Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a tough time controlling their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as do medications such as beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
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 do not help your anxiety, medication could be a viable option. Anxiety medications can help reduce fear signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, as also tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also used to combat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat insomnia and anxiety.
Only licensed health care professionals are able to prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These providers can include psychologists, psychiatrists primary care physicians, and OB-GYNs. They also need to undergo special training to prescribe medication.
Exercise and complementary therapies are a common method used by some people to lessen anxiety. They can also find relaxation techniques to 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.
Additionally, natural supplements such as 5-HTP or melatonin may aid in easing anxiety. However, you should always consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplement to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Supplements can be utilized as part of 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 researched and supported by evidence-based research. It targets maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that maintain anxiety over time. Although different CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share common goals and strategies for treatment.
CBT starts by identifying dysfunctional thoughts that 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 will ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of sessions and to apply the strategies they've learned in everyday life.
The ultimate goal is to teach patients to become their own therapists through helping them understand their patterns of thinking and behaviour. This will enable them to eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and become more resilient.
CBT techniques include identifying and reversing distortions in the patient's thinking that lead to overgeneralization or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. The therapist will also help the patient develop coping strategies for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be utilized to treat any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
Another component of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious object or circumstance. This may be done through imagining the object or situation, or by confronting it directly in real life. For example, a patient suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a particular location could be encouraged to go to the location where they were abused. A person with social anxiety disorder who is afraid of public speaking could be encouraged to deliver a speech front of an audience.
Some studies have shown that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. However, these results aren't conclusive, and further research is required. Combining medications with CBT is generally more effective than either of them on its own. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been shown to be particularly efficacious in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you confront things that make you anxious in a secure environment with a therapy. It can be difficult but it can help you recognize that your fears are not justifiable and you can tolerate your triggers. It can also improve your confidence in dealing with the challenges of life.
There are a variety of treatments for exposure, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're afraid of public speaking your therapist might suggest you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with an acquaintance. You can then gradually confront the scenario with your therapist’s assistance. During each session your therapist will examine you to see if you're experiencing anxiety or panic and adjust the level of exposure depending on the needs.
In an appointment the therapist will show you how to calm down and deal with your emotions before explaining the triggers that create anxiety. This could include mindfulness, rhythmic breath, and guided images. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in habit that causes anxiety, like avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted over a series of weekly sessions. However, some people require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to identify the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or being with strangers. Your therapist will help you select an exposure therapy approach that fits your personal style and needs. meds to treat anxiety could involve using a hierarchical system to decide the order in which exposures are made or a series of relaxation techniques prior the start of.
In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or event you are afraid of. It could be as easy as walking across an overpass or touching your arm. This technique can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific fears.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to integrate into your schedule between appointments, which is why it's important to find a therapist who is skilled in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychological association or mental network. It's an excellent idea to read reviews and ask friends or family members 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 promoting healthy lifestyles. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal therapy, meditation, yoga, music therapy, and massage. They can also help relieve symptoms of depression by lowering levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs led to moderate improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to help promote mindfulness, or the ability to focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be done by everyone, and does not require special equipment or any special training. However, people with physical limitations might not be able in meditative practices that involve movements.
Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercise as well as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis and the use of 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 used at home or within the context of a treatment facility. These techniques are often used in combination with other types of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.
Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are two more ways to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can help you feel more energized and, in turn, reduce anxiety symptoms.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a highly effective treatment for anxiety. It helps you identify and confront negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will show you how to evaluate the likelihood of occurring. You can use strategies like comparing your fears with past experiences, weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of an incident, and determining if it's reasonable to be concerned about something that could happen.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that can be used to alleviate anxiety. It is based on an evaluation of the deficiencies and excesses in your energy, called Qi, which is located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the spleen or kidney meridian can trigger anxiety. Acupuncture can improve anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM methods.