Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
The people suffering from anxiety aren't able to manage their reactions. Everyone is worried and anxious at times. Psychotherapy can help, as can medications like beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies may also help ease symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relax the body.
Medication
If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren't working medications could be a viable option. Anxiety medication suppresses fears and triggers the fight or flight response within the body. Antidepressants are the most common medications used for anxiety. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram), sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are usually the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.
Sometimes, benzodiazepines can be used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be extremely beneficial in the short term however, they can be addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.
Only licensed health professionals can prescribe medications to treat anxiety. They can be psychologists, psychiatrists doctors of primary care and OB-GYNs. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medication, but they must receive special training to do so.
Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to lessen anxiety. You can also find relaxation techniques to reduce stress, like 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 melatonin or 5-HTP may also aid in easing anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements to treat anxiety or any other health condition. Supplements can be taken as part of a comprehensive therapy plan that includes lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively studied and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for anxiety disorders. It focuses on maladaptive thinking or behaviors that create anxiety. Despite the fact that different CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals 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 challenge. Therapists can also help patients recognize and modify their avoidance behaviors. The therapist will ask patients to keep journals or "thought records" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in their daily life.
The goal is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, helping them to understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them to remove unfounded fears, lessen 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 mind that lead to overgeneralization and catastrophizing. Therapists also aid the patient in developing techniques to cope with stressful situations. These techniques can be employed to treat any type 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. It involves exposure to the object or situation that causes them anxiety. This can be done by imagining or confronting the situation or object in real life. A patient suffering from PTSD, who is afraid of a specific location, might be encouraged by their physician to visit the site in which they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder who fears speaking in public might be urged to give a speech in front of an audience.
Certain studies have demonstrated that combination strategies of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and further research is needed. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than either alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines and CBT have been shown to be particularly effective for those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
Exposure therapy is among the most effective treatments to manage anxiety. It can help you confront the things you are scared of in a secure environment with a therapist. It can be difficult, but the process can help you recognize that your fears are not justifiable and that you are able to tolerate your triggers. It will also boost your confidence to take on life's challenges.
There are many different kinds of exposure therapy, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist might encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with a friend. Then, you can gradually confront the situation with your therapist's support. In each session your therapist will examine you to determine if you're feeling anxious or scared and alter the intensity of your exposure as needed.
In an appointment, your therapist will teach you how to relax and cope with your feelings before explaining the triggers that create fear. This can include techniques like meditation, breathing with rhythm, and guided imagery. They will also teach strategies to avoid engaging in the behavior that causes anxiety, like being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. Some people require more than two sessions to overcome the fear.
The first step is to determine the triggers that cause anxiety. For example, flying on a plane or being with 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 sequence of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques before starting.
In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or situation you are scared of. It could be as simple as walking across an overpass or having someone touch your arm. This method can be used to treat specific phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.
It can be challenging to squeeze in sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore it is essential to find a therapist that is specialized in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychological association or mental network. It's recommended to review reviews and ask your friends or family members for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies encompass a variety of health treatments that aren't typically thought of as part of Western medicine. They can aid in reducing anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyles. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, yoga, music therapy, and massage. They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with slight improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to help promote mindfulness, which is the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be done by almost anyone, and it doesn't require special equipment or training. People with physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditation that requires moving.
Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercise, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. These techniques help you control anxiety by focus on relaxing muscles, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or in the context of a treatment facility. These techniques are often combined with other forms of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can decrease 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 an effective treatment for anxiety. natural anxiety treatments helps you identify and confront negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will show you how to assess your fears and determine their probability of occurring. You can apply strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of an incident, and determining if it is realistic to be concerned about something that could happen.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method that can be employed to treat anxiety. It is based on an assessment of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians could cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.