Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
People suffering from anxiety are unable to manage their reactions. Everyone is anxious and scared at times. Psychotherapy and medication like beta blockers, which are used to lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines may help.
Self-help strategies can also help alleviate symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relaxes the body.
Medication
If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy do not help anxiety, medication might be an alternative. Anxiety medication reduces anxiety signals and the fight or flight response within the body. Antidepressants are the most common medication used to treat anxiety. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that influence mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines can also be used to treat anxiety. They're fast-acting and extremely beneficial in the short term however they are also addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. The most commonly used benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
There are many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety, however only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe these medications. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care physicians and some OB-GYNs. Nurse practitioners as well as family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medications, but they must get special training in doing this.
Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to reduce anxiety. They can also find relaxation techniques to reduce 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 easing anxiety. But, it is essential to consult your doctor before taking any supplements for anxiety or any other reason. Using supplements in conjunction with a comprehensive 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 researched and supported by evidence-based research. It targets maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. While a variety of individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share some common goals for treatment and methods.
The first step in CBT is to recognize the thoughts that are not working and cause anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and then challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and change avoidance behaviors. The therapist may ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries in between sessions, and to apply the strategies for behavioural change they have learned in everyday life.
The ultimate aim is to train patients to become their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behaviour. This will help them eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and improve their resilience.
CBT techniques involve identifying and changing distortions of the patient's mind like overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. The therapist will also help the patient develop coping strategies for stressful situations. These techniques can be applied to all types of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
Another aspect of CBT is exposure therapy. This involves exposing the patient to the object or situation that creates anxiety. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario or confronting it in actual life. For instance, a patient suffering from PTSD who is scared of a certain location might be encouraged to visit the spot where they were assaulted. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, may be encouraged to deliver a speech before a group.
Certain studies have demonstrated that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, these results aren't conclusive, and more research is needed. In general, combining medications and CBT is more effective than either one by itself. Combinations of benzodiazepines and CBT have been proven to be particularly effective in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.
Exposure therapy
One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you confront the things that scare you in a safe environment with an experienced professional. It may seem difficult but the process can help you recognize that your fears are not justified and that you can tolerate your triggers. It can also boost your confidence to face the challenges of life.
There are many different types of treatments for exposure, including imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. For instance, if you're scared of speaking in public, your therapist might encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with a friend. Then, you'll gradually face the scenario in real life with the help of your counselor's assistance. In each session, your therapist will check to see if you're feeling anxious or scared and alter the intensity of your exposure according to the need.
During an appointment, your therapist will teach you how to relax and cope with your emotions before introducing you to the triggers that cause you anxiety. This may include mindfulness, breathing rhythms, and guided images. They can also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in habit that causes anxiety, for example, avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted over a series of weekly sessions. However, some people require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to pinpoint the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or being around strangers. Your therapist can help you choose an exposure therapy approach that fits your personal style and needs. This could involve establishing a hierarchy to determine the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques before starting.
In vivo therapy requires you to confront the thing or event you are afraid of. It could be as simple as crossing an overpass or having someone else touch your arm. This method can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific phobias.
It can be challenging to schedule vivo exposure therapy between appointments. Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist who is specialized in this kind of cognitive therapy. You can find an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews or ask family and friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies are a wide array of health treatments that aren't considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging the healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicine as well as yoga, meditation, music therapy, massage, and yoga. They can also aid in relieving symptoms of depression by lowering levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research found that mindfulness-based programs resulted in moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs different kinds of meditation to promote mindfulness, which is the ability to focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be performed by almost anyone, and it does not require special equipment or any special training. However, those with physical limitations may not be able in meditation practices that require moving.
Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscle breathing, calming breath and visual imagery. They can be used at home, or in a therapeutic setting. These techniques are often paired with other forms of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are two more ways to lessen anxiety. Regular exercise can decrease the heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that cause anxiety. best herbal treatment for anxiety will increase your energy levels and can help reduce anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It helps you recognize and challenge negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will show you how to evaluate fears and determine their likelihood of occurrence. You can employ strategies such as comparing your fears to past experiences by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a situation, and determining whether it's realistic to be worried about something that might occur.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique, can be utilized to relieve stress. It is based on the evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called Qi) found in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridians could cause anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.