What Is Treat Anxiety And How To Utilize It
Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone fears and worries at times, but those with anxiety have a hard to control their reactions. Psychotherapy and medication like beta blockers, which are used to reduce blood pressure, and benzodiazepines may help.
Self-help strategies can aid in easing symptoms. Exercise, for instance helps reduce stress and relaxes your body.
Medication
If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety, medication may be an alternative. Anxiety medication suppresses fear signals and the fight or flight response within the body. Antidepressants are the most commonly used drugs used to treat anxiety. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram), sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first medications prescribed. The SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also sometimes used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be very helpful in the short term however, they can be addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. The most common benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
Only licensed health specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care physicians and OBGYNs. They must also receive special training in order to prescribe medications.
Certain people utilize alternative therapies, like exercise, to ease anxiety. They can also find relaxation methods to reduce stress like mindfulness meditation and deep breathing. 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 can aid in relieving anxiety. However, it is important to consult your doctor before taking any supplements to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a complete therapy program that includes lifestyle changes, psychotherapy and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and backed by evidence-based research. It targets maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. Although different CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders they all share common treatment goals and methods.
The first step in CBT is to discover dysfunctional thought patterns that can cause anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and confront them. The therapist will also help patients recognize and modify avoidance behaviours. The therapist may request patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries in between sessions, and to apply the behavioural strategies they have learned in their daily life.
The ultimate goal is to teach patients how to be their own therapists, helping them to understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will help them remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety and other negative feelings and build a stronger resilience.
CBT techniques involve the identification and correction of mental distortions that affect the patient, such as overgeneralizing catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or minimizing positive events. In addition, therapists will aid the patient in developing techniques to cope with anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be utilized to treat all kinds of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
Exposure therapy is another element of CBT. This involves exposing the patient to the thing or circumstance that creates anxiety. This can be done by creating a mental picture or confronting the situation or object in real life. For instance, a patient with PTSD who fears a specific location could be encouraged to go to the location in which they were assaulted. Alternatively, a person with social anxiety disorder who is afraid of speaking in public might be urged to give a speech in front of the group.
Some studies have shown that combining strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. The results are mixed and further research is needed. In general, combining medications with CBT is more effective than either one by itself. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been proven to be particularly effective in people with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective treatments to treat anxiety. It allows you to confront things you are afraid of in a safe environment with a therapist. The process might sound daunting, but it can help you understand that your fears are not based on reality and that you are able to accept the discomfort caused by your triggers. It can also help increase your confidence in navigating the obstacles of life.
There are many different kinds of exposure therapy, including virtual reality, imaginal and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're afraid of public speaking your therapist might suggest you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with an acquaintance. Then, you'll be able to slowly face the situation in real life with the help of your therapist's support. Each session your therapist will be able to see if you're feeling anxious or panicked and alter the intensity of your exposure according to the need.
In an appointment, your therapist will teach you to calm down and deal with your feelings before explaining the triggers that trigger your anxiety. This may include techniques such as mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided imagery. They will also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in the behavior that leads to anxiety, for example, avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually done in a series weekly sessions. Some people need more than two sessions to overcome the fear.
The first step is to determine what triggers your anxiety. For example, flying on a plane or being in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will assist you choose the best exposure therapy method that fits your personality and needs. This could mean using a hierarchical system to decide the order in which exposures are made or a series of relaxation techniques prior to starting.
In vivo therapy requires you to confront the situation or thing that you are scared of. It could be as easy as walking across an overpass or having someone touch your arm. This method can be used to treat certain fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate within your schedule between appointments, which is why it is important to find a therapist who specializes in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can find a certified specialist by contacting your local psychological association or the mental health network. It's also a good idea to review reviews and ask your relatives or friends for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies encompass a variety of healthcare treatments that aren't typically thought of as part of Western medicine. They can ease anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging an active lifestyle. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal therapy yoga, meditation, music therapy, and massage. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.
I Am Psychiatry has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with slight improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to promote mindfulness, which is the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation is suitable for almost everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or instruction. People with physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditative practice that involves moving.
Other therapies that can be used to ease anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis and self-hypnosis. These techniques assist you in controlling anxiety by the focus on relaxing muscles, calming breathing and visual imagery. They can be used at home, or in a treatment setting. These techniques are often paired with other forms of therapy such a cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
Another way to ease anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energized which can decrease your feelings of anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective anxiety treatments. It helps you recognize and overcome negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to assess your fears and determine the probability that they'll happen. You can apply strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing the pros and cons of an event, and determining if it's reasonable to be concerned about something that could happen.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique, is used to relieve stress. It is based on an assessment of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen meridian or kidney can cause anxiety. Acupuncture studies have suggested that it can reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.