July 25th, 2025
Before we dive in, let’s get one thing straight: there’s no magic, step-by-step formula that cures anxiety. Despite what some programs or “recovery formulas” might claim, anxiety treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether you experience anxiety occasionally in certain situations or have an anxiety disorder, there is no ONE thing you can do to stop it. The truth is this: what works for one person might not work for another.
Effective anxiety treatment must be personalized, flexible, and based on your unique needs, symptoms, and severity. We’re here to give helpful and realistic tips for finding the right anxiety treatment for you as well as things you should keep in mind to get the best results during your treatment journey. Let’s begin!
The first ingredient necessary to the anxiety treatment formula is commitment. No matter how you choose to treat your anxiety, you must commit to it, especially if you are suffering from severe anxiety. Your chosen treatment method can’t be something you simply try once and expect immediate results from, nor can it be something you only do occasionally.
For effective anxiety treatment, you have to be committed to your treatment plan and incorporate it into your everyday life.
The next step in creating your anxiety treatment plan is doing your due diligence in learning about anxiety. There’s a difference between feeling nervous in situations where it’s expected and experiencing anxiety that goes beyond what’s typical.
For example, taking the bar to practice law and feeling anxious is a normal reaction. However, when anxiety interferes with your daily life, when it is seemingly uncontrollable, persistent, and overwhelming- then that is when you should consult with a mental healthcare professional about anxiety.
This is why it is important to truly understand what it is that you’re experiencing so that you and your healthcare provider can create an anxiety treatment plan that actually works.
Some aspects of popular anxiety treatment plans are mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness is a form of meditation that intensely focuses on being in the moment. Mindfulness exercises require the absence of judgment or interpretation of the feelings and senses that are occurring within the moment and encourages engagement with the environment currently around you.
Mindfulness exercises have been proven to help reduce anxiety because of their ability to relax the body and the mind. Mindfulness exercises take lots of practice and the more you use them, the easier it is for you to focus on being in the moment. There are various types of mindfulness exercises, but it is important to discover which type of exercise works best for you!
Here's a blog on how you can get started with practicing mindfulness:
Being Present: Benefits Of Mindfulness and How To Get Started
Another aspect people use is daily activities. Completing daily exercises or worksheets related to treating your anxiety, like logging what triggers anxiety and what you did at the moment that helped. These types of exercises can hold you accountable on a daily basis. Other aspects of anxiety recovery formulas include taking care of yourself holistically; mind, body, and soul. This means having a healthy diet, being physically active, and being spiritually aligned with your own personal beliefs.
Another key part of anxiety treatment is using small activities you can incorporate in your day-to-day. This can include completing daily exercises or worksheets related to treating your anxiety, like logging what triggers your anxiety and what you did in the moment that helped. These types of exercises can help you stay accountable and track your progress over time. It doesn’t have to be worksheets, it can be as simple as casually journaling your triggers and noting down what helped, the point is to incorporate small, consistent practices.
These daily exercises don’t just build awareness; they create structure and give you tools to respond more effectively when anxiety shows up.
It’s also important to take a holistic approach. Supporting your mental health means caring for your mind, body, and soul. This might include eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, and staying connected to your personal beliefs or spiritual practices. Together, these habits create a strong foundation for long-term healing.
Strengthening bonds with people that you love is also a part of anxiety treatment formulas. A support system that can help you through the unfortunate difficulties anxiety can bring to your life is important. Many people believe that when you struggle with something, you have to face it alone.
While you are the person experiencing it, that does not mean you have to suffer alone. Having people in your life that can help keep you accountable is a benefit and helps create a positive environment. Actively creating a positive environment and mindset is a powerful part of any anxiety recovery plan. Negativity does not breed success, but positivity does- it helps create the foundation you need to stay motivated and resilient as you manage your anxiety.
Prescription medication and psychotherapy are considered evidence-based treatments for anxiety. Some may argue that they are two of the most effective, research-backed options available. For many people, combining these approaches offers the best chance at lasting relief.
Anxiety medication—such as SSRIs or benzodiazepines—can help regulate brain chemistry, reduce symptoms, and make it easier to function day to day. Medication isn’t a cure, but it can be a valuable tool, especially for those experiencing moderate to severe anxiety.
Anxiety therapy, particularly evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), helps individuals understand their anxiety, identify triggers, and develop coping strategies. Therapy empowers you to change thought patterns, manage emotions, and build long-term resilience.
Whether used alone or together, therapy and medication are proven tools that can be tailored to your specific needs. They can be key components of a well-rounded anxiety treatment plan—and it's always best to explore these options with a licensed mental health professional.
For individuals struggling with severe or persistent anxiety, traditional therapy may not always provide enough support. That’s where outpatient mental health programs, like Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), can make a meaningful difference.
These structured mental health treatment programs offer a higher level of care without requiring inpatient hospitalization. Patients typically attend multiple therapy sessions per week—ranging from individual therapy and group sessions to skill-building workshops and psychiatric support.
PHP and IOP programs are especially helpful for those whose anxiety is interfering with daily life, work, school, or relationships. They provide a safe, consistent space to stabilize symptoms, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and build a strong foundation for long-term recovery.
If you're experiencing intense anxiety that feels unmanageable, a PHP or IOP program could be an essential part of your treatment plan—offering the structure, support, and professional guidance you need to take back control. Clarity Clinic offers the best mental health treatment programs for anxiety in Chicago, Evanston, and Arlington Heights! We also offer Online mental health treatment programs such as virtual IOP for adults.
Keep in mind, your experience with anxiety, even the way an anxiety disorder manifests can be unique to you. Be open to trying different things, if something doesn’t work, try something new! The ultimate anxiety recovery formula is the one that works best for YOU. Book a consultation with one of our psychiatrists or therapists near you at Clarity Clinic. From there, our mental healthcare professionals will work with you to build a personalized anxiety treatment plan, expertly tailored to meet your unique needs.
Apart from offering the best psychiatrists for anxiety treatment (anxiety medication management and consultation) and the best anxiety therapists (anxiety therapy), our mental health clinics also offer outpatient mental health treatment programs like PHP and IOP. If you are interested in learning more about our anxiety treatment programs, fill out this form.
We have mental health clinics located in the Loop, River North, Lakeview Broadway, Lakeview Belmont, Evanston, and Arlington Heights. For added convenience we also offer virtual mental health services such as online therapy, online telehealth appointments, and virtual IOP programs (+18). What are you waiting for? Get access to affordable mental health treatment now at Clarity Clinic!
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