Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone is worried and anxious at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a difficult managing their reactions. Psychotherapy and medication like beta blockers that help control blood pressure, and benzodiazepines may help.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. For example, exercise helps reduce stress and relaxes the body.
Medication
If a change in lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication may be a viable alternative. Anxiety medication suppresses fear signals and the fight or flight response that occurs in the body. Antidepressants, the most popular medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. They're fast-acting and very helpful in the short term however, they can be addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. Benzodiazepines are used to treat insomnia and anxiety.
There are many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety, but only licensed health care providers are able to prescribe these medications. These providers include psychologists and psychiatrists as along with primary health care doctors, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatric nurses. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medication, but they must get special training in doing so.
Certain people make use of complementary therapies, such as exercise, to help alleviate anxiety. There are also relaxation techniques to 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.
Finally, natural supplements such as melatonin and 5-HTP can also help to ease anxiety. However, you should always consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplement for anxiety or any other reason. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a complete therapy program that includes lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been extensively researched and supported by evidence-based research. It targets abnormal thoughts and behaviors that maintain anxiety over time. Although several individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they share the same treatment goals and methods.
The first step in CBT is to discover dysfunctional thought patterns that cause anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and confront them. Therapists can also help patients recognize and modify their behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist may ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of sessions and to apply the strategies they've learned in their daily life.
The goal is to eventually help patients become their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them to eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and build a stronger resilience.
CBT methods involve identifying and modifying distortions of the patient's thoughts that lead to overgeneralization and catastrophizing. The therapist also assists the patient develop coping strategies for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be applied to any type 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. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious subject or event. This can be done by making up a scenario or imagining the subject or situation in real life. A patient with PTSD who is afraid of a specific location, could be urged by their physician to visit the location in which they were attacked. Alternatively, a person with social anxiety disorder who is scared of public speaking could be encouraged to give a speech in front of the group.
Some studies have proven that combining strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, the results are not conclusive and more research is needed. In general, mixing medications with CBT is more effective than each alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines with CBT have been proven to be particularly effective in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective treatments to manage anxiety. It can help you confront the things that you are afraid of in a comfortable environment with an expert. It may sound like a daunting process but it can help you learn that your fears aren't based on fact and that you can tolerate the discomfort of your triggers. It can also boost your confidence in facing the challenges of life.
There are many different kinds of exposure therapy, such as virtual reality, imaginal therapy, and systematic desensitization. For instance, if afraid of public speaking Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with an acquaintance. Then, you can slowly face the situation in real life with your counselor's assistance. Your therapist will keep track of your anxiety and panic during each session. They will adjust the intensity of exposure if needed.
In the course of a session 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 fear. This may include techniques such as meditation, breathing with rhythm and guided imagery. They will also teach strategies to avoid engaging the behavior that causes anxiety, such avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted over 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 what triggers your anxiety. For treatment for anxiety iampsychiatry.com , being on a flight or being around strangers. Your therapist can help you select an exposure therapy approach that suits your personal style and needs. This could mean using a hierarchical system to determine the sequence in which exposures are made or a series of relaxation techniques prior the start of.
In vivo therapy requires you to confront the situation or thing that you are afraid of. It could be as easy as crossing the bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This method can be used to treat specific phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.
It isn't easy to squeeze in sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore, it is important to find a therapist that is skilled in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can search for a certified specialist by contacting your local psychology association or the mental health network. It's also a good idea to look up reviews and ask relatives or friends for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies encompass a broad range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging an active lifestyle. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal medicines, meditation, yoga, music therapy, and massage. They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs led to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method uses a variety of meditation techniques to promote mindfulness or focusing on the present moment and letting go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation is suitable for everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or knowledge. However, people with physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditation practices that require moving.
Other therapies that can help relieve anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques help you control your anxiety by focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be used at home or in an environment for treatment. These techniques are often employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.
Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are two other ways to reduce anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels which can lessen your anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It helps you identify and overcome negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. Your therapist will teach you to evaluate your fears and determine the probability that they will actually occur. You can use strategies like the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining whether it's realistic to be concerned about something that could happen.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese technique, is utilized to relieve stress. It is based on a study of the deficiencies and excesses in your energy, also known as qi, located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the spleen meridian or kidney can trigger anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.