Anxiety Therapy and Treatment

 

It’s common to feel anxious at times. Anxiety is an adaptive behaviour, and can be our mind and body’s way of responding to a stressful event (such as a project deadline), or a more life-threatening situation. However, when a person’s anxiety persists, or it arises in a non-threatening situation, it can interfere with daily functioning and disrupt one’s social interactions, relationships, finances, work and/or school.

While there are different types of anxiety disorders, anxiety is characterized by both cognitive and physical symptoms. It is often experienced as frequent, irrational, and uncontrollable worry, as well as physical feelings of tension, nervousness, and fear, which may present as as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or tightness in the chest. These physical and cognitive symptoms might cause you to avoid certain people or situations, and when that happens, it’s time to seek support. If you feel like anxiety is ruling your life, please contact us. We can help you learn valuable skills to cope with and manage your anxiety.

Key facts

Factors that influence anxiety

Anxiety can result from genetic factors, environmental factors, or a combination of both. People who have a family history of anxiety and mental health concerns, people who have experienced trauma, and people with certain medical conditions are at greater risk for developing problem anxiety than the general population.

Treating anxiety

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on teaching skills to manage anxiety symptoms and uses gradual exposure to stressful situations to build anxiety tolerance. CBT has been shown to be just as effective as medication in addressing problem anxiety. For individuals who have experienced trauma, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) may be a more appropriate treatment. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy can be delivered both online and in-person to help treat anxiety.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a form of talk therapy that combines Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Zen Buddhism principles. It is a skills-based therapy that helps people balance acceptance with the natural changes that come with life. Our DBT-informed treatment options can help you learn skills to cope with overwhelming emotions, reduce impulsivity, enhance interpersonal relationships, and ultimately achieve your own personal goals.

Medication can be used in conjunction with talk therapy to treat anxiety. Medications used to treat anxiety typically fall into three categories: antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications like buspirone, and sedatives like benzodiazepine.

Recent research studies have also found that when used under medical supervision, racemic Ketamine treatment can help reduce symptoms of anxiety both quickly and effectively.

Common symptoms of anxiety

Physical:

  • Light-headedness

  • Headache

  • Muscle tension

  • Dizziness

  • Rapid heartbeat

  • Chest pain / Tightness in chest

  • Heart palpitations

  • Difficulty breathing (rapid breath, short of breath, difficulty catching breath)

  • Dry mouth

  • Upset stomach: churning, nausea, diarrhea, gas, pain

  • Difficulty swallowing / lump in throat

  • Excessive sweating

  • Unsteady

  • Restless

  • Frequent urination

  • Hot flashes / Chills

  • Tremors

  • Cold and clammy palms

  • Tingling / Pins and Needles

Mental:

  • Sense of detachment: feeling unconnected from the world around you

  • Insomnia

  • Unable to concentrate / Selective attention

  • Difficulty remembering things

  • Agitated

  • Fatigued

  • Irritable

  • Fearful

  • Communication difficulties (i.e., cannot think of the words you want to use)

  • Fear that you are going crazy

  • Self-consciousness

Next steps

Our psychologists are here to help. To learn more about anxiety or to book a free phone consultation, please call us at 780-860-7338 or fill out our contact form.

References

Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada. (2007). Welcome to ADAC/ACTA. Retrieved from Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada: http://www.anxietycanada.ca/english/index.php 

Jovanovic, T., Powers Lott, A., Michopoulos, V., Stevens, J., Rooij, S., Carter, S., . . . Stenson, A. (2018). What is Anxiety. Retrieved from Anxiety.org: https://www.anxiety.org/what-is-anxiety

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). (2018). Diagnosis & Treatment. Retrieved from Anxiety: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350967 

Rachman, S. (2004). Anxiety. (2nd, Ed.) New York: Psychology Press Ltd.