Every person knows what anxiety is.
You heart pounds as if it were to burst out of your chest during a major exam or a big presentation.
You find it difficult to breathe when you are about to meet with your boss.
You may feel jittery at an upcoming blind date.
You may be nauseous waiting for your turn at an interview.
All these things are normal.
The body has a way of facing stressful situations.
Anxiety is its natural response to danger.
It is an auto-alarm which goes on when we are threatened.
This is not a bad thing and there is no reason why you should unnecessarily fuss about treatment of anxiety disorders just because you got too jumpy on one occasion.
Your anxiousness shall never be classified as a disorder unless fears and worries start preventing you from living a normal life.
When you become excessively fearful of something, to the point of disrupting your normal routine, then you may be suffering from a disorder.
There are many kinds of anxiety disorders, however, all of them share one major symptom: a severe fear of situations that most people would not dread at all.
If you suspect that you have this condition, it would be wise to consult a doctor and learn about possible treatment of anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of this disorder may be classified into two: the physical and the emotional.
The former commonly includes sweating, palpitating, shortness of breath, upset stomach, fatigue, and insomnia.
The latter involves feelings or dread or apprehension, irritability, restlessness, poor concentration, and paranoia.
Treatment of anxiety disorders are generally divided into two: medication and psychotherapy.
The first one involves drugs like antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
They alleviate the severe symptoms so other forms of therapies may be effective.
The length of medication may vary from the severity of the condition and the person's response to treatment.
For disorders like phobias, medication may only be necessary from time to time, like when about to board on an airplane or speak in public.
However, for generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, cure by medication may require a longer period of time.
Treatment of anxiety disorders by medication is most effective when combined with the other type of treatment which is psychotherapy.
Patients who go through the combination of the two benefit from a significant symptom reduction and lower possibility of relapse.
Psychotherapy is farther divided into three: behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic therapy.
Behavioral Therapy -- This therapy seeks to change the patient's responses through techniques of relaxation like deep breathing and by gradual exposure to the phobia or frightening situation.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy -- This treatment helps the patient face the symptoms by focusing on his or her thoughts.
It helps the patient identify his or her negative thinking patterns and then challenge them.
The therapist leads the patient to change and overcome his or her irrational beliefs that fuel the anxiety.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy - This type of therapy is almost the same with psychoanalysis in the sense that it focuses on revealing the patient's unconscious.
Knowing the unconscious content of the patient's psyche may help alleviate psychic tension.
However, psychodynamic therapy is a less intensive.
Treatment of anxiety disorders may vary from one patient's need to another.
It is very important that professional advice is sought at the onset of any disorder to make sure that the problem is properly addressed.