Therapists in King County, WA
Bina Bakhtiar
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSWA, MHP
Not Verified Not Verified
Woodinville, WA 98072
Sometimes we encounter hardships that seem too overwhelming or painful to manage. These struggles may occur in marriage, family relationships, parenting, at work, or coping with every-day life. They can be destabilizing, leaving us feeling hopeless and helpless. I believe these uncomfortable emotions can often be a window of opportunity to look deeper into what has happened, our role in it, and our reaction to it. Within these moments, we can unravel our own inner wisdom to help us heal and grow.
Sometimes we encounter hardships that seem too overwhelming or painful to manage. These struggles may occur in marriage, family relationships, parenting, at work, or coping with every-day life. They can be destabilizing, leaving us feeling hopeless and helpless. I believe these uncomfortable emotions can often be a window of opportunity to look deeper into what has happened, our role in it, and our reaction to it. Within these moments, we can unravel our own inner wisdom to help us heal and grow.
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Anxiety Therapists
What are the most common treatments for anxiety?
Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, is the most common treatment for anxiety. Studies have shown it is equally effective as medication. Other popular forms of therapy are popular, depending on a patient’s experience. Exposure therapy, for instance, can be useful for people dealing with fears and phobias, or who have experienced traumatic events. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy may be useful for patients who need help with emotion regulation. Anxiolytic medications, like benzodiazepines, can also help with calming a person enough to focus on the skills they’ve learned, and physical exercise has been shown to help symptoms of anxiety across the board.
How long does therapy for anxiety take to work?
The amount of time needed to alleviate symptoms depends on the severity of a person’s condition. Some therapies may take 5-20 weekly sessions to show results. Anti-depressant medications typically take two to four weeks before a benefit is felt. Anti-anxiety medications are felt typically within 20-30 minutes. Medications are best used to offer a patient a better headspace in which to work on techniques learned in therapy. Exercise, improved sleep habits, and meditation are effective, but takes weeks or months to show results.
When should I seek treatment for anxiety?
Everyone feels anxious at times, but when anxiety causes disruption to your daily life, it may be time to seek help. Such disruption can be mental, physical, or both: having fear dominate your thoughts, avoiding situations or objects that bring on feelings of anxiety, or experiencing shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or panic attacks. When these symptoms are recurrent and distressing, it may be time to talk to someone.
How effective is treatment for anxiety?
Treatment for anxiety has been shown to be moderately to highly effective, according to a large body of psychology studies and analyses. For some people, treatment using CBT or exposure therapy alone is effective. Others respond best to a combination of medication and therapy.