Ms. Britt Marie Berglind, LPCC, PhD, PSYCHOANALYST

Collectively, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues diagnosed in the United States -- even more common than depression. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety, and it is extremely common for a person with anxiety to have another illness at the same time, such as depression, a physical illness, or substance abuse.

Treatment for anxiety usually involves medication and psychotherapy together. Medications used may include antidepressants (which also work for anxiety), anti-anxiety medications, or beta blockers (which can be used to control the physical symptoms of anxiety). Psychotherapy can be useful to teach patients new ways of thinking and reacting so that they can manage their feelings of worry and fear. Support groups can also be very effective for anxiety, and they can be a form of treatment themselves for social phobias. Stress management, relaxation techniques, and meditation all help reduce feelings of anxiety or of being out of control. Finally, having a strong support network of family and friends is an excellent way to help manage the difficulties of life with anxiety.

Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed by a psychologist, psychiatrist, clinical social worker, or other mental health professional. The disorder is a type of "Cluster B" personality disorder, which are chronic conditions characterized by unstable and dysfunctional behaviors that affect one's relationships with others. People with BPD often have co-existing mental conditions, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or substance abuse.

Borderline personality disorder is known to develop and become present during adolescence, however, mental health providers rarely diagnose anyone under the age of 18 with BPD. Mental health providers analyze behaviors, family history, and discuss symptoms with their patients, which may lead to a diagnosis using the DSM-5 criteria for BPD.

Borderline personality disorder is treated with psychotherapy and oral medications. Forms of therapy like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people with BPD identify self-destructive attitudes and harmful behaviors, which they may then be able to manage or change. Group therapy is another treatment option which may improve people with BPD's ability to share their emotions and to promote positivity. Psychiatrists may prescribe patients antidepressants and/or anxiety medications such as Prozac (fluoxetine), Wellbutrin (bupropion), and Zoloft (sertraline). Some patients may receive antipsychotic drugs which can help stabilize mood and reduce impulsivity.

With consistent treatment, people with BPD are able to recognize and prevent destructive behaviors and mood swings, typically by changing their patterns of thought. Many people with borderline personality disorder are able to live successful and healthy lives.

Couples counseling, also referred to as couples therapy or marital counseling, can help people assess and better understand fractures in their relationships. A couples counselor may ask partners to determine what problems they are facing. Couples counselors may instruct each partner to describe their underlying emotions, experiences, and beliefs in detail. This process may be performed with both partners in the same room or just one at a time. The goal of this exercise is for partners to gain greater understanding of each other's needs and to create solutions for these needs to be met. For example, a couple may arrive at the conclusion that one partner's work schedule leads the other to feel neglected or overwhelmed. Then, couples might implement strategies such as increased communication and partner agreements. These strategies may address previous conflicts as well as prevent new ones from occurring.

In some instances, couples counselors may recommend individual therapy for one or both partners. Individual therapy can address mental health problems that negatively impact the relationship. With continued counseling, people can restore communication and may gain greater understanding of one another's needs, enabling them to better develop solutions for these needs to be properly met.