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Coping with Anxiety and Phobi... Health Article

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Making treatment work for you

Mental health disorders don't lend themselves to quick fixes, and anxiety is no exception. Although some treatments, especially the fast-acting benzodiazepines, can make you feel better almost overnight, this improvement shouldn't be mistaken for a cure. Anxiety is a chronic condition, which means that symptoms tend to wax and wane. Often, when people seem to have recovered from an anxiety disorder, the symptoms recur or another anxiety disorder develops. This doesn't mean that either you or your treatment has failed. It simply means that you need to resume treatment (if you've stopped the one you were on) or try a different one (if your current treatment has stopped working).

The nature of anxiety disorders can be frustrating, but there are several things you can do to get the most from your treatment and reduce the chances of a relapse. (For advice on helping a family member or friend with anxiety, see below).

When a loved one has anxiety

It's difficult to see a loved one distressed. But if someone you love has an anxiety disorder, there are several things you can do to help:

Encourage a loved one to get treatment and stick with it. Remind the person about taking medication and keeping therapy appointments.

Care for yourself. Being a caretaker is a difficult job. You may want to get counseling or therapy for yourself. The support of a group of people who are also caring for someone with anxiety can be invaluable. Several mental health organizations sponsor such groups (see "Resources") and provide information on anxiety disorders and the latest treatments.

Offer emotional support. Your patience and love can make a huge difference. Ask questions and listen carefully to answers. Try not to judge or minimize the other person's feelings, but offer hope. Suggest activities that you can do together, such as seeing a movie or going for a walk. Keep in mind that it takes time to get better.

Persist with treatment

The most important thing you can do is to stay with your treatment for as long as your doctor recommends. People often stop taking medication or attending therapy sessions too soon. Some halt treatment because they start to feel better and think they no longer need it. When symptoms return, they assume that the treatment was ineffective. Others stop taking medication when they develop side effects.

Whatever the reason, stopping medication or therapy too early reduces its effectiveness and increases the chances of a recurrence. Ask beforehand how long your treatment will last. If you experience unpleasant side effects, tell your doctor at once. He or she can often minimize the side effects by prescribing a different medication or offering other advice.

Learn to cope with stress

Reducing stress can help control symptoms of anxiety. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that stress-management techniques may even boost the effectiveness of therapy. There are many ways to reduce stress, including meditation, massage, and muscle relaxation. Listening to music and exercising are also effective stress-busters. Different methods work well for different people. What's important is that you find the method or combination of methods that works for you — and that you use it regularly.

When anxiety is related to a traumatic event in the news, one of the most important things you can to do is tune it out. In the weeks following the terrorist attacks in September 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the media were saturated with replays and updates of the tragedies. While the events naturally caused feelings of anxiety in many people, dwelling on the news made some people feel helpless and fearful. If an event dominates your thoughts or causes extreme upset or panic, it's time to turn off the TV and put down the newspaper. Limiting exposure to traumatic news is especially important for children, who have less experience with putting problems into perspective.