Suggest Treatment For Severe Anxiety

Posted on Sat, 18 Mar 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 18 Mar 2017 Answered on

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I've been through a few anxiety producing life occurrences this past year. I understand its all part of life but would like to not be as anxious. I'm not interested in taking medication as I lost 60 pounds and have no desire to gain it back. that would be very anxiety producing. Are there cognitive behavior interventions I could try to stop anxiety when I feel it starting. Its hard to concentrate. I sleep a little bit at a time. I'm still functioning at work, but think it could be better.

Answered by Dr. salah saad shoman (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Three steps of cognitive behavioral therapy will help

Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,

I'd recommend that you do not use medications as the cognitive behavioral therapy provides a better way to eliminate the symptoms better and more effective.

It consists of several steps:

Firstly, is to be able to identify negative thoughts (include rumination which is a repetitive bothering though and distortions which are negative predications). Identifying these thoughts is very important in therapy as they tend to be exaggerated.

Secondly is how to challenge these negative thoughts by evaluating these anxiety provoking thoughts, analyzing them, weighting the prons and cons of being worried by these exaggerated thoughts .

Third, is to learn how to replace exaggerated negative thoughts with more realistic positive ones.

I hope I answered your question. Feel free to ask further.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee