Featuring Dr. Dan Bilsker, PhD, RPsych
,Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Duration: 1 minute, 3 seconds

Anti-anxiety medications, also known as anxiolytics, can be prescribed by family physicians or psychiatrists to help manage acute symptoms of anxiety. These medications can provide short-term relief from symptoms such as excessive worry, tension, and panic. However, it's important to note that long-term use of anxiolytic medications can lead to physiological dependence and sedation, making them less suitable for sustained treatment.

For individuals seeking long-term management of anxiety, learning anxiety management skills is crucial. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely used and effective psychological approach for anxiety management. It involves working with a psychologist who specializes in a cognitive-behavioral model to address the underlying thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. Through CBT, individuals learn strategies and techniques to identify and challenge negative thinking, manage physical symptoms of anxiety, and develop coping mechanisms to improve their overall well-being.

While anti-anxiety medications are typically prescribed by family physicians or psychiatrists, anxiety management approaches such as CBT are typically provided by psychologists or therapists trained in cognitive-behavioral techniques. These professionals can guide individuals through the process of developing effective anxiety control skills and provide ongoing support and guidance.

It's important to remember that treatment for anxiety should be individualized based on the severity of symptoms and the specific needs of the person. Consulting with a healthcare professional, such as a family physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist, can help determine the most appropriate treatment plan, including the use of medication and/or psychological interventions, to effectively manage anxiety over the short and long term. Anxiety is a common mental health problem in which individuals may feel overcome by worry that disrupts their activities, or feel a constant sense of tension, or even at a more extreme point have episodes of panic and extreme fear.

The options are either anxiolytic - anti-anxiety medications - which are commonly given by family physicians or psychiatrists. These are generally useful for the short term, the problem in the longer term is that people can become physiologically- or physically-dependent forming and they can also cause people to feel sedated, so they're really a short-term solution.

Over the longer term, people want to learn anxiety management skills, which are generally taught through a psychologist using a cognitive-behavioral approach and enabling them to learn the skills of anxiety control.

The medication treatments are generally available through family physicians, but the anxiety management approaches would be usually provided by a psychologist who work in a cognitive-behavioral model.

Presenter: Dr. Dan Bilsker, Psychologist, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Psychologist