
Treatments for Anxiety
One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is talking therapy or counselling, especially when combined with lifestyle changes such as daily exercise, deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, yoga and relaxation.
There are self-help courses available and these are often prescribed by a GP. The material is often good but can be hard to understand and correctly process when you’re already anxious. Talking to a third party often provides a quicker response – either a trusted friend or a trained therapist.
Medication is usually only considered after counselling has been offered. Anti-depressants – such as an SSRA (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) that works by increasing the level of a chemical called serotonin in your brain – can take several weeks to work and can have similar side-effects to the symptoms of anxiety.