Treatment and help

There are a number of ways forward in terms of treatment of anxiety disorders and getting help:-

• Services available through the NHS
• Recommended starting points
• Psychological interventions
• Psychiatric medication
• Self-help Groups

One of the most effective ways to deal with anxiety is to learn to understand it. Here you will be able to find out more information on anxiety disorders, conditions and phobias.

If you want to know about a specific anxiety then we recommend using the information links on the right.

You can also read about the different type of therapies and medicines related to anxiety disorders. Links to further information available from ANXIETY UK and elsewhere will allow you learn more about specific conditions. To find out more about the recommended treatments for anxiety, see our information on the NICE guidelines.

Primary Care Mental Health Services available through the NHS

Primary care mental health services include members of the Primary Care team, such as your GP and more specialist workers, such as the Primary Care Mental Health Team. They tend to work with mild- moderate mental health problems (including anxiety, panic and phobias). Each team is different, but most work towards a model called ‘stepped care’ which means that patients get the lowest intensity intervention appropriate for their needs. This means there will be workers with different skills and experience and often you will be asked to come in for an assessment so they can identify which part of the team would meet your needs best.

Here is an example of a team's structure:

• Mental Health Workers and Graduate Mental Health Workers who see people with mild to moderate mental health problems and work using CBT based brief interventions to help people manage symptoms.
• Mental Health Practitioners who work with moderate mental health problems but usually work on coping strategies and CBT based interventions.
• Counsellors who see people with moderate mental health problems but usually focus on the past, and help people explore their feelings.
• Psychologists who see people with longstanding or complex difficulties, are able to work with people for longer time periods using a range of methods (including CBT and counselling).

Most work Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, and provide a range of evidence based psychological therapies. Some provide home visits and most are accessed through a GP.

If you would like information about your local Primary Care Mental Health Team then please call ANXIETY UK helpline (0870 122 2325).

Recommended starting points

Quick guide to anxiety disorders The quick guide will give you a briefing of the most common anxiety disorders and some of the lesser known ones. [ View quick guide ]	DIY self diagnosis kit Think you might have an anxiety condition? Answer this quick questionnaire to obtain rough self-diagnosis guide. Please note this is not a substitute for seeing a GP who is able to make a formal diagnosis. [ View questionnaire ]
FAQs Our new frequently asked questions section aims to answer your queries about anxiety in general. [ Anxiety FAQ ]	ANXIETY UK Therapy locations ANXIETY UK members are able to access a full range of therapy services. View the therapy services available in your area. [ Therapy locations ]

Psychological interventions

These include therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling and other talking therapies - psychotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy etc.

CBT, counselling and psychotherapy are all available through the NHS although many people find they have to wait very long lengths of time before being offered an appointment. Clinical hypnotherapy is not normally available through the NHS and is therefore usually something that people usually undertake on a private basis.

Here at ANXIETY UK we have a team of in-house, volunteer practitioners who can offer all the above therapies as well as other complementary therapies such as the 'Fast Phobia Technique', Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Thought Field Therapy (TFT), Emotional Freedom techniques (EFT) and a range of holistic therapies - aromatherapy, reflexology etc.

[ List of therapies available and the locations offered ]
[ Further information about talking treatments ]
Click here to download ANXIETY UK guide to EFT

Psychiatric medication

Medication can be helpful in alleviating the symptoms of anxiety and when combined with a psychological therapy, can be particularly effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

[ Further information about psychiatric medication ]
ANXIETY UK also produces a user-friendly fact-sheet on anxiety drugs.

Self-help Groups

The power of self-help should not be underestimated in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Many people find it enormously comforting to attend a self-help group and in doing so, meet others experiencing similar difficulties.

[ Information on self-help groups in the UK ]