Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone is worried and anxious at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a tough to control their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as does medication like beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. Exercise, for example helps reduce stress and relax your body.
Medication
If psychotherapy or lifestyle changes aren't helping your anxiety then medication could be a good alternative. Anxiety medications help to suppress anxiety signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) and sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first medications prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines can also be used to combat anxiety. They're quick-acting and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety and insomnia.
Only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These providers include psychologists and psychiatrists as along with primary health care doctors, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatrists. Nurse practitioners, family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses can also prescribe certain medications, but they must be trained specifically to do so.
Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to help reduce anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and reduce stress, such as 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 5-HTP or melatonin can help ease anxiety. But, it is essential to consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplements to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates lifestyle and psychotherapy will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and supported by evidence-based research. It targets maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. Although a variety of individual CBT protocols have been developed for different anxiety disorders, they all share the same treatment goals and methods.
The first step in CBT is to recognize the thoughts that are not working and cause anxiety. In sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist will also help patients recognize and modify avoidance behaviours. The therapist will request patients to keep diaries or "thought notes" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in their everyday life.
The goal is to eventually help patients become their own therapists by helping them to understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will allow them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and build a stronger resilience.
CBT techniques involve identifying and reversing distortions in the patient's thinking which include overgeneralizing or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. The therapist will also help the patient develop strategies for coping for stressful situations. These techniques can be employed 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 anxious subject or event. This could be done by visualizing the object or scenario, or by confronting it directly in real life. A patient suffering from PTSD who is scared of a specific location, could be urged by their physician to visit the site where they were attacked. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, may be encouraged to give an address in front of a group.
Certain studies have demonstrated that combining CBT and pharmaceutical therapy can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and further research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is generally more effective than either of them on its own. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be particularly effective for patients suffering from panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you face the things that make you anxious in a secure setting with an experienced professional. The process may sound difficult, but it can help you understand that your fears are not based on reality and that you can tolerate the discomfort caused by your triggers. It will also increase your confidence in navigating life's challenges.
There are a variety of treatments for exposure, including imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. For instance, if scared of speaking in public your therapist might suggest you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with an acquaintance. You can then gradually confront the issue with your therapist's assistance. Your therapist will keep track of your anxiety and panic during each session. They will adjust the amount of exposure if necessary.
During a session your therapist will show you to calm down and deal with your emotions before explaining the triggers that trigger your anxiety. This can include meditation, a rhythmic breathing and guided imagery. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in behavior that leads to anxiety, for example, avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some people require more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.
The first step is to pinpoint the object or situation that triggers anxiety, for example, flying on a plane, or being in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist will help you choose an exposure therapy method that is suited to your preferences and personality. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the order in which exposures are made or practicing relaxation techniques prior the start of.
In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or event you are scared of. It could be as easy as crossing an overpass or having someone else contact your arm. This approach can be used to treat certain anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder.
It can be difficult to fit in sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist that is skilled in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. It's also a good idea to read 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 ease anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encourage the healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines, meditation, yoga music therapy, massage. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones within your body.
A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach uses different techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or focusing on the present moment and letting go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be practiced by anyone, and doesn't require special equipment or any special training. People with physical limitations might not be able participate in meditation that requires movements.
Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. best herbal treatment for anxiety help you manage anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles, calming breathing techniques, and visual imagery. They can be used at home or in a treatment setting. These techniques are often combined with other forms of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
Another way to ease anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol level, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet will make you feel more energetic and can help reduce anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you how to recognize and overcome negative thoughts which lead to anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to assess your the likelihood of occurring. You can use strategies like comparing your fears to past experiences as well as considering the advantages and disadvantages of an event and determining whether it is reasonable to worry about something that could occur.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese technique, is used to relieve stress. It is based upon an assessment of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. For instance, a lack of qi in the spleen or kidney meridians could cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture can improve anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM approaches.