Overview

Have you been experiencing regular feelings of unease or worry that doesn't seem to go away? Or have you been recently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and want to improve your overall wellness? A functional therapy session with us might be just what you need to enhance your quality of life. Here's everything to know about functional therapies for effective anxiety disorder management.

What is Anxiety?

A typical response to stress, anxiety can make you respond in several ways, including experiencing feelings of worry and uneasiness, as well as physical symptoms like an increased heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, and pale skin. Patients with anxiety disorders, however, experience these symptoms chronically. For some, it can be overwhelming and decrease their quality of life.

Anxiety disorders can be characterized in five main ways:

• obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• panic disorder
• generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• social anxiety disorder
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

What Are the Benefits of Functional Therapies for Anxiety?

There are multiple benefits to undergoing functional therapies for anxiety. First off, they're non-drug modes of treatment that are typically non-invasive and are recommended based on the patient in question. Some work fairly quickly, with patients reporting improvement in their mood and emotions after only a few sessions.

Common forms of functional treatments for anxiety disorders include:

• cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which places emphasis on patients confronting their fears
• meditation
• hypnosis
• guided relaxation
• yoga
• tai chi
• qigong
• imagery
• herbal supplements
• aromatherapy
• animal-assisted therapy
• music therapy
• naturopathy

What to Expect During a Functional Anxiety Treatment

If you've never had a functional treatment for your anxiety disorder, you might be wondering what to expect during your first appointment. A trained clinician—a psychotherapist or psychiatrist—at Chris Strickland will begin by asking you a series of detailed questions to determine your current health, as well as your emotional and mental well-being. From there, depending on your symptoms, your doctor or therapist will prescribe one or several forms of treatment, which can include weekly yoga or tai chi, meditation, CBT, and music or animal-assisted therapies.

Effective anxiety treatments require an accurate evaluation and prompt care using safe, effective functional techniques.

For more information about functional therapies for anxiety, contact Chris Strickland at (706) 769-9779.