Anxiety Treatments

[Anxious Frank]

OK team, I searched for it and couldn't find one, so it's time for a list of anxiety treatments.

I'll get us started, but please send in what you've tried and tell us if it's helped or not.

CBT
Drugs
Relaxation


As we post in this topic I'll update the list as we go along. Feel free to leave opinions on the different treatment methods too!

[squirt]

I would say all three have their place in treating anxiety disorders. CBT was what worked for me, but all the relaxation and breathing exercises were helpful too. Drugs are also helpful for many people, but far too often imo people want to solely rely on them and I think that is a bad decision. I think you need to learn coping skills to gain some control over your anxieties and that's why CBT and relaxation help more imo.

[trackstar]

I was in a cbt group and it has been working wonders for me. I still am doing the TEA form exercise and feel like I am still making more progress.

[helpmarcproject]

I can tell you that I have spent hundreds on the Lucinda Bassett program offered through the MidWest Center and want you to know that there is far greater resources for cheap or free. They all mention the same things in general, the bottom line is you must feel comfortable with your treatment plan. Might I suggest a cheap article, "5 Steps Lucinda Won't Tell You" offered through a website called Going Bananas: Don't Slip on the Anxiety. A google search should lead you to the article. Good luck.

[trackstar]

I hate all the commercialized versions of CBT that over charge you and complicate the treatment process. I was in a CBT group and we used the book by Sam Obitz which is focussed on a few necessary CBT exercises and it is changing my life. After the group was over my counselor said that if people do not need the hand holding and prodding provided in groups they could simply buy the book we used or any good CBT book and find major relief in a matter of four to six months. Thx for the article I'm gonna check it out because several people in my group were previously fooled by the marketing glitz and promises from Lucinda Bassett's program as well as the Linden method. Don't waste your money people!!!

[Beachgirl]

I'm with you trackstar. A lot of those commercialized versions try to force too much info on you and make it more confusing (and over charge you) rather than the old acronym KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). I'm living my life so much better thanks to my CBT group and my continued use of the TEA form exercise. CBT has taught me how to live my life without all the debillitating fears.

[trackstar]

KISS is best :tongue:

[fernandogress]

You have done an great job.Thanks...Anxiety disorders are responsive to counseling and to a wide variety of psychotherapies. During the past several decades, there has been an increasing enthusiasm for focused, time-limited therapies that address ways of coping with anxiety symptoms directly, rather than exploring unconscious conflict or other personal lnerabilities.

[tmays]

I was in a cbt group and from the very first session they told us that getting better was up to us and that all they were doing was exposing us to the exercises that could help us and encouraging us to do them but the real work the doing of the exercises that would make us better was up to us. Now that its over I can say they were right. I learned to help myself and that gave me even more confidence going forward. I learned that when anxiety strikes me all I have to do is catch the thoughts that are causing my anxiety and then counter them in a tea form and get on with my life.

[trackstar]

Great points Fernando and Tmays. People need to know there are alternatives to what the Pharm industry says.