There is some research that suggests that anxiety disorders develop when people learn to associate certain situations with fear.

They learn to overestimate the degree of danger and the probability of harm in certain situations. Some people with anxiety disorders also underestimate their own abilities to cope in certain situations.

A number of brain chemicals have been found to be associated with anxiety disorders. These brain chemicals include norepinephrine, serotonin, and GABA. Brain scan research has revealed that certain areas of the brain may be different in those people who suffer from an anxiety disorder.

There may also be a genetic component. Close relatives of people with an anxiety disorder tend to have a slightly higher chance of also suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy
Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy is a form of treatment that involves two types of therapy.

It involves Cognitive Therapy and Behaviour Therapy. Cognitive Therapy helps you to look at your feared thoughts.

Usually your fears are exaggerated or irrational. Cognitive Therapy helps you to examine and challenge your fears.

Sometimes people with anxiety disorders will avoid or escape fearful situations. These behaviours usually lead to more anxiety in the future. Behaviour Therapy teaches you how to gradually face your fears and not avoid or escape these situations

Medications
Antidepressants can be helpful for some anxiety disorders. Even though they were initially developed for depression, they have been scientifically proven to be helpful for most of the anxiety disorders.

It is believed that they help in balancing the brain chemicals that cause anxiety disorders.

Because one of the side effects of antidepressants can be a short term increase in anxiety, your doctor may tell you to start the antidepressant at a much lower dosage to prevent this.

The initial increase in anxiety will usually go away after 1-2 weeks. Your doctor may also gradually increase your antidepressant over a period of 1-2 months, to dosages that are higher than that used for depression.

Scientific research has shown that you may need higher dosages of antidepressants to treat some of the anxiety disorders. It may also take longer for the medication to work.

It can take 8-12 weeks of being on the medication before you see any significant improvement. See section on medications for Major Depression for more information.

Benzodiazepines are a class of medications that are sometimes used in treating anxiety disorders. The common medications in this class are Valium/diazepam, Ativan/lorazepam, Rivotril/clonazepam, and Xanax/alprazolam.

These medications are quite effective in relieving anxiety temporarily. However, they can be quite addictive and difficult to stop. As a result, they are usually used for short periods of time, for example, 3-6 months only.

1. Learn as much as you can about the symptoms and treatments for anxiety disorders.

2. Support your relative's medication and treatment program.

3. View your relative's anxiety behaviours, as symptoms not character flaws. Remember that your relative is a person with a disorder, but who is healthy and capable in many other ways.

4. Do not participate in your relative's anxiety behaviours (for example: avoidance of certain situations or unusual compulsions), and explain to your relative that you are doing this to help support their treatment program. If you have fallen into the habit of participating in the anxiety behaviours, it will take some practice to change back to more normal behaviours.

5. Maintain a normal family life. As much as possible, do not allow the anxiety disorder to take over.

6. Keep communications positive, direct and clear. State what you want to happen rather than criticizing your relative for past behaviours.

7. Keep calm. Avoiding losing your temper will contribute to a positive atmosphere.

8. Combine humour with caring. Support doesn't always have to be serious. Respectful humour can help your relative detach from his or her symptoms.

9. If there are children in the home, explain that their family member behaves this way because he or she is sick with an illness, and reassure them that they did not cause it.

10. Depression can accompany an anxiety disorder. Learn the warning signs of suicide and make an emergency plan that includes these phone numbers: your relative's psychiatrist or family doctor, emergency services and the police. If possible make the plan with the assistance of your relative.

11. Take good care of yourself. Creating a low stress environment for you by seeking and accepting support, cultivating interests that are just yours, and taking a little time out each day to recharge your batteries will give you the energy to support your relative.

12. The most important thing to remember is that life is a marathon, not a sprint. While you are doing the best you can to provide support to your relative, you will sometimes find yourself accommodating to anxiety behaviours before you realize it. Try not to be judgmental toward yourself when you fall into old routines, in the same way that you try not to judge your relative. Just start again