Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone fears and worries at times, but those with anxiety have a hard managing their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as do medications such as beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
best anxiety disorder treatment -help strategies can help alleviate symptoms. Exercise, for example can help reduce stress and relaxes your body.
Medication
If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't working medications could be a good option. Anxiety medication helps to reduce anxiety signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety are antidepressants. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters that influence mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are usually the first medications prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Benzodiazepines are used to treat insomnia and anxiety.
Only licensed health care specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. These providers can include psychiatrists, psychologists doctors of primary care and some OBGYNs. They also need to undergo special training in order to prescribe medications.
Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to reduce anxiety. There are also methods to relax and relieve stress, such as deep breathing and mindfulness meditation. Biofeedback can be another beneficial technique, in which a therapist monitors your brain-wave patterns on an electroencephalograph and teaches you how to control them at will.
Finally, natural supplements like 5-HTP or melatonin may aid in relieving anxiety. However, it is important to consult your physician prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or other reason. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle changes can enhance the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and supported by evidence-based research. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behaviors that create anxiety. While a variety of individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they share certain common treatment goals and methods.
The first step in CBT is to identify dysfunctional thought patterns that cause anxiety. Through sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and confront them. The therapist will also help patients identify and alter behavior patterns that hinder them from doing so. The therapist will request patients to keep diaries or "thought notes" outside of sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in everyday life.
The ultimate aim is to train patients to become their own therapists through helping them understand their habits of thought and behavior. This will enable them to eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and build a stronger resilience.
CBT methods focus on identifying and modifying distortions of the patient's thoughts like overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. Additionally, therapists assist the patient in developing strategies for dealing with anxiety-inducing situations. These techniques can be used to treat all types of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
Another component of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-provoking object or situation. This can be done by imagining the object or situation or confronting it directly in real life. For example, a patient suffering from PTSD who is scared of a certain area could be urged to go to the location where they were abused. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of speaking in public, could be encouraged to make an address in front of an audience.
Certain studies have demonstrated that combination strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. The results are mixed and further research is needed. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than either of them on its own. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be particularly effective for people with panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat anxiety. It helps you confront the things that you are afraid of in a comfortable environment with an expert. The process may sound difficult but it will help you learn that your fears are unfounded and you can accept the discomfort of your triggers. It can also boost your confidence in facing life's challenges.
There are many kinds of treatments for exposure, including imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. For instance, if you're nervous about speaking in public Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with a friend. You can then gradually face the scenario with your therapist’s support. Each session your therapist will examine you to determine if you're feeling anxious or panicked and adjust the intensity as needed.
During the session, your therapist will teach you to relax, manage your emotions and then introduces triggers that cause you to feel fearful. This could include meditation, a rhythmic breathing, and guided images. They will also teach strategies to avoid engaging in the behavior that triggers anxiety, such being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series of weekly sessions. some people require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to determine the triggers that cause anxiety. For example, flying on a plane or being around strangers. Your therapist will help you choose a method of exposure therapy that fits your needs and personality. This could mean using an orderly system to determine the sequence in which exposures are performed or a series of relaxation techniques prior to beginning.
In vivo exposure therapy involves confronting the object or situation that you're afraid of. This might be as simple as walking across a bridge or having someone touch your arm. This technique can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific phobias.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to integrate into your schedule between appointments, which is why it's important to find a therapist that is specialized in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can search for an experienced specialist by searching your local psychological association or the mental health network. It's also a good idea to read reviews and ask friends or family members for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies are a range of healthcare treatments that are not traditionally considered part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle habits. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines yoga, meditation music therapy, massage. They can also help reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with slight improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach uses different meditation techniques to promote mindfulness, or the ability of staying in the present moment while let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be performed by everyone, and does not require special equipment or any special training. However, those who have physical limitations may not be able to take part in meditative practices that involve moving.
Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercise and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and hypnosis. These techniques help you manage anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles breathing, calm breaths, and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a treatment setting. These techniques are often combined with other forms therapy, like cognitive behavior therapy or exposure therapy.
Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more relaxed, which in turn can decrease your feelings of anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and challenge negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to assess your anxiety and determine the likelihood that they'll happen. You can apply strategies such as comparing your fears with past experiences, weighing out the pros and cons of an incident, and determining if it is realistic to be worried about a possibility that might occur.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese method, can be used to relieve stress. It is based on the evaluation of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridian can trigger anxiety. Acupuncture can help alleviate anxiety symptoms when paired with psychotherapy and other CAM methods.
