People with anxiety often have it harder than most. Imagine always being on edge, having to defend your being every other second. However, there is anxiety treatment in Philadelphia available that can help people cope with this debilitating feeling.
These treatment options can help people understand the deep-rooted causes of their anxiety and panic attacks to treat them better. Also, as not all anxiety therapies are suitable for each person, that is the reason why there are many treatments for anxiety.
In this article, we will mention the different treatments for anxiety in Philadelphia and which one may be suitable for you. All of these options have been listed after thorough discussions with multiple anxiety therapists in Philadelphia who have been helping people heal and cope with such intense feelings.
How Is Anxiety Treatment in Philadelphia Different from Others?
Anxiety therapists in Philadelphia are quite well known for having a better grasp of new and transformative approaches. The city of Philadelphia is centered around institutions and universities that make treatment accessible.
These experts make sure that treatments for anxiety are offered for every level of the disorder and for various formats (hybrid, in-person, online). Here are some more ways in which Philadelphia-based therapists make treatment more advanced and effective:
- Strong integration techniques make sure that therapy for anxiety is effective and helps people handle tough emotions.
- Inpatient and outpatient options are available for people to take advantage of advanced treatments.
- You can also find specialty clinics that offer very specific anxiety treatments that suit your situation in the best way possible.
These factors make Philadelphia one of the most accessible cities for therapeutic approaches to anxiety and other disorders.
Effective Anxiety Treatments Available in Philadelphia
There are specific treatments for anxiety that are available for people to discuss with their therapist. Here is the list, ranked from more common to less commonly available ones.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
A balanced approach that helps people to restructure negative thought patterns and behaviors. It helps identify invisible causes of anxiety that contribute to immense self-doubt and feelings of death. CBT is highly recommended for people who can focus on negativity more than following a steady, more neutral perspective.
There are some main aspects of skill-building done in CBT that can help someone at large:
- Mindfulness Skills: Learning to stay present, observe thoughts and emotions without judgment, and increase self-awareness.
- Emotion Regulation Skills: Techniques to identify, understand, and manage intense emotions effectively.
- Distress Tolerance Skills: Strategies to tolerate and survive crises without making them worse, including self-soothing and distraction techniques.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills: Improving communication, setting boundaries, and maintaining healthy relationships while balancing needs and respect for others.
- Cognitive Restructuring: Identifying and challenging unhelpful or extreme thinking patterns to reduce emotional vulnerability.
- Behavioral Activation & Coping: Practicing adaptive behaviors and coping strategies to respond constructively to stressors or triggers.
- Self-Validation Techniques: Learning to acknowledge one’s feelings and experiences without self-criticism, fostering self-compassion.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is an approach where a person is slowly exposed to things that provoke their anxiety. It is said that these exposure sessions are quite effective at making the person understand the thin line between danger and perceived danger. People who suffer from phobias, social anxiety, and panic disorders particularly benefit from exposure therapy.
This therapy also helps people reduce avoidance and triggers to face feared situations. Here are some types of exposure therapy that your therapist may recommend to you based on your case:
- In Vivo Exposure (facing fear-inducing objects or situations)
- Imaginal Exposure (visualizing situations when exposure isn’t safe)
- Virtual Reality (VR) Exposure (using technology to face anxiety-inducing situations)
- Interoceptive Exposure (specially used for reducing panic attacks or bodily disorders)
- Systematic Desensitization (combination of relaxation techniques with exposure)
- Flooding or Intensive Exposure (immediately or prolonged exposure to feared stimulus)
Medication Coupled with Talk Therapy
Sometimes anxiety is less treatable with talk therapy. Hence, therapists start treatments with a combination of medications and talk therapy. Most people are given first-line pharmacological treatments like SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors). These reduce anxiety symptoms from the first dose itself.
There are other medication options like buspirone or benzodiazepines that treat anxiety’s immediate or severe effects. Medications, when coupled with talk therapy, work better as they help the person reduce their overall anxiety without creating dependencies on medication for the long term.
Adjunctive Strategies
Some people prefer structured therapies coupled with more natural approaches. Hence, many therapists who treat anxiety start suggesting that the person use adjunctive strategies. These are added to primary treatment methods like CBT to increase effectiveness.
Some techniques that are advised are regular exercise, mindfulness, meditation, good sleep hygiene, and reducing caffeine. If you are someone who would like to proceed with daily interventions, this is the best way of anxiety treatment.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
This type of anxiety treatment in Philadelphia helps people accept their anxious thoughts without any judgment. It is a therapy that is a structured approach to committing to meaningful actions. These can, in totality, contribute to better handling of anxiety and emotional conflict in daily life.
Just like the name, acceptance and commitment are two of the biggest parts of the therapy. To make sure the impact of anxiety is lesser every day, many therapists suggest practicing mindfulness. This means to non-judgmentally practice awareness of your own thoughts and feelings.
Ending On
It isn’t easy to find good anxiety treatment in Philadelphia. However, it is a way to encourage yourself to pursue therapeutic approaches that actually make a difference in your life. Certain treatments for anxiety are always better than others.
We have listed the effective anxiety therapy in Philadelphia that can help you grow. However, each of these therapies is specifically targeted towards individuals with different needs and situations.
So before you start any form of anxiety treatment, always ask your therapist if it will be suitable for you. Be sure to share any concerns as well, so you receive therapy that truly helps you in the long term.
