Anxiety in 2025: Current Approaches and Therapies for Managing Anxiety

 

Anxiety conditions are a group of mental health conditions that cause fear, dread and other symptoms that are out of proportion to the situations. Symptoms of anxiety can include sleep problems, difficulties breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tension, headaches, blurry vision and gastrointestinal upset.

Panic attacks are acute and severe experiences of anxiety, and they are the product of the “fight/flight response” – a natural inbuilt response triggered when one anticipates threat or danger. Normally, this response would be required in truly threatening situations, however anxiety conditions emerge when this response is triggered frequently when it’s not required or appropriate.

Anxiety conditions can affect our capacity to manage with work, study and daily living activities and can also affect relationships.

There are different types of anxiety disorders. For example, Generalised Anxiety Disorder develops when a person has generalised worrying tendencies that trigger anxiety symptoms affecting daily functioning.  Social Phobia develops when a person experiences anxiety in social situations resulting in avoidant behaviours. Specific phobias refers to anxiety and fear triggered by specific situations or things – for example a fear of spiders or heights. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder develops when a person has unwanted thoughts or obsessional fears (eg a fear of contamination) that trigger compulsive behaviours (such as repeated hand washing).

Current therapies for anxiety focus on both psychological interventions, and in some cases medication. The most effective evidence-based approaches, include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), exposure therapy and lifestyle changes. Medication (such as SSRI and SNRI antidepressants) can be combined with therapy for the treatment of more severe anxiety manifestations.Read more…

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