- The Mayo Clinic cites cognitive and behavior therapy (CBT) as a means of treating anxiety. It entails speaking to a trained counselor about your anxiety and working with him to find a cure. Cognitive therapy searches for the root of the condition and the negative beliefs that arose from it. It then teaches you better, more positive ways of thinking. Behavior therapy entails adaptive techniques to apply whenever the anxieties arise, helping you to respond to them better and maintain your emotional equilibrium. Different therapists utilize different techniques, and some may work better for you than others. The goal is not just to reduce the anxiety, but to resolve the fears and insecurities at the heart of it, thus allowing you to live a happier and more productive life.
- Holistic resources such as The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook recommend the use of breathing exercises to maintain a sense of calm when anxiety becomes overwhelming. Yoga classes can teach you more formal techniques, but an easy one can be applied in any situation. Find a quiet place such as an unused office or a sunny corner of your house. Close your eyes and focus all of your attention on your emotional sensations. Breath in deeply for 5 seconds, hold it for 5 seconds, breathe out for 5 seconds, hold it for 5 seconds and then repeat the process. Do this for 5 to 15 minutes while you concentrate on calming phrases such as "relax" and "don't worry."
- According to the Mayo Clinic, medication should not be viewed as a simple solution to the problem, but instead should be taken in conjunction with therapy, and then only on the recommendation of a doctor. It serves mainly to stabilize your emotional state and relieve the immediate symptoms while you seek more long-term solutions. Anti-anxiety medications include sedatives such as Valium, Xanax and Atvian. Some doctors may suggest antidepressants as well, which work by increasing the levels of serotonin in your brain. These include Prozac, Paxil and Effexor.
