Anxiety is a mental health disorder that not only affects millions of Americans each day but also comes along with a wide range of symptoms. Traditional treatment can often look the same. Even though medication has been the go-to route for anxiety for decades, it’s not the only answer. There are many other methods of treatment that you may want to explore to overcome anxiety.
Anxiety Medication Isn’t For Everyone
According to a 2020 study in Frontiers in Psychiatry, anxiety disorders are “the most common class of psychiatric disorders,” with about 264 million people globally who struggle with this condition. The study goes on to note research in the field of novel medication treatments for anxiety has been scarce. Instead, medications for treatment have stayed relatively the same over the years.
With so many different people struggling with addiction, it’s no surprise that medications won’t be everyone’s first choice of treatment. In fact, most anxiety medications contain a black box warning regarding their addictive properties.
There’s another class of people who may have tried different anxiety medications without receiving any benefits. If you’re in this group, you may even feel like your mental health is unmanageable. The good news is that widespread research has been conducted in recent years to study the efficacy of non-medical treatment.
Non-Medical Anxiety Treatment
Treating anxiety does not have to feel hopeless. There are many options you can explore to find out what will work best for your unique needs.
Talk Therapy
For the majority of people, talk therapy is an effective treatment method. Traditional individual therapy, group therapy, and even family therapy can have great benefits.
Struggling alone can make your condition worse. Through talk therapy, you’ll be able to find support in others while talking through the feelings that take up space in your mind. Group therapy, specifically, can help you feel a lot less alone as you journey through treatment.
Exercise
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), even small amounts of physical activity “can immediately reduce symptoms of anxiety in adults and older adults.” The benefits of exercise are plenty, and you can start by incorporating it, little by little, each day.
It’s also important to find an exercise that you enjoy and that fits your physical abilities. If you’re not one for regular gym workouts, you can try out a spin class, barre, or even explore body movement through yoga.
Meditation and Mindful Activities
Mindfulness-based activities, including meditation, are highly effective in treating anxiety. According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, group mindfulness meditation “can effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety and panic,” and they can even help maintain these reductions well after the session is over.
Many treatment centers are now incorporating mindfulness, meditation, and other holistic methods into their programs. In order to find the best treatment that serves your specific needs, you can seek out a program that offers a variety of therapies to help you overcome anxiety and live a more peaceful life.
Medication is not the only method of effective treatment for anxiety. If you have tried different medications without success, it’s a good idea to explore other options. At The Guest House, we aim to treat anxiety in both a traditional and holistic way. We understand that medication is not for everyone, and we offer a variety of therapies to help you create a treatment toolkit. You can manage your anxiety. For more information on treatment options, call us today at (855) 483-7800.