Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a tough time controlling their reactions. Psychotherapy and medications like beta blockers that help reduce blood pressure, and benzodiazepines can help.
Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relaxes the body.
Medication
If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety then medication could be a viable alternative. Anxiety medications reduce fears and triggers the fight or flight response in the body. Antidepressants are the most commonly used drugs used to treat anxiety. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
The benzodiazepines can also be used to combat anxiety. They're fast-acting and very helpful in the short-term however, they can be 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 a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety but only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe these medications. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists doctors of primary care and some OB-GYNs. They must also receive special training to prescribe medication.
Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to lessen anxiety. They can also discover ways to relax and reduce stress such as 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 such as 5-HTP and melatonin can help ease anxiety. Consult your physician before taking supplements for anxiety or any other condition. Utilizing supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications can maximize 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 empirical evidence. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that cause anxiety to persist. Although a variety of individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share some common goals for treatment and techniques.
The first step in CBT is to discover dysfunctional thought patterns that can cause anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist can also help patients recognize and modify avoidance behaviours. The therapist might ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions, and to implement the strategies for behavioural change they have learned in their daily life.
The ultimate aim is to train patients to be their own therapists by helping them to understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will help them remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and improve their resilience.
CBT methods involve identifying and changing distortions of the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. Additionally, therapists aid the patient in developing strategies for dealing with anxiety-inducing situations. These techniques can be applied to any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious object or situation. This may be done through visualizing the object or scenario, or by directly confronting it in real life. A patient suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a certain area, may be urged by their physician to visit the site where they were attacked. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who fears public speaking might be encouraged to speak in front of the group.
Certain studies have demonstrated that combining CBT with the use of pharmacotherapy can enhance outcomes. These results are mixed, and more research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is generally more effective than either alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be especially effective in people with generalized anxiety or panic disorder.
Exposure therapy
One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you confront the things that scare you in a safe environment with the help of a therapy. click through the next article may sound difficult but it will help you realize that your fears are not based on reality and that you are able to accept the discomfort of your triggers. It can also improve your confidence in dealing with life's challenges.
There are many different kinds of exposure therapy, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy, and systematic desensitization. If you're afraid to speak in public, your therapist could encourage you to practice with a buddy or imagine yourself giving the speech. Then, you'll be able to slowly face the situation in real life with your therapist's support. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety and panic during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure if necessary.
During the session, your therapist will teach you how to relax and manage your emotions and then introduces you to triggers that can make you feel scared. This may include meditation, a rhythmic breathing, and guided images. They can also teach strategies to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, like avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. Some people require more than two sessions to overcome their fear.
The first step is to pinpoint the triggers that cause anxiety. For example, flying on a plane or in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will assist you select the best exposure therapy method that fits your personal style and needs. This could include using an orderly system to determine the order in which exposures are made or practicing relaxation techniques prior to starting.
In vivo exposure therapy involves confronting the object or situation that you're afraid of. It could be as simple as walking across a bridge or touching your arm. This approach can be used to treat specific phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.
It can be difficult to squeeze in the vivo exposure therapy in between appointments. Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist who is specialized in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. You can find a certified specialist by contacting your local psychological association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews or ask family and friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies encompass a variety of treatments for health that aren't typically thought of as part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle habits. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicines Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also help alleviate depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.
A recent study revealed that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with slight improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or being present in the moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation is suitable for almost anyone and does not require any special equipment or instruction. People who have physical limitations may not be able participate in meditation that requires movement.
Other treatments that can help relieve anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques assist you in controlling anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscle breathing, calming breath and visual imagery. These techniques can be used at home or in the context of a treatment facility. They are usually employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, like exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are two other ways to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce the heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, which are hormones that can cause anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels and can help reduce anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and confront negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will show you how to assess the likelihood of occurrence. You can employ strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing out the pros and cons of an event, and determining if it is realistic to be concerned about something that could happen.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique, is employed to treat stress. It is based on an evaluation of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, called Qi, which is located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the kidney or spleen meridian can trigger anxiety. Acupuncture studies have suggested that it can help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.