Barbara Rothbaum, Ph.D., Emory University
Question: What if I choose not to use medications for my anxiety disorder?
Answer: Cognitive-behavioral therapy is very effective at treating the anxiety disorders, with or without medication. Cognitive-behavior therapy is a very problem-focused, usually short-term approach. Generally, the therapist will teach the patient techniques to manage anxiety, such as relaxation or cognitive techniques to be able to think about situations differently. Very often, it also includes what are called exposure therapy components. And these help the person confront what they're scared of, but in a therapeutic manner so they can become less scared and not need to avoid it anymore.
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