of treatment modalities. Among the two major treatment options employed are anti-anxiety medication and psychotherapy. In this article, we will focus on psychotherapy as treatment for anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy is a treatment modality in which the patient presents to a qualified psychologist. The psychologist takes a detailed history of the mental issues being faced by the patient. The psychologist employs various techniques of clinical psychology to assess and examine the mental state of the patient. After a thorough assessment, the psychologist offers counseling and advice to the patient to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety. Psychotherapy is done for a number of mental or psychological conditions. This includes primarily anxiety and depression. However patients of other associated disorders like schizophre ...
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