John Lehnhoff, Ph.D. Clinical Consultant and Educator with Alegent Behavioral Health
Q: Does anxiety ever get better?
A: Anxiety disorders are the largest category of mental problems, affecting more people than any other type of behavioral health disorder. An anxiety disorder could be a phobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder or generalized anxiety disorder among others.
Anxiety can also be a part of other disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. Medical conditions and vitamin or mineral factors can also cause anxiety. Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol aftereffects can create anxiety states as well.
Anxiety does usually get better with proper diagnosis and treatment. Treatment may include counselling, relaxation techniques, exercise and sometimes medication. As noted above, proper diagnosis is important due to the many possible causes. Treatment recommendations may include lifestyle changes to reduce and replace habits which can worsen anxiety.
Additional information is available at Anxiety Disorders Association of America, www.adaa.org .
