“I am so worried” may well be the most used phrase of our century. Work pressure, family issues, personal tendencies and unfortunate experiences in life – they all contribute in the creation of that seven-letter long multi-headed monster – ‘Anxiety.’

Anxiety is not altogether an alien emotion. We all have experienced the palpitating heart and those sweating palms before exams or interviews or before popping that question to the loved one.

Wait a moment, though! Do you feel anxious all the time? Are you experiencing tachycardia or suffering from giddiness and dryness of mouth very often? For longer than six months? Is your reason for the anxiety a valid one? Are you even aware of the reason?

Not a pleasant surprise, but the anxiety and panic disorder may well have you in its clutches. Often classified as the most common mental disorder, Anxiety disorders have even sneaked into the Davidson’s.

Yet treatment of anxiety is not far and away –
1.    Cognitive and Behavioural therapy (CBT) – Anxiety is a disease of the mind, and it is the power of the cerebrum that is needed to combat it. Full co-operation from the patient is sought in this therapy. He is asked to analyze his thoughts and to recognize their rationality, or, as may be the case, the lack of it. CBT often becomes an exercise in will power. The patient has to make a positive and conscious effort on his part to cleanse himself of his worries.

Another part of the CBT is the Biofeedback. It is so arranged that the values of the physiological parameters like pulse rate, body temperature, sweat gland activity, muscle tension and blood pressure become known to the patient at regular time intervals. The cognizance of the magnitude of the patient’s own body’s reactions gradually moves the control of these activities from the unconscious to the conscious mind, albeit only partially.
He now wills to control and his heart rate, and does it to some extent, too.

No wonder, CBT is the best possible treatment for anxiety. “Drag your thoughts away from your troubles… by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it.” So said Mark Twain and CBT followers are bound to agree.
2.    Controlling food intake – reduction in the intake of caffeine containing food helps control anxiety
3.    Relaxation & Exercise – The antithesis to anxiety is relaxation. Several techniques for the same are available, some of which are –
a)    Deep Sleep – the easiest vehicle of relaxation, which in turn is the best treatment for anxiety
b)    Long hot baths, steam baths, spa treatments – water has the capacity to remove negativity. Even sweating it out detoxifies the system.
c)    Massage – trained masseuses knead the stress out of your muscles and the anxiety out of our system. A wide variety of aromatic and ayurvedic oils are available in the market. Specialized massage techniques from the orient, viz., the Acupressure and the Acupuncture also help relax mind and body.
d)    Yoga and Thai Chi are forms of physical exercises that help in the treatment of anxiety.

4.    Counselling – Some anxieties are caused by the undue secrecy that we attach to them – we keep them within our mind. It has been felt often that speaking out about the worrisome subject has led to a reduction in the anxiety quotient. It may well be the most convenient treatment for anxiety.
5.    Hypnotherapy – Hypnosis may not work always, as people with strong will power cannot be hypnotized. Alternative, strong-willed people may not need it either as they may use CBT. However, in selective cases, hypnotherapy carried out by experts does help the patient face his fears and ado in a new way.
6.    Exposure therapy – Often, people who have undergone some traumatic experience in their lives develop related phobias. For such people, exposure therapy may help stop panic attacks. In the course of this therapy, patients actually face their private fears in the presence of someone responsible and under a controlled environment. When no harm comes even though one’s private monster is in front, it creates a psychological nullification of fear.
7.    Medication – anxiety attack medication is easily available in the market. Most ‘anxio-lytics’ fall into the category of Benzodiazepines and buspirone. Ordinarily, medication by itself may not really cure the patient as anxiety disorder is more of a psychological malaise and CBT may be required as the principal step of the therapy. However, some anxiety disorders are caused by physiological malfunction, such as a diseased thyroid gland. In such cases, only specific anxiety attack medication can be used. Perhaps, even surgery may be required.
Our time and age is one of stress and strain and anxiety is an unavoidable by-product of it. Self- counselling is the best way to slay this new-age demon.