COPING WITH ANXIETY

I need help now... can't you give me a pill?

The truth is, most of the sedatives (Valium, klonopin, Ativan & Xanax) are actually making your anxiety worse, and making it harder to treat. Curing anxiety means learning new coping skills. If you have been taking these medications for any length of time, you may have already noticed your need for medication increasing. This puts you at increased risk for addiction.

Why did my doctor give me those pills if they are dangerous?

Many primary care doctors don't realize how dangerous these pills can be- they only notice that patients stop complaining. To them it looks like the medications cure anxiety. It's only later when the patient begins to complain again that they refer them to a psychiatrist.

Surely a psychiatrist wouldn't prescribe them if they are addictive!

Unfortunately, they do. Only a small fraction of psychiatrists have specialized training in treating anxiety disorders. Most times, they prescribe what keeps patients "happy," forcing them to come in regularly for refills.

So then, whom should I see?

The best treatment for anxiety is a combination of CBT and medications. A psychiatrist with specialized training in the treatment of anxiety disorders is probably your best bet. If you are sure that you don't want medication, then you can see any therapist who has extra training in CBT for anxiety disorders.

If you are already taking sedatives and/or sleeping pills, then you need to see a psychiatrist who is trained in both managing anxiety disorders and treating addiction.

It sounds like a lot of work...what are my chances of getting better?

Combining antidepressants with psychotherapy works in 80% of cases. If you have become dependent on sedatives or sleeping pills, the treatment is longer and more complicated. If you work at it, you will succeed.

To Schedule a Consultation, Please Call 310-593-4827

Anxiety Feels Terrible ...

and it should!

Anxiety is a mammalian response to choice. All mammals experience anxiety when they face choices. It's what keeps them alive.

Unfortunately, our lives are filled with choices but very few of them are life and death decisions. That doesn't stop our brains from treating them as if they are.

Once you identify the choice and make it, the anxiety disappears. Sometimes the wrong choices end up creating a whole new set of problems.

Good treatment for anxiety disorders combines Cognitive Therapies and, if you choose, medications to help you manage your symptoms effectively.

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