| There is no 'one size fits all' approach to anxiety | | | | treatment plan. |
| disorder treatment. Just as there is no single cause for | | | | Only after all of this information has been evaluated, |
| this condition, there is no single treatment that suits | | | | will a treatment plan be drawn up. Studies have shown |
| everyone. For some people, treatment may only take | | | | that the best results have been obtained when the |
| a couple of weeks while for others it may take more | | | | treatment combines a number of approaches. The |
| than a year. For this reason, the first step in treating | | | | usual treatment options are cognitive-behavioral |
| this problem is that of devising a treatment plan | | | | therapy, medication, relaxation techniques and |
| specifically tailored to the individual seeking help. | | | | alternative therapies. |
| How is this done? First of all, the health care provider - | | | | By using a combination of these approaches and |
| whether they are the family doctor, a psychologist, a | | | | changing the plan as the patient responds means that |
| therapist, clinical social workers or a nurse - sits down | | | | curing anxiety disorder needn't take years. Medication |
| with the person and evaluates where the problem lies. | | | | should be used only as a temporary or emergency |
| Other causes must be ruled out and then information | | | | measure as the drugs used do have side effects. |
| about the patient's symptoms is gathered - what they | | | | That said, with proper management, drugs can help the |
| are and when they started. Then that person's life | | | | healing process by lessening the symptoms and |
| stressors and physical problems are taken into | | | | allowing the patient to deal with thinking and behavior |
| account as well as their family background and | | | | readjustment. |
| medical history. | | | | According to the American Psychological Association, |
| What can complicate matters a little is the fact that | | | | most patients following a treatment plan tailored to |
| people often suffer from more than one anxiety | | | | their needs can expect improvement within eight to ten |
| disorder or they may also suffer from depression. | | | | sessions. For some, this may be all it takes; for others |
| Anxiety disorder has also been shown to be | | | | it may take a little longer. What is important is that |
| connected to substance abuse. If this is the case, then | | | | successful treatment of anxiety disorders is possible |
| these problems also need to be addressed in the | | | | and no-one need suffer from them. |