Anyone who has ever experienced anxiety would not want to go through it again. It could have been generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or other anxiety disorders. What is important is to know how long does anxiety last and the best way to handle it before it becomes chronic anxiety.
Mental health experts report that anxiety’s duration varies from person to person. You just have to watch out for the physical symptoms of anxiety disorders and other mental disorders so that you can get help from a mental health professional as soon as possible. We further explain below how long anxiety lasts, plus the treatment options available for you to consider.
How Long Does Anxiety Last?
Healthcanal.com and other reputable sources show that around 31.1% of American adults are likely to develop anxious feelings and present anxiety symptoms. This means that some might experience panic attacks leading to panic disorders too.
Severe anxiety is when you constantly live in excessive fear or are simply worried about everyday life, sometimes leading to a panic attack or panic disorder. In most cases, you may experience this feeling for over six months.
As such, we can say that anxiety may last a few months to years, depending on the person and surrounding. If you are constantly exposed to anxiety triggers, you can experience other mental health issues.
Some of the factors that affect how long anxiety lasts include;
- How quickly the disorder is diagnosed and treatment starts
- Not having a paying job
- Being older
- Living alone
- Type of anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorders take longer to treat
- Going through several types of anxiety disorders all at once
Best Methods to Treat Anxiety Issues
If you do not start treating anxiety disorders, you might end up with other mental health disorders. The most common would be depression. Others may also end up with substance use disorder. So, what are the best methods to treat anxiety issues? Here are some options to consider.
Talk Therapy
Talk therapy or psychotherapy is one of the ways to reduce stress levels and treat anxiety so that you can have an improved quality of life. Under this type of therapy, you will have one-on-one sessions with your therapist. It can be weekly or more frequently, depending on your anxiety disorder level.
This type of therapy has been found to be effective in helping prevent impending doom for those who experience anxiety more often. It is worth noting that this therapy is also an umbrella for other types of therapies used for anxiety medical problems. Such include;
- Interpersonal therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Family or couples therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
It is advisable that you are open about your anxieties and other issues you are facing during talk therapy. Once the therapist can identify your problems, then it is easier to come up with proper strategies that helps you get better.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is also quite effective to manage anxiety and other mental issues. If you have been experienced trouble falling asleep, struggling with everyday life, or simply facing too many symptoms of anxiety, consider CBT to avoid additional health complications.
This type of therapy is recommended for those having additional mental health disorders such as obessive compulsive disorder or OCD, depression, and phobias. This treatment option can also include relaxation techniques that would help improve the quality of life of a person.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is similar to CBD in the sense that it also focuses on behavioral changes. However, there are some differences to understand between them. DBT focuses more on developing thinking patterns and coping skills towards anxiety. The result is that you can know how to avoid stressful situations, make lifestyle changes, practice mindfulness, and so much more to have healthy relationships.
DBT programs are often intensive and are meant to deal with people that show excessive worry or anxiety. When worries intensify, it hinders someone’s ability to function better. Clinical trials show how this method would also be good for other conditions such as eating disorders, borderline personality disorder (BPD), substance abuse disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and so much more.
Medications
Sometimes, the anxiety relief or stress response to talk therapy and other types of therapies necessitates the use of anti-anxiety medication. People might not always fancy the use of medication as some can get additive, but they can be necessary. The most commonly used medications include anxiolytics.
Make sure that you seek the help of a therapist in identifying the type of anxiety you have to get the proper medication. The common types of medications for anxiety include;
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
- Benzodiazepines
Conclusion
The Diganostic and Statistical Manual explains that mental health can be highly individual. It is only after professional medical advice that you can get the right professional medical advice on treatment options including how to take anti anxiety medications. It is best to seek the help of a mental health expert as soon as you notice the syptoms of anxiety. This helps in keeping anxiety under control before it worsens.
