Best Treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Ever wonder what the best treatments are for generalized anxiety disorder? Below is a brief description of the major forms of help available and some ideas on what types of combinations could be helpful.

1. Psychotherapy

There are a variety of psychotherapy and counseling approaches to anxiety. Some of focus on structure and problem-solving (cognitive-behavioral therapy known as CBT), and others deal with understanding the larger historical context of the problem and gaining insight (psychodynamic and existential therapies). Research has demonstrated that therapy is helpful for a range of people with generalized anxiety disorder, and although most research has focused on CBT since it is easy to study, all approaches can be helpful.

Types of treatment professionals

2. Medication

Drugs like Lexapro, Zoloft, and Celexa (SSRIs); Effexor and Cymbalta (SNRI), and Xanax (benzodiazepine) can help reduce the symptoms that people experience with more severe anxiety.

3. Self-Help Strategies

Finding things that you can do yourself can be very important for GAD treatment. Reading books, exercising, sharing with friends, writing, and meditating are just a few examples of things that can have significant positive effects for people with anxiety problems.

Self-help strategies for GAD

4. Combination

The ultimate GAD treatment strategy would be a combination of some of these elements. Some people combine therapy and self-help techniques, some combine medication and therapy, and others find a mix off all three. Since no technique is guaranteed to work for everyone, picking a few that you are comfortable with, and then adjusting when results start coming in, is a great way to make the most of your treatment.