Does therapy help anxiety?: Get the facts about anxiety.
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Does therapy help anxiety?: Get the facts about anxiety.

 

 

 

Anxiety disorders are quite common. Here are the answers to whether therapy can help.

 

 

Get a detailed look at the science, and discover whether therapy is right for you to manage and treat your anxiety.

 

 

 

What is Anxiety?

 

 

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common types of mental health issues. Nearly a third of those with an anxiety disorder will experience it across their lifespan. And for many people, anxiety disorders are chronic in nature; meaning that it comes, and goes, and comes again.

 

Unlike other mental illness issues, anxiety disorders can also start in young ages, with the most common age of onset being 11 years old.

 

Anxiety is more than just “nerves”, and if untreated, can be a risk factor to serious health ramifications.

 

Symptoms often include constant worry, racing throughs, chest pain, increased heart rate, disturbed sleep, irritability, and panic attacks.

 

People often can turn to substance abuse as a means of treating their mental health conditions, including anxiety.

 

According to one study “The prevalence rates of personality disorders in patients with anxiety disorders are high, with 35% in post traumatic stress disorder, 47% in panic disorder with agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorder, 48% in social phobia, and 52% in obsessive-compulsive disorder.”

 

When it comes to treating anxiety, the most common tools available are medication, and psychotherapy. 

 

In this article, we will answer the question “Does therapy help anxiety?

 

Learn more about individual therapy by clicking here.

 

 

What causes anxiety?

 

There are a myriad of reasons one may have anxiety ranging from the biological or the psychological. For some, it may be due to the neurological structure and functions in their brain. Areas of the brain that regulate anxiety, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, may be underdeveloped.

 

Conversely, parts of the brain that amplify anxiety, such as the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, may be too sensitive and reactive. 

 

Anxiety can also be the result of someone being in a chronic state of stress, unhealthy environments, or toxic relationships (such as abusive or codependent relationships). This can lead to a perpetual state of intense fear.

 

Specific to this article, we are going to focus more on the psychological causes of anxiety.

 

Just like every animal, we are wired to be aware of danger and to respond accordingly. Our anxiety mechanisms are simply acting on the things that were perceived to be a threat to us. Sometimes it is a literal threat, such as being fearful for our lives. Other times it is an abstract threat, like the fear of failure in our career.

 

Those with anxiety today may also have been experiencing anxiety for many years, due to the pervasive and chronic nature of anxiety disorders. 

 

For example, children who faced a lot of pressure to excel at home as a child, may have grown up to carry those same fears and pressures, leading to a chronically anxious state.

 

Someone that faced the sudden loss of a loved one at a young age may experience anxiety in romantic relationships years later. People that were bullied in school may avoid meeting new people later in life due to the anxiety and fear still carried inside.

 

There are countless reasons why someone may have severe anxiety.

 

 

What are the types of anxiety disorders?

 

Anxiety disorders describe a cluster of mental disorders that all have a common anxiety-related characteristic. Each type of anxiety disorder comes with it’s own mental health problems. Those include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Eating Disorders

Specific Phobias

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Panic Disorders

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)

 

 

Is there evidence that therapy helps treat anxiety?

 

There are numerous studies that show that therapy is an effective treatment for those struggling with anxiety. Therapy has shown to be effective, for both adults and children, and can be delivered effectively via individual therapy  or via a support group

 

Nick Wallace, therapist at ALL IN, argues “anxiety can be treated and should be taken seriously, and participating in therapy is a way to treat it seriously.”

 

There are a variety of types of therapies that have been proven to be effective as a treatment against anxiety disorders. These include Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness-based Therapies, Solution focused Therapy, and Gestalt Therapy to name a few. Many have found success in exposure therapy. 

 

The therapy you participate can be short term, long term, or happen in stages. 

 

Whatever the technique, it should be delivered by trained mental health professionals, or you run the risk of making the anxiety worse.

 

 

 

Can you be cured of anxiety?

 

The short answer: it depends. There is still much to learn about what causes one to become anxious and, and what cures or helps it.

 

As stated above, nearly 1 in 3 people with anxiety disorders will have it across their lifespan. However, this means that the majority of those that have an anxiety disorder will be able to alleviate themselves of anxiety permanently. 

 

There are many variables that go into determining whether your anxiety can be completely cured. This includes: the precipitating causes, your commitment to treatment, the therapist you work with, the level of severity, how long you have had anxiety, and the amount of support you have around you. 

 

Even if your anxiety cannot be cured, it almost certainly can be lessened.

 

People with chronic anxiety or panic disorders may report that the frequency of their panic attacks or anxiety attacks have become dramatically less frequent over time. This is partly due to their commitment to follow their therapist recommendations.

 

 

 

Can anxiety kill you?

 

While anxiety itself cannot kill you, chronic anxiety has been shown to decrease one’s length of life, and can increase one’s likelihood of serious accidents, or major illness such as heart failure.

 

It is not as if having anxiety will, itself, kill you. Instead, living with chronic, untreated anxiety will slowly wear away at your mind and your body, and increase your likelihood of early death.

 

This is why we at ALL IN take client’s anxiety symptoms very seriously and often recommend people to participate in individual therapy to focus and treat their anxiety.

 

 

When should I begin treatment?

 

It is best to get started working with a therapist on your anxiety once you believe that your life is being severely negatively affected by anxiety.

 

You could also consider working with our medical team to explore anxiety medication.

 

Beginning therapy should be a relatively easy process; it is here at ALL IN. Contact a local clinic or provider, make an appointment, complete the necessary paperwork, and follow the recommendations given. 

 

It is important to know that anxiety is something many people live with, and many people have been able to master. While some people experience a lot of anxiety, everyone experiences some. For those that have chronic and severe anxiety, getting help by a skilled therapist is a crucial step to wellness.

 

Learn more about ways to address your anxiety by through counseling.

 

 

Now what?

 

Feel free to reach out to us anytime to find a therapist for you. We’re here to set up your first appointment, or to answer any other questions you may have.

 

 

Disclaimer: ALL IN Therapy Clinic aims to improve people’s lives through providing effective mental health counseling by passionate professionals. We publish quality material for your own education. Our publications are researched, cited, reviewed, and edited by licensed mental health professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of a qualified healthcare provider.

Written and reviewed by

Dr Kyle Zrenchik, PhD, ACS, LMFT

Dr. Kyle Zrenchik is the Co-Founder of ALL IN, the Creator of the Couples Erotic Flow model for treating sexual issues in individuals and couples, Designer of the Deep Dive programs at ALL IN, and is one of the most well-respected couples counselors in the Twin Cities.