With anxiety problems should you just face your fears head on ?

CBT therapy: So much depends on what the specifics are. But whatever they are you'll be best off w/ the help of the most appropriate psychotherapist. There are excellent techniques from which you can learn how to do it safely. Find one you feel you can trust and you'll have the support you need.

Learn skills first: It depends if you have the skills to reduce your physiological arousal (anxiety) and replace your intrusive negative/scary thoughts. It would help to work with a trained professional and set up a program that will aid you in your goals. This is one of many great sites that have information to get you started. http://www.anxietybc.com/

Not always: Fear is there for a reason. Reasonable fears should be acknowledged and often addressed with the appropriate response. Sorting the reasonable and unreasonable fears can be difficult and may benefit from psychotherapy.

Anxiety: One can face all of one's anxiety problems head-on. However, it goes a lot easier to talk to a therapist about it as you go through it.

It is always : advisable to face your fears head on, but you don't have to do it alone. Consider reaching out to a psychologist to learn ways to reduce anxiety and cope with your fears.

Yes !: Talk about feelings & address problems. Don't avoid them. Aim for 7.5 - 8 hours of sleep/ night. Daily physical activity is optimal in a green space. Eat healthfully. Cut out junk carbs, caffeine & alcohol (or moderate). Try Qi Gong, Tai Chi, acupuncture, acupressure, homeopathy, meditation, Yoga, exercise program, deep breathing exercises or Progressive muscle relaxation.

Yes and no: It is true that facing fears is needed to overcome anxiety. However It is advised that if anxiety is significant enough that it impacts day to day functioning that this be done with a trained exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapist. Simply facing what may be overwhelming anxiety by facing a fear all at once, known as flooding, may be too much and make anxiety worse if not done properly

Depends upon the: severity of your fears. Most can't just walk into their symptoms (like Rollo May stated); rather, they have to ease in through a more progressive process. First you need to understand the anatomy of anxiety, then its genesis, THEN walking into your fears is easier. You'll need some guidance, or at least information: http://www.psychologyproductsandservices.com/page2.html

Not necessarily: Hi Kristie, it may be a common notion to "face your fears head on". But in actuality, it is likely best if you taper your exposure to the anxiety. Exposing yourself to your anxiety in small doses rather than "flooding" will help you build confidence and a tolerance to the anxiety over time. Consult with a therapist specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention.

Yes!: Yes, facing fears head on is the best way to deal with anxiety. Facing fears allows you to deal with the problem directly, which is empowering. Also, if you don't face the problem head on, then the anxiety often builds on itself, because many people actually also get anxiety ABOUT the fact that they're anxious... so it becomes exponential. The good news is cognitive behavioral therapy works!