Anxiety Treatments Near Me

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FAQs:

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal stress reaction. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. It can help you to cope. The anxiety may give you a boost of energy or help you focus. But for people with anxiety disorders, the fear is not temporary and can be overwhelming.

What is the Best Treatment for Anxiety?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. Generally a short-term treatment, CBT focuses on teaching you specific skills to improve your symptoms and gradually return to the activities you've avoided because of anxiety. CBT includes exposure therapy, in which you gradually encounter the object or situation that triggers your anxiety so you build confidence that you can manage the situation and anxiety symptoms.

Can CBT Cure Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Self-help courses for GAD are usually based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. CBT is one of the most effective treatments for GAD. If these initial treatments don't help, you'll usually be offered more intensive CBT where you usually have weekly sessions with a therapist for 3 to 4 months, or another type of therapy called applied relaxation or medication.

What are the Best Dementia Anxiety Treatments?

For many people, the symptoms of mild to moderate anxiety or depression can be eased without medical treatment. The following may help:

1. physical exercise

2. relaxation exercises

3. a healthy, balanced diet

4. talking therapy, eg cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or counseling

5. mindfulness

6. alternative therapies, eg acupuncture, reflexology, or herbal remedies

Generally, these strategies are more effective in the early to middle stages of dementia – people in the later stages may find it hard to engage with them. In some cases – for example, if the strategies above have not helped or the person’s anxiety or depression are more severe – medication such as antidepressants may help. These may also be prescribed for the symptoms of frontotemporal dementia.

When Should I Get Anxiety Treatment?

No matter what type of anxiety disorder you have, anxiety can imprison you in a world of irrational fear, void of hope, and full of a sense of impending doom. Although everyone experiences stress and anxiety to some degree, it’s time to seek professional help when your anxiety:

1. Interferes with personal or professional relationships

2. Creates persistent sleep issues

3. Affects your ability to concentrate

4. Stops you from doing the things you enjoy

5. Fosters a sense of self-loathing or a feeling of worthlessness

6. Isolates you from others

7. Causes you to have suicidal thoughts

What is the Best Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder?

The most common treatment for social anxiety disorder includes psychotherapy (also called psychological counseling or talk therapy) medications or both. Psychotherapy improves symptoms in most people with social anxiety disorder. In therapy, you learn how to recognize and change negative thoughts about yourself and develop skills to help you gain confidence in social situations. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective type of psychotherapy for anxiety, and it can be equally effective when conducted individually or in groups.

What are the different Postpartum Anxiety Treatments?

Postpartum anxiety, just like postpartum depression, is treatable. There are several options available, so you and your doctor can talk together to find out which is the right one for you. 

For milder cases of postpartum anxiety, your doctor will suggest some ways that can help you relax at home. One thing is to try and get more sleep and support. If you have family members or a partner to whom you can hand your baby off for a short period, taking that time to get some rest is really important. You could also join a new parent group for support and to help with the isolation that sometimes comes with new parenthood.

For more serious cases of postpartum anxiety, your doctor might recommend talk therapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is effective when it comes to treating anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Some new parents may also need medication to treat their anxiety, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These are the most common medications used to treat anxiety disorders. Many new parents report that these medications are most effective when combined with therapy to treat their postpartum anxiety and depression.

What is the Average Cost of Common Anxiety Medication Treatment?

The average cost of a 30-day supply of anxiety medication will vary based on your insurance coverage, your dosing, which medication you are on, and which pharmacy you use. The retail price of most anxiety medications is typically a few hundred dollars a month. But with the help of coupon codes and generic options, the cost can be significantly lowered to a more affordable price, typically under $50 per month, with the majority under $10.

How Much Does CBT Cost for Anxiety?

The cost of CBT can range from nothing to hundreds of dollars per session. Generally speaking, if you are receiving CBT through a mental health clinic or hospital-based program, it may be free or low-cost depending on your financial situation. If you are seeing a private therapist, the cost can range from $50 to $250 per session depending on their level of expertise and location.

In addition to the cost of individual sessions, there may also be additional fees associated with CBT treatment such as assessment costs, materials fees, and travel expenses if you are seeing a therapist who is not located in your area. Some therapists offer sliding scale fees based on income level or payment plans that make it easier to afford treatment.

Additionally, some insurance companies cover at least some of the costs associated with CBT treatment so it is important to check with your provider before making any decisions. If they do cover part or all of the costs, make sure to get a list of approved providers in your area that accept your insurance plan.

Does Insurance Cover Anxiety Treatments?

Yes, commercial health insurance policies usually cover anxiety therapy expenses and treatment services, including psychotherapy, medication, and inpatient and outpatient care. Your coverage depends on your policy and typically includes deductibles and copayments. Your plan may also cover medication management and psychiatric evaluations.

However, coverage levels and out-of-pocket costs vary significantly. Policies may have different coverage levels for in-network and out-of-network care. To fully understand your financial obligations, it’s essential to verify your insurance coverage and determine if pre-authorization is needed. We encourage you to call us today and speak with one of our admission specialists, who can verify your insurance coverage, help estimate your out-of-pocket costs, and answer any questions about anxiety therapy and treatment.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Several types of anxiety disorders exist:

1. Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and often avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed.

2. Anxiety disorder due to a medical condition includes symptoms of intense anxiety or panic that are directly caused by a physical health problem.

3. Generalized anxiety disorder includes persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about activities or events — even ordinary, routine issues. The worry is out of proportion to the actual circumstance, is difficult to control, and affects how you feel physically. It often occurs along with other anxiety disorders or depression.

4. Panic disorder involves repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). You may have feelings of impending doom, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a rapid, fluttering, or pounding heart (heart palpitations). These panic attacks may lead to worrying about them happening again or avoiding situations in which they've occurred.

5. Selective mutism is a consistent failure of children to speak in certain situations, such as school, even when they can speak in other situations, such as at home with close family members. This can interfere with school, work, and social functioning.

6. Separation anxiety disorder is a childhood disorder characterized by anxiety that's excessive for the child's developmental level and related to separation from parents or others who have parental roles.

7. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) involves high levels of anxiety, fear, and avoidance of social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness, and concern about being judged or viewed negatively by others.

8. Specific phobias are characterized by major anxiety when you're exposed to a specific object or situation and a desire to avoid it. Phobias provoke panic attacks in some people.

9. Substance-induced anxiety disorder is characterized by symptoms of intense anxiety or panic that are a direct result of misusing drugs, taking medications, being exposed to a toxic substance, or withdrawal from drugs.

10. Other specified anxiety disorders and unspecified anxiety disorders are terms for anxiety or phobias that don't meet the exact criteria for any other anxiety disorders but are significant enough to be distressing and disruptive.

Different Levels of Anxiety

Levels of anxiety can be influenced by personality, coping strategies, life experiences, and gender. Anxiety levels are typically classified by the level of distress and impairment experienced into four categories: mild anxiety, moderate anxiety, severe anxiety, and panic-level anxiety.

1. Mild Anxiety

Although often described as sub-clinical or clinically non-significant, mild anxiety can impact emotional, social, and professional functioning. Mild anxiety symptoms may present as social anxiety or shyness and can be experienced in early childhood through to adulthood. If left unaddressed, mild anxiety can lead to maladaptive coping strategies or more severe mental conditions.

2. Moderate Anxiety

People with moderate levels of anxiety have more frequent symptoms than those with mild anxiety but still have better daily functioning than someone with severe anxiety or panic disorder. For example, people with moderate anxiety may report experiencing symptoms such as feeling on edge, being unable to control their worrying, or being unable to relax for several days or the majority of days in a week, but not every day. Although moderate anxiety symptoms are disruptive, people with moderate anxiety may have success in managing their anxiety with the help of a doctor or self-help strategies.

3. Severe Anxiety

Severe anxiety is intensely debilitating, and symptoms of severe anxiety meet key diagnostic criteria for clinically significant anxiety disorder. People with severe anxiety typically score higher on scales of distress and lower on functioning. Severe anxiety symptoms also frequently co-occur with major depression, which can contribute to greater disability. Symptoms of severe anxiety are frequent and may include increased heart rate, feelings of panic, and social withdrawal. These symptoms can result in loss of work and increased health care costs. In addition, individuals with severe anxiety may turn to alcohol and drugs as a means to cope with their symptoms.

4. Panic Level Anxiety

Panic level anxiety, or panic disorder, is characterized by frequent, recurring, and unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack can include symptoms such as:

- Rapid onset of extreme fear

- Heart palpitations

- Rapid breathing

- Nausea or dizziness

- Fear of death

Panic attacks usually last around 10 minutes. The triggers for panic attacks vary from person to person, and the cause of an attack may be familiar to a person or unknown.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

1. Feeling nervous, restless, or tense

2. Having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom

3. Having an increased heart rate

4. Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)

5. Sweating

6. Trembling

7. Feeling weak or tired

8. Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry

9. Having trouble sleeping

10. Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems

11. Having difficulty controlling worry

12. Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are like other forms of mental illness. They don’t come from personal weakness, character flaws, or problems with upbringing. However, researchers don’t know exactly what causes anxiety disorders. They suspect a combination of factors plays a role:

1. Chemical imbalance: Severe or long-lasting stress can change the chemical balance that controls your mood. Experiencing a lot of stress over a long period can lead to an anxiety disorder.

2. Environmental factors: Experiencing a trauma might trigger an anxiety disorder, especially in someone who has inherited a higher risk of starting.

3. Heredity: Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. You may inherit them from one or both parents, like eye color.

Three Categories of Anxiety Treatment

Depending on the type of anxiety, self-help and alternative therapies can be helpful. They can be used alone or combined with physical and psychological treatments. A thorough assessment by your doctor is needed to decide on the best combination of treatments for you. Here are the 3 broad categories of anxiety treatment:

1. Psychological treatments (talking therapies)

2. Physical treatments (medications)

3. Self-help and alternative therapies

Different Psychological Anxiety Treatments

Psychological treatments can be one-on-one, group-based, or online interactions. Psychological treatments are sometimes called ‘talking therapies’ as opposed to ‘chemical therapies’ (i.e. medications). Talking therapies can help us change habits in the way we think, and cope better with life’s challenges. They can help us address the reasons behind our anxiety, and also prevent anxiety from returning. There are a wide range of psychological treatments for anxiety, including:

1. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

2. Exposure Therapy (behavior therapy)

3. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

4. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

5. Positive Psychology

6. Psychotherapies

7. Counseling

8. Narrative Therapy

Some of the above treatments can be accessed online. Evidence-based online treatments can be as effective as face-to-face treatments. These online treatments are often referred to as e-mental health programs.

Psychological therapies are the most effective treatment for anxiety and relapse prevention over the long term. Sometimes, however, medication can be helpful when working together with psychological therapies.

Self-Help Anxiety Treatments

When a person has anxiety, recognizing the symptoms and taking steps to manage the condition without medical assistance is often the first course of action. Here are some strategies a person can also use to cope with anxiety include:

1. Managing triggers that can lead to stress, such as keeping an eye on work pressures and deadlines, organizing daunting tasks in to-do lists, and taking regular time off from professional or educational obligations.

2. Using relaxation techniques, such as deep-breathing exercises, long baths, mindfulness meditation, yoga, and resting in the dark.

3. Maintaining a support network by talking with family members, friends, or a support group and avoiding storing up anxious feelings, as this can worsen anxiety disorders.

4. Getting regular physical exercise, which can improve self-image and trigger the release of chemicals in the brain that stimulate positive emotions.

5. Reducing or limiting the consumption of alcohol and other recreational drugs, including nicotine, caffeine, and cannabis.

6. Getting at least 6 hours of sleep a night, which may make a person 2.5 times less likely to experience mental distress.

7. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet that includes nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B.

Benefits of Anxiety Treatment

As anxiety is a common mental health condition, many people will go through life with an untreated condition. The symptoms and severity of the condition can also be wide-ranging. In some cases, anxiety can feel like a bit of nervousness, and in other cases, it can come in the form of a full-on panic attack that mimics a heart attack. One of the biggest benefits of anxiety treatment is learning to recognize the signs and get ahead of symptoms that can escalate.

Oftentimes, anxiety disorders come along with co-occurring disorders, especially substance abuse. This is because so many people are unaware they have an anxiety disorder and try to self-medicate to “fix” the way they are feeling. Through a combination of therapies unique to each client, anyone suffering from anxiety can benefit from treatment. Benefits include:

1. Awareness and Education

Learning how to manage your condition is one of the keys to anxiety treatment. Many people live full and successful lives managing their anxiety. Therapy allows you to work with professionals and peers to develop new skills and coping techniques that you can take with you through life.

2. Improved Self-Confidence

Being able to face challenges head-on and feel confident regardless of the anxiety you may be feeling is a huge accomplishment. Therapy helps people rebuild relationships, address traumas, overcome hurdles, and become more confident in their abilities.

3. A Better Quality of Life

Anxiety can cause those who suffer from it to remove themselves from situations that make them anxious. Unfortunately, this limits them in how they can live their lives to the fullest. It can cause reclusiveness, ruin relationships, and affect work and school. Anxiety treatment will help you to live the life you are meant to live. Treatment enables you to manage your anxiety so that it doesn't get the best of you.

Anxiety Treatment Program

An anxiety treatment program can include several therapies in a treatment plan that is customized for your unique needs. Therapies can include:

1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

2. Traditional talk therapies

3. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)

4. Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR)

5. Experiential therapies like yoga and animal-assisted therapies

Anxiety is very treatable, you just need to take the first step and seek treatment. Therapies, in combination with lifestyle changes and coping strategies, will ensure that anxiety can be well-managed for the long term.

How to Find an Anxiety Therapist Near Me

Although the process of finding an anxiety therapist will not be easy, the benefits of entering into therapy with a qualified professional are great. Below are some steps to help you find an anxiety therapist in your area.

1. Contact Your Insurance Provider

If you plan to use your insurance to pay for therapy, you may need to select a therapist who is part of your insurance plan. The best first step is to contact your insurance provider for a list of therapists that are in your plan's network. Once you have the list, narrow it down to those who provide treatment specifically for anxiety disorders and SAD. If there are a lot of choices, see if your family doctor might be able to help by recommending a specific therapist on the list.

2. Pick up the Phone

If there is a large clinic in your area, they likely have therapists on staff that treat anxiety disorders. If you are comfortable, call their offices and ask whether anyone on staff treats SAD.

If you aren't comfortable making phone calls yourself to locate a therapist, enlist the help of a friend or family member to call on your behalf.

3. Search Online

There are several online directories to connect you with therapists near you. Sources like the American Psychological Association's ​Psychologist Locator or the Anxiety and Depression Association of America's Find a Therapist Directory are great because you can click on different filters to find therapists that meet your criteria. Both websites also provide resources for people living with anxiety.

4. Shop Around

Once you have located a therapist and gone to your first few sessions, remember that your treatment process is still unfolding. Even though a therapist may be trained to treat SAD, they may not be a good fit for you. If you are having trouble opening up to your therapist, or feel like your concerns aren't being addressed, you may need to re-evaluate. It's OK to shop around until you find a therapist who is the right fit for you.

Sources:

Medline Plus

Mayo Clinic

The Recovery Village

Cleveland Clinic

Very Well Mind

NHS

Black Dog Institute

Medical News Today

Plymouth Psych Group

San Antonio Recovery Center

Dementia UK

Klarity

Medium

AMFM Treatment

WebMD