About 264 million people around the world are battling anxiety disorders, however, all of us battle anxiety on a daily basis. Anxiety is a normal response to stress, which is specific and temporary in nature; while anxiety disorder is a debilitating condition, which is characterized by excessive and persistent worry that affects all aspects of functioning and daily living.
Some common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Racing thoughts
- Fatigue
- Excessive sweating
- Headaches and body pain
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Elevated heart rate
- Elevated blood pressure
There are several evidence-based therapeutic means to deal with anxiety. All of which can take place virtually. There have been several studies conducted to understand the efficiency and efficacy of the treatment of online or virtual anxiety-spectrum disorders. All of these have revealed that the results at the end of 12 sessions are similar to in-person therapy. These results were also replicated in their 3-month and 6-month follow-ups.
Online treatment for anxiety includes:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This technique allows the client to break down unhealthy patterns into smaller bits and understand what is making them feel scared or anxious, which allows them to deal with it better using adaptive coping mechanisms.
Mindful-based practices: A series of practices that focus on breathing and paying attention to thoughts or the environment without judgment, which drastically reduces the intensity and frequency of feeling worried or anxious. This can also include creative arts therapy such as art therapy, dance therapy or music therapy.
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (MCBT): Uses techniques of both CBT and Mindful-based practices. This practice helps people become more aware of their everyday experiences and curb the possibility of residual symptoms after receiving treatment, and also reduces relapse.
With access to virtual mental health care, a majority of the population can now seek professional assistance to deal with their concerns from anywhere and at any time, while also being mindful of their finances. People no longer need to restrict their right to professional and competent mental health care, and can start prioritizing their mental health just as much as their physical health.