Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
People with anxiety are unable to manage their reactions. Everyone is worried and anxious at times. Psychotherapy and medication like beta blockers that are used to lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines may help.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relaxes the body.
Medication
If psychotherapy or lifestyle changes aren't helping your anxiety medications could be a good option. Anxiety medication helps to reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants, the most common medication used to treat anxiety are antidepressants. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are often the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine, duloxetine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also used to combat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they are addictive. 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 them. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care physicians and OBGYNs. Nurse practitioners, family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medications, but they must receive special training to do so.
Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to reduce anxiety. They can also find relaxation methods to 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.
Additionally natural supplements like melatonin and 5-HTP can also help to ease anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements for anxiety, or any other condition. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a complete 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 treating anxiety disorders. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that create anxiety. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and methods.
The first step in CBT is to identify the thoughts that are not working and can cause anxiety. In sessions, patients are taught to recognize negative beliefs and confront them. Therapists can also help patients identify and change behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist may ask patients to keep diaries or "thought notes" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in their everyday life.
The aim is to eventually help patients become their own therapists by aiding them in understanding their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will help them eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and build a stronger resilience.
CBT methods focus on identifying and changing distortions of the patient's mind, such as overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. The therapist can also help the patient develop strategies to cope to deal 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 aspect of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-inducing subject or event. This can be done by imagining or confronting the object or scenario in real life. drugs to treat anxiety with PTSD who is afraid of a certain location, could be urged by their physician to visit the site in which they were attacked. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who is scared of public speaking might be encouraged to deliver a speech front of an audience.
Certain studies have demonstrated that combining strategies of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. The results are mixed and further research is needed. In general, mixing medications with CBT is more effective than any one by itself. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be especially effective in patients suffering from generalized anxiety or panic disorder.
Therapy for exposure
One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you face the things that make you anxious in a safe environment with the help of a professional. It might seem daunting but the process can help you recognize that your fears aren't justified and that you can be able to accept the triggers. It will also boost your confidence to take on the challenges of life.
There are many different types of treatments for exposure, 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 friend or imagine yourself giving the speech. Then, you'll be able to gradually confront the situation in real life with the help of your counselor's assistance. Your therapist will monitor your anxiety and panic during each session. They will adjust the intensity of exposure if necessary.
During the session, your therapist will teach you to relax, manage your emotions, and then introduces you to triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This may include techniques such as meditation, breathing with rhythm and guided imagery. They can also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, such as avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.
The first step is to pinpoint what triggers your anxiety. For example, flying on a plane or being with strangers. Your therapist will then help you to decide on a method of exposure therapy that is appropriate to your personality and needs. This might involve using an order to determine the order of exposures or a relaxation practice prior to starting.
In vivo therapy requires you to confront the situation or thing that you are afraid of. This could be as simple as crossing the bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This technique can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific phobias.
In vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to integrate within your schedule between appointments, so it is important to find a therapist who is specialized in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can locate an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or mental health network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies include a range of healthcare treatments that aren't typically thought of as part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines, meditation, Yoga, music therapy, massage and yoga. They also can reduce depression symptoms by lowering the levels of stress hormones in your body.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs different kinds of meditation to promote mindfulness, or the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be practiced by anyone, and doesn't require special equipment or training. However, those who have physical limitations might not be able to participate in meditation that requires moving.
Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis and the use of hypnosis. These techniques can help you control your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles, calming breaths, and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a treatment setting. These techniques are often used in combination with other types of therapy, like exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Regular exercise and eating balanced meals are two more ways to lessen anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood-pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that contribute to anxiety. A healthy diet will make you feel more energetic which can lessen anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective anxiety treatments. It helps you identify and overcome negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to evaluate fears and determine their likelihood of occurring. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining if it's reasonable to be worried about a possibility that might occur.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese technique, can be employed to treat stress. It is based on a study of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, referred to as qi, located in specific meridians. For instance, a lack of qi in the spleen or kidney meridians can trigger anxiety. Acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM techniques.