Psychologists, social workers, and counselors
sometimes work closely with a psychiatrist or other
physician, who will prescribe medications when they
are required. For some people, group therapy or
self-help groups are a helpful part of treatment.
Many people do best with a combination of these
therapies.
When you're looking for a health care professional,
it's important to inquire about what kinds of
therapy he or she generally uses or whether
medications are available. It's important that you
feel comfortable with the therapy. If this is not
the case, seek help elsewhere. However, if you've
been taking medication, it's important not to quit
certain drugs abruptly, but to taper them off under
the supervision of your physician. Be sure to ask
your physician about how to stop a medication.
Remember, though, that when you find a health care
professional you're satisfied with, the two of you
are working as a team. Together you will be able to
develop a plan to treat your anxiety disorder that
may involve medications, behavioral therapy, or
cognitive-behavioral therapy, as appropriate.
Treatments for anxiety disorders, however, may not
start working instantly. Your doctor or therapist
may ask you to follow a specific treatment plan for
several weeks to determine whether it's working.
NIMH continues its search for new and better
treatments for people with anxiety disorders. The
Institute supports a sizeable and multifaceted
research program on anxiety disorders--their causes,
diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This research
involves studies of anxiety disorders in human
subjects and investigations of the biological basis
for anxiety and related phenomena in animals. It is
part of a massive effort to overcome the major
mental disorders, an effort that is taking place
during the 1990s, which Congress has designated the
Decade of the Brain.
For More Information
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
Dept A. 6000 Executive Boulevard, Department A
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 231-9350
Freedom from Fear
308 Seaview Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305
(718) 351-1717
National Anxiety Foundation
3135 Custer Drive
Lexington, KY 40517-4001
(606) 272-7166
Obsessive Compulsive (OC) Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 70
Milford, CT 06460
(203) 878-5669
American Psychiatric Association
1400 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 682-6220
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-5500
Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy
305 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10001
(212) 647-1890
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