What Treat Anxiety Experts Want You To Know
Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone is worried and anxious at times, but those with anxiety have a hard managing their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as does medications like beta blockers (used to lower blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies may also aid in easing symptoms. Exercise, for example can help reduce stress and relaxes your body.
Medication
If psychotherapy or lifestyle changes don't help your anxiety treatment center medications could be a good option. Anxiety medication helps to reduce anxiety signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used drugs used to treat anxiety. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters, which affect mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are often the first medications prescribed. The SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, as also tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
The benzodiazepines are sometimes used to treat anxiety. They are fast-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 many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety, but only licensed health professionals can prescribe them. These providers include psychiatrists and psychologists as also primary health care doctors, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatrist nurses. Nurse practitioners, family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medications, but they have to get special training in doing this.
Certain people utilize complementary therapies, such as exercise, to ease 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 anxiety is treated to control them at will.
Additionally, natural supplements such as 5-HTP or melatonin may aid in relieving anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements for anxiety or any other health condition. Supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications will maximize the effectiveness of your best treatment for anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most studied and empirically validated psychotherapeutic strategies for treating anxiety disorders. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behaviors that cause anxiety to persist. Although several individual CBT protocols have been developed for different anxiety disorders, they share the same treatment goals and methods.
The first step in CBT is to recognize dysfunctional thought patterns that can cause anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist may also assist patients recognize and modify their avoidance behaviors. The therapist may ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries in between sessions, and to implement the behavioural strategies that they've learned in daily life.
The aim is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, by helping them to understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and improve their resilience.
CBT methods focus on identifying and modifying distortions of the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. Additionally, therapists assist the patient in developing strategies for dealing with stressful situations. These techniques can be applied to all kinds 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. This involves exposure therapy, which involves exposing the patient to the object or situation that creates anxiety. This could be done by visualizing the object or scenario or confronting it in actual life. For instance, a person with PTSD who is afraid of a particular area could be urged to visit the place where they were assaulted. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of speaking in public, could be encouraged to deliver an address before an audience.
Certain studies have demonstrated that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. These results are mixed, and more research is needed. In general, combining medications with CBT is more effective than either one by itself. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be particularly effective for patients suffering from generalized anxiety or panic disorder.
Therapy for exposure
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating anxiety. It allows you to confront the things that you are afraid of in a safe environment with an expert. It can be difficult, but the process will help you understand that your fears are not justified and that you can tolerate your triggers. It can also boost your confidence to take on life's challenges.
There are many different types of treatments for exposure, including imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're afraid of public speaking, your therapist might encourage you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with an acquaintance. You can then gradually face the scenario with your therapist’s assistance. Your therapist will monitor your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure if needed.
During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax and manage your emotions, and then introduces triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This can include meditation, a rhythmic breathing, and guided images. They will also provide strategies to avoid engaging the behaviors that cause anxiety, such being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome their fear.
The first step is to determine the thing or event that triggers anxiety, such as being on a plane or being around strangers. Your therapist will help you select an approach to exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could include using a hierarchy to determine the sequence of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques before starting.
In vivo therapy requires you to confront the thing or situation you are afraid of. It could be as simple as crossing an overpass or having someone else reach out to you. This technique can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific phobias.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to integrate within your schedule between appointments, so it is essential to find a therapist that specializes in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can locate a qualified specialist by checking 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 are a range of health treatments that are not typically considered part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting an active lifestyle. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal medicine yoga, meditation, music therapy, and massage. They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs different kinds of meditation to promote mindfulness, or the ability to focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation is suitable for nearly anyone and does not require any special equipment or instruction. People who have physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditation that requires moving.
Other treatments for anxiety disorders that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and hypnosis. These techniques teach you to manage your anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles, calming breaths and visual imagery. They can be used at home or in a therapeutic setting. These techniques are typically used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.
Regular exercise and eating balanced meals are another way to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which is a hormone that contributes to anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energetic, which can reduce anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective anxiety treatments. It teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that cause postpartum anxiety treatment. Your therapist will teach you how to assess the likelihood of occurrence. You can employ strategies such as comparing your fears with past experiences, weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of an incident, and determining if it's reasonable to be worried about something that could happen.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese method, can be used to relieve stress. It is based upon the evaluation of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridians can cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when paired with psychotherapy and other CAM methods.
