Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
People with anxiety are unable to manage their reactions. Everyone is worried and anxious at times. Psychotherapy can help, as do medication like beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. For instance, exercise can reduce stress and relaxes the body.
Medication
If a change in lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety, medication may be a viable option. Anxiety medication reduces anxiety signals and the fight or flight response that occurs in the body. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Sometimes, benzodiazepines can be used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and are extremely beneficial in the short-term, but they are addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
Only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These include psychologists and psychiatrists as along with primary health care doctors, some doctors of OB/GYNs and some psychiatric nurses. They also need to undergo special training to prescribe medications.
Some people use complementary therapies, such as exercise, to ease anxiety. You 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.
Finally, natural supplements like 5-HTP or melatonin can aid in relieving anxiety. Consult your doctor before taking supplements for anxiety, or any other condition. Supplements can be used in conjunction with a complete therapy program that includes psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the most studied and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for treating anxiety disorders. It targets abnormal thoughts and behaviors that maintain anxiety over time. Although different CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share common goals and strategies for treatment.
CBT starts by identifying dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients are taught to recognize the negative beliefs they hold and challenge. The therapist may also assist patients identify and alter behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. drugs to treat anxiety will request patients to keep diaries or "thought notes" outside of therapy sessions and to apply the strategies they've learned in their daily life.
The ultimate goal is to teach patients to be their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them to overcome unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions, and become more resilient.
CBT methods include identifying and reversing distortions in the patient's thinking which include overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, and minimizing positive events. The therapist will also help the patient develop strategies to cope 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 element of CBT is exposure therapy. It involves exposing the patient to the situation or object that causes them anxiety. This may be done through creating a mental picture of the object or the situation or confronting it in actual life. A patient suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a certain location, might be encouraged by their physician to visit the location in which they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder who fears speaking in public might be urged to give a speech in front of a group.
Some studies have shown that combining strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, these results are not conclusive and further research is required. Combining medications with CBT is usually more effective than one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines and CBT have been shown to be particularly effective in those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Exposure therapy
One of the most effective methods for treating anxiety is exposure therapy, which lets you face the things that scare you in a secure setting with an experienced therapist. It may sound like a daunting process but it can help you understand that your fears are unfounded and that you can tolerate the discomfort that triggers you. It can also increase your confidence to face the challenges of life.
There are many different types of exposure therapies, such as virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. For instance, if scared of speaking in public Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with a friend. You can then gradually face the situation with your therapist's assistance. In each session your therapist will be able to determine if you're feeling anxious or scared and adjust the intensity as needed.
During the session, your therapist teaches you how to relax and cope with your emotions and then introduces you triggers that can make you feel fearful. This can include techniques like mindfulness, rhythmic breathing and guided imagery. They also provide strategies to avoid engaging the behavior that causes anxiety, for example, being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. Some people require more than two sessions to overcome the anxiety.
The first step is to determine what triggers your anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or being around strangers. Your therapist can help you choose an exposure therapy method that suits your personal style and needs. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the order in which exposures are performed or practicing relaxation techniques prior to beginning.
In vivo exposure therapy is confronting the object or event that you're scared of. It could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone else contact your arm. This method can be used to treat certain fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.
It can be challenging to schedule vivo exposure therapy between appointments. Therefore it is essential to find a therapist that specializes in this form of cognitive therapy. You can search for a qualified specialist by checking your local psychological association or the mental health network. It's also a good idea to read reviews and ask relatives or friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies include a range of treatments for health that aren't typically thought of as part of Western medicine. They can aid in reducing anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyles. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicine Meditation, Yoga, music therapy, massage, and yoga. They can also help alleviate depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research revealed that mindfulness-based programs resulted in moderate improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various methods of meditation to increase mindfulness or focusing on the present moment while getting rid of negative thoughts and emotions. This kind of meditation is suitable for anyone and does not require any special equipment or training. People who have physical limitations may not be able participate in meditative practice that involves movement.
Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. These techniques assist you in controlling your anxiety by the focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be utilized at home or within an environment for treatment. These techniques are often combined with other forms of therapy, such a cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are another way to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol level, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energized and, in turn, reduce anxiety symptoms.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective anxiety treatments. It teaches you how to identify and combat negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to evaluate fears and determine their probability of occurring. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of an incident, and determining if it's realistic to be worried about what could happen.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese technique, is employed to alleviate stress. It is based upon the evaluation of deficiencies or excesses 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 could reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM methods.
