Do I Need Anxiety Medication or Therapy?
Anxiety's obvious symptoms—intense emotions of fear, discomfort, and worry—can have a devastating effect on a person's daily life. If you're experiencing anxiety, choosing to seek treatment is an encouraging start in the right direction. While this is true, it does raise the question of which treatment option is best.
Anxiety can be treated with various approaches, including medication and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is because there is strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of both approaches in their treatment.
Of the two, though, which is more effective? Anxiety medication or therapy? Continue reading to find out.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety
CBT consists of 12–20 sessions, depending on the severity of the problem. It teaches people to spot potential trouble spots, analyze their own thought processes, recognize and reject destructive thought patterns, and replace them with positive ones. Therefore, individuals are more able to address challenges and develop adaptive coping mechanisms. As a result, it can provide long-term relief for anxiety symptoms.
Although CBT has been useful in treating anxiety, the truth is that no single treatment is effective for everyone. For some patients, one of the most difficult parts of treatment is opening up about their emotions or worries to their therapist.
Medications for Anxiety
Anti-anxiety meds are among the most commonly prescribed drugs globally. Many believe these medications represent a "magic pill" for treating mental health issues. The benefit of medications is that they can help alleviate symptoms for certain people quickly and temporarily. This is especially true for those whose conditions are particularly severe. Medications are usually covered by insurance at no extra cost, but psychotherapy is typically reimbursed only to a limited extent, if at all.
However, not everyone benefits from taking medicine. Some people find the risk of weight gain, erectile dysfunction, gastrointestinal issues, and drowsiness to be too great; therefore, these effects are a drawback. Further, determining the appropriate dose is not always clear-cut. Yet some with really severe symptoms might conclude that the advantages are worth the risks.
Can Medication and Therapy Be Used Together?
According to recent studies, many individuals benefit most from a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Depression and anxiety can be treated effectively with psychotherapy and medication together since the latter can help lessen symptoms more rapidly than the former. When used together, these approaches can reduce distress, provide you with skills to manage your condition, and restore your health and well-being.
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