Treating Anxiety Disorders

Grand Canyon University

In today’s world, people are so fixated on having everything fixed quickly. The world has transformed,and no one seems to want to go through the process like before. From instant coffee to instant shower now everyone wants everything done instantly. That is the reason why in today’s society, someone gets a headache and they only acquire the medication for treatment,and when the symptoms are alleviated, they never bother to see a doctor or a specialist because they want things done quickly. Sometimes I wonder myself if we all need psychological help to help us cope with this problem that we are facing.

In the same fashion, the television or radio advertisements advertise psychotropic drugs to reach out to the people who want quick relief from their symptoms. Adsadvertising medication used in treating anxiety and or any other mental illness flood our media and make these drugs seem effortless in treating these illnesses.These advertisements create certain notions in people that you may find someone reasoning that why should they spend time and money going through psychotherapy whereas they could alleviate the symptoms through popping a pill(Rosen, 2017). However what people don’t know is that these drugs may fail to treat the symptoms of a person facing anxiety or even have adverse side effects on the patient(Bandelow et al., 2015). It is a shame that even the average person seeking treatment has tended to seek pharmacological help rather than psychotherapy(Rosen, 2017).

However, like everything in life, there are reasons why a person would choose one mode of treatment over another. In this essay, I will try to explain why a combination of both medication and psychotherapy is the best mode of treatment for people facing anxiety disorders compared to medication alone. If anything, research conducted has shown that psychotherapy yields better results when dealing with patients with anxiety disorders compared to taking medication alone(Whitbourne, 2015). Medication only complements the efforts that psychotherapy in the treatment of illnesses involving anxiety or any other mental illnesses(Dziegielewski, 2015). It is for this reason that I recommend treatment using both methods of treatment compare to just one form.

In a critique to psychiatry’s reliance on pharmacological methods of intervention, Richard Friedman writes that ‘American psychiatry is facing a quandary: despite vast investment in basic neuroscience research and its rich intellectual promise, we have little to show for it on the treatment front’. This is echoing the vast overmedication that is going on in American psychiatry(Friedman, 2015). There seems to be no understanding of thefundamental working principles of psychiatric medication and psychotherapy in treating anxiety disorders. People need to understand how both methods work. On one hand, we have medicine; medication works in the sense that when a patient is feeling symptoms that are associated with an anxiety attack, they take the medication which relieves the symptoms and brings back the patient to normalcy(Nathan & Gorman, 2007). Psychotherapy, on the other hand, works at a deeper level. In psychotherapy, the patient gets to open up and talk about the various issues that may bring about these anxiety attacks,and they are taught coping skills that will help them incase of anattack in future(Nathan & Gorman, 2007). The two methods work hand in hand to offer the perfect treatment.

Another reason why the combination of both methods of treatment is better compared to just medication is that, during psychotherapy, the psychiatristcan monitor and evaluate changes that are taking place within the patient(Dziegielewski, 2015). Psychotherapy allows the psychiatrist to get up close and personal with the patient who is seeking treatment for anxiety attacks. This gives the psychiatrist the chance to take to the patient and monitor any changes or improvements in the patient’s condition that the patient would not see by themselves(SCHWARTZ, 2013). If a patient, for example,is only prescribed with medication, they may be coming back for more medication which helps them feel better but still end up having more and more attacks. It is in such a scenario that the psychiatrist may change the mode of treatment of the patient to help them cope with issues to prevent the anxiety episodes.

There is also a better understanding of the illness and other consequences of the illness in a combination of both methods of treatment(Dalrymple, 2015). A person suffering from anxiety disorders may be given medication and be taking it frequently but still end up being an alcoholic or an abuser of other more hard drugs. In such a scenario, psychotherapy would help the patient understand their illness and the other consequence of their illness which would be an addiction to these other drugs. The patient may all along blame their illness for them being addicted to these drugs whereas this is just a consequence of their illness. In another scenario, the patient may become addicted to these psychotropic drugs. This is a frequent case because it is well known that these drugs are very addictive. Psychotherapy will help the patient understand their illness and methods of coping which would help them in the proper intake of their medicine and eventually help with treatment(Kelvin, 2017).

Combining both methods of treatment is also very beneficial to the patient in that the patient gets to understand the medication that they are taking. Psychotherapy combined with medication will help the psychiatrist to give patient insights about the medication and how the medication benefits the patient when they take it(Dalrymple, 2015). The same mode of treatment will help the psychiatrist advice the patient on how best to take the medication. The psychiatrist would also help the patient understand the various side effects that come along with the medication. A patient could be takinga particular drug and experiences some side effects and end up taking another drug which works at loggerheads with the treatment drug which may end up affecting their treatment entirely(Cuijpers et al., 2014). Combining psychotherapy with medication would address this problem and help the patient get the best out of the treatment.

The other benefit of combining both methods of treatment is the complementary aspect of both modes of treatment(Dziegielewski, 2015). As stated earlier, medication helps the patient relieve the symptoms associated with anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy, on the other hand,helps the patient understand the condition in which they are being treated. With the right medication and an understanding of the problem that the patient is facing, the patient could as well be involved by putting more effort in personal treatment like practising taking the proper medication at directed intervals and being more active in psychotherapy hence helping the psychiatrist understand the condition better(Kelvin, 2017). An example is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Under this mode of treatment, a person can deal with all sorts of negative thoughts that are bringing these anxiety attacks. Working hand in hand with a qualified therapist will help the patient understand that it is their thoughts which are responsible for these anxiety episodes and they will get to know how to challenge their thoughts to overcome their illness(Dalrymple, 2015).

Finally, not all illnesses are treated the same. A person facing an anxiety disorder could be taking medication for anxiety yet that is not the correct medication for the condition they are suffering. A combination of both treatments ensures that a person receives treatment that is specific to them. There are various types of anxiety disorders, and so therapy sessions are tailored to meet particular requirements. For example, one person may have a group or family therapy session while another may be treated alone. Each patient is unique,and so each patient reacts differently in different scenarios(Nathan & Gorman, 2007). To tackle this, the best of both worlds of treatment should be applied to help the patient in their treatment.

In the treatment of anxiety disorders, research has shown that the combination of psychotropic medication and psychotherapy gives the patient, the best results(Sauer-Zavala, Bufka & Wright, 2016). Medicationsprovide the person with alleviation of the symptoms while they are learning how to cope with their symptoms through psychotherapy. Combining the two methods of treatment allows the patient to be more comfortable and teach the skills needed to deal with or changes in their symptoms. Moreover, psychotherapy gives the patient something to fall back to on incase the symptoms come up again they have the necessary tools to survive adequately(SCHWARTZ, 2013).

References

Bandelow, B., Reitt, M., Röver, C., Michaelis, S., Görlich, Y., & Wedekind, D. (2015). Efficacy of treatments for anxiety disorders. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 30(4), 183-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/yic.0000000000000078

Cuijpers, P., Sijbrandij, M., Koole, S., Andersson, G., Beekman, A., & Reynolds, C. (2014). Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis. World Psychiatry, 13(1), 56-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wps.20089

Dalrymple, K. (2015). Combined Treatments (Medications plus Psychotherapy). The Encyclopedia Of Clinical Psychology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118625392

Dziegielewski, S. (2015). DSM-5 in action (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley&Sons,Inc.

Friedman, R. (2015). Psychiatry’s Identity Crisis. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/19/opinion/psychiatrys-identity-crisis.html

Kelvin, M. (2017). Psychotherapy Is The Best Way To Treat Anxiety Disorders – Anxiety, Panic & Health. Anxiety, Panic & Health. Retrieved 19 April 2018, from https://anxietypanichealth.com/2017/11/08/psychotherapy-best-way-treat-anxiety-disorders/

Nathan, P., & Gorman, J. (2007). A guide to treatments that work (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Rosen, D. (2017). Psychotherapy or Medication – Which Should You Choose?. The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders. Retrieved 19 April 2018, from http://centerforanxietydisorders.com/choose-psychotherapy-medication/

SCHWARTZ, A. (2013). Psychotherapy vs. Medication for Depression, Anxiety and Other Mental Illnesses – Psychotherapy Treatment And Psychotherapist Information. Mentalhelp.net. Retrieved 19 April 2018, from https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/psychotherapy-vs-medication-for-depression-anxiety-and-other-mental-illnesses/

Sauer-Zavala, S., Bufka, L., & Wright, C. (2016). Beyond Worry: How Psychologists Help With Anxiety Disorders. Apa.org. Retrieved 19 April 2018, from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/anxiety.aspx

Whitbourne, S. (2015). Psychotherapy vs. Medications: The Verdict Is In. Psychology Today. Retrieved 19 April 2018, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201507/psychotherapy-vs-medications-the-verdict-is-in