Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone fears and worries at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a difficult managing their reactions. Psychotherapy and medications such as beta blockers that are used to reduce blood pressure, and benzodiazepines can aid in managing.
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 working medications could be a viable option. Anxiety medications can help reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants, the most popular medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They boost levels of certain neurotransmitters, which influence mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are often the first medications prescribed. anxiety attack treatment as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines can also be used to treat anxiety. They are fast-acting and can be helpful 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 a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety however only licensed health care providers can prescribe them. These providers can include psychologists, psychiatrists doctors of primary care and some OB-GYNs. They must also undergo special training to prescribe medications.
Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to reduce anxiety. You can also find methods to relax and relieve 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 like 5-HTP or melatonin can help ease anxiety. However, you should always consult your physician 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 psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been extensively researched and supported by evidence-based research. It focuses on maladaptive thinking or behaviors that cause anxiety to persist. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were developed for different anxiety disorders, they all have common goals and strategies for treatment.
CBT starts by identifying dysfunctional thought patterns which contribute to anxiety. During sessions, the patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and then challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and alter avoidance behavior. The therapist will request patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of therapy sessions and to apply the strategies they've learned in everyday 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 allow them to remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety and other negative emotions and become more resilient.
CBT methods include identifying and reversing mental distortions that affect the patient that lead to overgeneralization or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. The therapist can also help the patient develop coping strategies for stressful situations. These techniques can be applied to all types of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
Exposure therapy is another element of CBT. It involves exposing the patient to the object or situation that causes them anxiety. This can be done by creating a mental picture or confronting the situation or object in real life. For instance, a patient with PTSD who is afraid of a particular location might be encouraged to go to the location in which they were assaulted. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who is scared of public speaking could be encouraged to speak in front of a group.
Some studies have shown that the combination of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. The results are mixed and more research is required. In general, combining medications and CBT is more effective than any one by itself. Combinations of benzodiazepines with CBT have been proven to be particularly effective for those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective treatments to manage anxiety. It helps you confront the things you are scared of in a secure setting with a therapist. It may seem difficult but it can help you realize that your fears aren't justified and that you can accept your triggers. It can also boost your confidence to take on life's challenges.
There are several different types of exposure therapy, such as virtual reality, imaginal therapy, and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're afraid of public speaking Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with your friend. Then, you'll slowly face the situation in real life with your therapist's support. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the intensity of exposure if necessary.
In a session, your therapist will teach you to calm and manage your emotions before introducing you to the triggers that create anxiety. This could include meditation, a rhythmic breathing and guided imagery. They also teach 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. However, some individuals require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to identify the thing or event that causes anxiety, such as flying on a plane or being in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist will help you select a method of exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could include using an orderly system to determine the sequence in which exposures are performed or practicing relaxation techniques prior to starting.
In vivo therapy is the process of confronting the thing or situation you are scared of. It could be as simple as crossing an overpass or having someone else touch your arm. This method can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific fears.
It isn't easy to schedule sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore, it is important to find a therapist who is specialized in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. You can search for a certified specialist by contacting your local psychology association or the mental health network. It's recommended to look up reviews and ask friends or family members for recommendations.
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 you relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. These treatments could include acupuncture, herbal medicines yoga, meditation, music therapy, and massage. They can also help alleviate depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
Recent research found that mindfulness-based programs resulted in moderate improvements in anxiety symptoms. This method employs various techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or the ability of being present in the moment while getting rid of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation is suitable for almost anyone and does not require any special equipment or instruction. People who have physical limitations may not be able participate in meditative practice that involves movements.
Other therapies that can relieve anxiety include breathing exercise as well as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. These techniques assist you in controlling your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscle breathing, calming breath, and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or in a treatment environment. These techniques are typically used in combination with other forms of therapy, like exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.
Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more relaxed which can reduce anxiety symptoms.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective anxiety treatments. It helps you identify and overcome negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will show you how to evaluate the potential for anxiety and assess their likelihood of occurring. You can apply strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing out the pros and cons of an incident, and determining if it is realistic to be worried about what could happen.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese technique, can be used to relieve stress. It is based upon the evaluation of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called qi) found in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridian can cause anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM methods.