CBT and especially group therapy for children may even help people with post-traumatic stress disorder. CBT works on the principle that the thoughts that produce and maintain anxiety can be recognized objectively and altered using various techniques, thereby changing the behavioral response and eliminating the anxiety reaction. The goal is to regain control of reactions to stress and stimuli, thus reducing the feeling of helplessness that often accompanies anxiety disorders. Treatments are equally effective in men and women.
Anxiety disorders are chronic, however, and recurrence is common.
Medications, then, are also generally recommended for most patients. There may be exceptions. Basic Cognitive Therapy Techniques . Treatment usually takes about 12 to 20 weeks. First, the patient must learn how to recognize anxious reactions and thoughts as they occur.