Trauma Survivors Network - provided by ATS

Survive. Connect. Rebuild.

A Program of the ATS

Psychotherapy

If an anxiety disorder is diagnosed, the next step is usually seeing a mental health professional. Therapy can provide support, education, and guidance on how to best manage anxiety symptoms. Choosing a therapist is a crucial step in the process towards healing. The practitioners who are most helpful with anxiety disorders are those who have training in cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or behavioral therapy, and who are open to using medication if it is needed. The ADAA offers resources to help you find a therapist who can treat and teach you to manage your anxiety:

http://www.adaa.org/GettingHelp/FindATherapist.asp

You should feel comfortable talking with the mental health professional you choose. If you do not, you should seek help elsewhere. Once you find a mental health professional with whom you are comfortable, the two of you should work as a team and make a plan to treat your anxiety disorder together.

Remember that once you start on medication, it is important not to stop taking it abruptly. Certain drugs must be tapered off under the supervision of a doctor or bad reactions can occur. Make sure you talk to the doctor who prescribed your medication before you stop taking it. If you are having trouble with side effects, it's possible that they can be eliminated by adjusting how much medication you take and when you take it.

Most insurance plans, including health maintenance organizations (HMOs), will cover treatment for anxiety disorders. Check with your insurance company and find out. If you don't have insurance, the Health and Human Services division of your county government may offer mental health care at a public mental health center that charges people according to how much they are able to pay. If you are on public assistance, you may be able to get care through your state Medicaid plan.