If you live with anxiety, you may have wondered whether it will ever go away for good. It’s one of the most common questions people ask when they start therapy. The honest answer is hopeful, but it isn’t quite a yes or no.
Anxiety Itself Isn’t the Enemy
Some anxiety is a normal, healthy part of being human. It helps us prepare, stay alert and avoid danger. The goal of treatment isn’t to remove anxiety completely, which wouldn’t be possible or helpful. It’s to reduce anxiety that is excessive, persistent or getting in the way of your life.
What Treatment Can Do
Anxiety disorders are very treatable. Psychological therapies, especially cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), have strong research support for anxiety (Hofmann et al., 2012), and medication can also help for some people (Bandelow et al., 2017). Canadian clinical guidelines recommend CBT as a first-line treatment for many anxiety disorders (Katzman et al., 2014).
Many people who go through treatment experience a big reduction in symptoms, and some no longer meet criteria for an anxiety disorder at all. Others find that anxiety still shows up at times, but it no longer controls their choices. Both are meaningful outcomes.
Why “Management” Is a Good Word
Anxiety can return during stressful times, like a job change, a loss or the arrival of a baby. That doesn’t mean treatment failed. It means you’re human. The skills you learn in therapy, such as noticing anxious thoughts, calming your body and facing fears gradually, are skills you can use again whenever you need them.
What Helps Anxiety Improve
Understanding your anxiety. Learning how anxiety works can make it feel less mysterious and less frightening.
Facing fears gradually. Avoidance keeps anxiety going. Step-by-step exposure helps your brain learn that you can cope.
Working with thoughts. Noticing and questioning anxious predictions can reduce their power.
Looking after your body. Sleep, movement, regular meals and limiting caffeine and alcohol all affect anxiety.
Getting the right support. Therapy, and sometimes medication, can make a real difference.
When to Reach Out for Support
If anxiety is affecting your sleep, work, relationships or enjoyment of life, you don’t need to wait for it to get worse. A professional can help you understand what’s driving your anxiety and which approach is likely to help. If you’re considering medication, your family doctor is a good person to talk with. For more, see our post on normal anxiety versus an anxiety disorder.
References
Bandelow, B., Michaelis, S., & Wedekind, D. (2017). Treatment of anxiety disorders. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 19(2), 93-107.
Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427-440.
Katzman, M. A., Bleau, P., Blier, P., Chokka, P., Kjernisted, K., Van Ameringen, M., et al. (2014). Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the management of anxiety, posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorders. BMC Psychiatry, 14(Suppl 1), S1.
How Core Psychology Can Help
At Core Psychology, our clinicians offer anxiety therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and individual therapy, in person in Marda Loop, Calgary, and online across Alberta.
We offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to answer your questions and help you find the right fit. You can also reach us at info@corepsychology.com.
If you’re in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 any time, or call 911.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional assessment or therapy.
