Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
The people suffering from anxiety aren't able to manage their reactions. Everyone is anxious and scared at times. Psychotherapy and medications like beta blockers that help lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines can aid in managing.
Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relaxes the body.
Medication
If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication could be an option. Anxiety medication suppresses fear signals and the fight or flight response in the body. Antidepressants are among the most popular drugs used to treat anxiety. They boost levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac 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 can also be used to combat anxiety. They are fast-acting and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety however only licensed health professionals can prescribe these medications. They can be psychologists, psychiatrists primary care physicians, and OBGYNs. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medication, but they must be trained specifically to do this.
Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to lessen anxiety. You can also find ways to relax and reduce stress, including 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.
Lastly natural supplements like 5-HTP and melatonin can help ease anxiety. However, it is important to consult your doctor before taking any supplement for anxiety or any other reason. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a complete therapy plan that includes psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and backed by evidence-based research. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that lead to anxiety. Although a variety of individual CBT protocols have been developed for various anxiety disorders, they share the same treatment goals and techniques.
CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist may also assist patients recognize and modify their avoidance behavior. The therapist may ask patients to keep diaries or "thought notes" outside of sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in everyday life.
Eventually, the final goal is to help patients to be their own therapists by helping them to 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 methods include the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's thinking which include overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, and minimizing positive events. The therapist also assists 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".
The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. best anxiety disorder treatment involves exposure to the situation or object that creates anxiety. This can be done by imagining or confronting the object or scenario in real life. For instance, a patient with PTSD who is scared of a certain location could be encouraged to visit the spot where they were assaulted. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, may be encouraged to deliver an address before an audience.
Some studies have proven that combining CBT with pharmaceutical therapy can improve outcomes. However, these results are mixed and more research is needed. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than either alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have proven to be especially effective in people with anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective ways for treating anxiety. It helps you confront the things you are scared of in a safe setting with an expert. The process may sound difficult, but it can help you learn that your fears are not based on reality and that you can tolerate the discomfort of your triggers. It can also help increase your confidence in dealing with the challenges of life.
There are many kinds of exposure therapies, 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 partner or imagine yourself delivering the speech. You can then gradually confront the situation with your therapist's support. Each session, your therapist will check to determine if you're experiencing anxiety or panic and adjust the level of exposure as needed.
In an appointment the therapist will show you how to relax and cope with your emotions, before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that cause you anxiety. This may include mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided imagery. They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, such as staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted over a series of weekly sessions. some individuals require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fear.
The first step is to identify the thing or event that triggers anxiety, for example, flying on a plane, or being around strangers. Your therapist will help you select the best exposure therapy method that is suited to your personality and needs. This might involve using an order to determine the order in which exposures are given or practicing relaxation techniques before starting.
In vivo exposure therapy involves directly facing the thing or event that you're scared of. This might be as simple as crossing a bridge or touching your arm. This method can be used to treat specific fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate within your schedule between appointments, so it is essential to find a therapist that specializes in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can search for an experienced specialist by searching your local psychological association or mental health network. It's an excellent idea to look up reviews and ask relatives or friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies cover a wide range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encourage the healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicines, meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They also can reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
A recent study revealed that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with slight improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or the ability of staying in the present moment and getting rid of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or knowledge. People with physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditation that requires movements.
Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercise as well as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and hypnosis. These techniques assist you in controlling your anxiety through the focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breath and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or within the context of a treatment facility. These techniques are often used in combination with other types of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.
Another way to ease anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can reduce the heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that contribute to anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more relaxed which can decrease your feelings of anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective anxiety treatments. It helps you identify and overcome negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to assess your the potential for anxiety and assess their likelihood of occurring. You can use strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences by weighing the pros and cons of a situation, and determining if it's realistic to be worried about what could occur.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method that can be employed to alleviate anxiety. It is based upon an evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called qi) found in specific meridians. For instance, a deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridians can cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM methods.