Anxiety can be a major problem for anyone who has it. Yes, medications like Buspar and certain types of antidepressants – such as the antidepressant Effexor – appear effective in a number of cases, but that is not always true. Ultimately, the answer of which is the best method for dealing with anxiety is unanswerable.

Anxiety can be a major problem for anyone who has it. While not as directly damaging as dementia or psychosis, an untreated anxiety disorder is still very capable of wreaking quite a large amount of havoc on the personal and professional life of anyone who has it. Treatment methods can vary, with some preferring to take pharmaceutical solutions like Buspar, others choosing to resort to therapeutic approaches like counseling, and others find comfort in music or certain imagery. To some, alternative methods such as acupuncture and the ingestion of herbal concoctions are valid methods for calming the nerves at the right time. What would be the best among these various approaches, one might ask?

Well, much like the issue of which treatment for depression is the most effective, there is actually no definitive answer to the question. Yes, medications like Buspar and certain types of antidepressants – such as the antidepressant Effexor – appear effective in a number of cases, but that is not always true. Medications such as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors have been in use for treating both depression and anxiety for a few years now, often as the first line of treatment. However, not everyone responds to these medications. The same is true for benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, which are usually associated with treating depression but have also been used as treatments for anxiety.

Therapy is sometimes recommended for those people that seem unaffected by medication. The point of therapy is not to control the condition, but to help the patient come to terms with it and learn how to live with the problem. In essence, while pharmaceuticals are designed to help eliminate the causes of the problem, therapy is designed to help the patient go around the problem. For many patients, this is a valid treatment strategy, but only if given the time and effort to be properly undertaken. It has been found that most patients will respond to a combination of both drugs and therapy in dealing with their anxiety issues, with better results than with just one or the other alone.

In some circles, it is said that acupuncture – and acupressure, in theory – can help relieve the problem of anxiety. The relaxing effects of both of the above techniques are similar to that of a good massage, and can help rid the body of stress. While some patients with anxiety might respond to such, there is no real data backing up the claim that it can fix anxiety. Indeed, while Traditional Chinese Medicine has an extensive list of conditions and disorders that can be treated under the auspices of a master practitioner, there have never been any claims that they could cure anxiety. Acupuncture can help relieve stress and tension, and some believe it is this function of the ancient art that helps people with anxiety in dealing with their problem.

Ultimately, the answer of which is the best method for dealing with anxiety is unanswerable. Similar to determining which poker player is the best of all time, the answer is ultimately one that is based on too many variables. The short answer to the question is that the best method for dealing with anxiety is whichever one works best for the patient.