anxiety-treatment

Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat AnxietyThe people suffering from anxiety aren’t able to control their reactions. Everyone is anxious and scared at times. Psychotherapy can help, as does medications such as beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.Self-help strategies can aid in easing symptoms. For example, exercise helps reduce stress and relaxes the body.MedicationIf a change in lifestyle or psychotherapy do not help anxiety, medication might be a viable option. Anxiety medication reduces fear signals and the fight or flight response within the body. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety are antidepressants. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are usually the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. They’re quick-acting and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they are addictive. The most common benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).Only licensed health professionals can prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists primary care physicians, and OBGYNs. They also need to undergo special training to prescribe medication.Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to lessen anxiety. There are also 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.In addition, natural supplements like melatonin or 5-HTP may also help ease anxiety. However, you should always consult your physician prior to taking any supplement to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Supplements can be used in conjunction with a comprehensive therapy program that includes lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and supplements.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and backed by evidence-based research. It targets the maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate anxiety over time. Although a variety of individual CBT protocols have been developed for various anxiety disorders, they share some common goals for treatment and methods.CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thought patterns which contribute to anxiety. Through sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and confront them. The therapist can also help patients recognize and modify their behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist will ask patients to keep journals or “thought records” outside of sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they’ve learned in everyday life.Eventually, the aim is to train patients to be their own therapists through helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behaviour. This will enable them to remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety and other negative emotions and build a stronger resilience.CBT methods include identifying and changing mental distortions that affect the patient which include overgeneralizing or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. Additionally, therapists help the patient to develop strategies for dealing with 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”.Another element of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient’s anxiety-inducing subject or event. This can be done by creating a mental picture or confronting the subject or situation in real life. A patient with PTSD, who is afraid of a certain area, may be urged by their physician to visit the location in which they were attacked. Alternatively, a person with social anxiety disorder who is afraid of public speaking could be encouraged to give a speech in front of the group.Some studies have shown that combining CBT with pharmaceutical therapy can improve outcomes. However, the results are not conclusive and further research is required. Combining medication with CBT is usually more effective than one alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be particularly effective in those suffering from panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.Therapy for exposureOne of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which lets you confront the things that make you anxious in a secure setting with an experienced therapist. The process might sound daunting but it will help you learn that your fears are unfounded and you can accept the discomfort of your triggers. It can also boost your confidence in facing life’s challenges.There are many different kinds of exposure therapy, including virtual reality, imaginal, and systematic desensitization. If you’re scared to speak in public, your therapist could advise you to practice with a friend or imagine yourself delivering the speech. Then, you can gradually confront the issue with your therapist’s assistance. Each session, your therapist will check to see whether you’re experiencing anxiety or panic and adjust the intensity as needed.In the course of a session, your therapist will teach you to calm down and deal with your emotions, before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that cause you anxiety. This could include techniques such as meditation, breathing with rhythm, and guided imagery. They can also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in behaviors that cause anxiety, for example, staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. However, some people require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fear.The first step is to determine the situation or object that causes anxiety, for example, flying on a plane or around strangers. Your therapist can help you choose the best exposure therapy method that is suited to your preferences and personality. This might involve using an order to determine the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques before starting.In vivo therapy involves facing the situation or thing that you are scared of. It could be as simple as walking across an overpass or having someone touch your arm. This technique can be used to treat specific anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder.In vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate within your schedule between appointments, which is why it’s important to find a therapist that specializes in this type of cognitive therapy. You can find a certified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. It’s recommended to review reviews and ask your relatives or friends for recommendations.Complementary therapiesComplementary therapies cover a wide variety of treatments for health that are not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, Yoga, music therapy, massage and yoga. They can also help reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones within your body.Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to increase mindfulness, which is the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation is suitable for nearly 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 movement.Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques help you control your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscle breathing, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or within the context of a treatment facility. They are usually used in conjunction with other types of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.Regular exercise and eating balanced meals are another way to reduce anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels which is a hormone that contributes to anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more relaxed and, in turn, decrease your feelings of anxiety.Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. It teaches you how to identify and combat negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you to evaluate your anxiety and determine the likelihood that they will actually occur. You can use strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing the pros and cons of an event, and determining whether or not it is realistic to worry about something that might happen.generalized anxiety treatment , a traditional Chinese technique, can be used to alleviate stress. It is based upon an evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridian can cause anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.