Two better solutions are counseling and prescription medication. Counseling can help the sufferer to gain insight into the causes of his or her anxiety. Such understanding can be very helpful, but there is not always a specific cause. At least, in those situations, a counselor can teach relaxation techniques and coping strategies. Prescription anti-anxiety medications are often useful adjuncts to counseling.
Benzodiazepines cause rapid relaxation.
Unfortunately they can also cause drowsiness and decreased coordination. They can be very dangerous when mixed with alcohol. Rarely, they are addictive, but to put this into perspective they are less addictive than alcohol. SSRI's were actually developed as antidepressants but they were discovered to be effective anti-anxiety agents. They are very safe, but need to be taken every day to prevent anxiety.