If one medication is not effective, others can be tried. New medications are currently under development to treat anxiety symptoms. Behavioral therapy focuses on changing specific actions and uses several techniques to stop unwanted behaviors. In addition to the behavioral therapy techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients to understand and change their thinking patterns so they can react differently to the situations that cause them anxiety. It is common for an anxiety disorder to accompany depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, or another anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders can also co-exist with physical disorders.
In such instances, the accompanying disorders will also need to be treated. Before beginning any treatment, however, it is important to have a thorough medical examination to rule out other possible causes of symptoms. Fear and anxiety are a necessary part of life. Whether it's a feeling of anxiety before taking a test or a feeling of fear as you walk down a dark street, normal anxiety can be protective and stimulating. Instead, their lives are filled with overwhelming anxiety and fear that can be intense and crippling.