Treatment And Recovery
Whatever your symptom, it's important not to self-diagnose. Your general practitioner
will want to order tests to rule out any physical cause for your
symptoms. Knowing your symptoms are caused by anxiety will help you accept
that even your most distressing symptoms is not evidence of
disease.
 Counselling includes a range of therapies and is tailored to
meet your
needs.
In the initial stages
your doctor may want to prescribe anti-anxiety medication (benzodiazepines or anti-depressants
with an anti-anxiety component). This can be useful for symptom
management while learning other management skills. However, one should be mindful of any addictive
properties and be guided by the advice of your doctor.
Some people who have been anxious for a long time can become
depressed. The symptoms of
depression can be a barrier to
working with anxiety effectively. It's difficult to maintain
focus and motivation while struggling with feelings of
helplessness and hopelessness. While many people don't like
taking medication due to side effects, these effects usually
settle down within the first month. You should always return to
your prescribing doctor if you have concerns or symptoms not
present prior to taking the medication.
A particular type of meditation called Mindfulness Meditation
is now also recognised as being a useful management tool.
Mindfulness teaches the skill of staying in the present moment,
first in meditation, then transferring those skills to daily
living.
Self Esteem
or lack thereof, plays a primary role in both
the development and course of anxiety and anxiety disorders.
Long-term recovery is possible by not only learning to manage
anxiety, but also by addressing the aspects of ourselves that
requiring healing.
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