What Therapy is Best for Anxiety?

Which Type of Therapy is Best for Anxiety?

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in the US. It affects roughly 19% of the total U.S adult population, and 31% of teenagers aged between 13 and 18, according to a study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health. 

In this article, we will look at common anxiety disorders, and what treatments are available.

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Common Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety manifests in different forms, with some disorders seen more than others. The most common forms of anxiety include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) 

GAD is characterized by constant fear and worry that can relate to a wide range of issues but occurs without the presence of a specific or defined threat. 

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 

PTSD is a condition that occurs after a person experiences or witnesses a stressful, distressing or frightening event. The person with PTSD may relive the event through flashbacks and nightmares. The symptoms can be severe, and cause detriment to their daily life.  

• Phobias

These are intense, irrational fears of a specific activity, place, situation or object. 

• Panic disorder

This condition can trigger sudden and frequent panic attacks, sometimes severe in nature.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

OCD causes an individual to experience obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. This can happen frequently, with unwanted or unpleasant thoughts repeatedly entering your mind.

• Social anxiety disorder (SAD)

SAD is characterized by a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations. It can be very distressing and have a serious impact on a person’s day-to-day life. 

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Anxiety Therapy – How Does it Work?

The aim of therapy is to:

• Help a person understand their thoughts and feelings
• Identify potential triggers that lead to harmful thoughts and behaviors
• To positively change their reaction to these triggers 

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Different Forms of Anxiety Therapy

Given the broad spectrum of anxiety disorders, the treatments also differ significantly, so the best therapy for anxiety is highly dependent on your specific needs.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This form of therapy is the most commonly used in anxiety disorders, particularly SAD, phobias, panic disorders and GAD. Its purpose is to identify, understand and replace negative thinking with effective coping mechanisms. 

A CBT therapist acts as a coach and helps their client to develop helpful strategies. It discourages all-good, all-bad, black-and-white thinking. You are taught that there are many shades of reality between these pillars. 

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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

DBT is based on CBT. It is a talking therapy, and it has been adapted for those who feel extremely intense emotions. It is particularly useful for PTSD. With DBT, a person learns to accept their anxiety whilst taking active steps to change it. With DBT, there is a key focus on mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and emotional regulation.

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Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

This form of psychotherapy focuses on the relief of symptoms by working on interpersonal functioning, particularly in social roles and relationships. It helps a person to express emotions in a healthy way, and to improve their communication skills with others. 

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Take Our Quiz

For anxiety disorder therapy, Westchester Therapy want to make sure that you’re matched with the right therapist for your needs. If you’re struggling with feelings of anxiety, we encourage you to take back control and reach out for support. 

We have created a simple quiz that takes less than five minutes to complete. We will use your answers to better understand who you are and what you are looking for so we can match you with a top-ranked anxiety therapist in Westchester, NY. Click here to take the quiz. 

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