Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone is worried and anxious at times, but people who suffer from anxiety have a tough to control their reactions. Psychotherapy and medication like beta blockers that help reduce blood pressure, and benzodiazepines can aid in managing.
Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. Exercise, for instance can help reduce stress and relax your body.
Medication
If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help your anxiety then medication could be a viable alternative. Anxiety medication reduces anxiety signals and the fight or flight response within the body. Antidepressants, the most common medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine, duloxetine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also sometimes used to treat anxiety. They're fast-acting and extremely beneficial in the short term however, they can be addictive and should only be used when other treatments don't work. The most commonly used benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
Only licensed health specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists primary care physicians, and OBGYNs. They must also receive special training to prescribe medication.
Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to lessen anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and relieve stress like mindfulness meditation and deep breathing. 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 relieving anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements for anxiety or any other condition. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle changes can enhance the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and supported by empirical evidence. It targets the maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. Despite the fact that different CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders they all share common treatment goals and techniques.
The first step in CBT is to recognize dysfunctional thought patterns that cause anxiety. In sessions, patients are taught to recognize these negative beliefs and confront them. The therapist can also help patients recognize and modify their behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist may ask patients to keep journals or "thought records" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in everyday life.
The goal is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, by helping them to understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will help them eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and become more resilient.
CBT methods focus on identifying and modifying distortions of the patient's thoughts like overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. Additionally, therapists help the patient to develop strategies for dealing with 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".
Exposure therapy is an additional component of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-provoking object or circumstance. This can be done by imagining the object or situation, or by confronting it in actual life. For instance, a patient with PTSD who is scared of a certain location might be encouraged to visit the place in which they were assaulted. A person with social anxiety disorder who is scared of public speaking could be encouraged to give a speech in front of an audience.
natural ways to treat anxiety have proven that combining CBT with the use of pharmacotherapy can enhance outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and further research is needed. In general, combining medications and CBT is more effective than each by itself. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been proven to be particularly efficacious in those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you confront the things that make you anxious in a safe environment with an experienced therapy. It can be difficult but it can help you recognize that your fears aren't justifiable and you can be able to accept the triggers. It will also increase your confidence when it comes to navigating life's challenges.
There are a variety of treatments for exposure, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. If you're afraid to speak in public, your therapist may encourage you to practice with a buddy or imagine yourself delivering the speech. Then, you can slowly face the situation in real life with the help of your therapy therapist's help. In each session, your therapist will check to see whether you're feeling anxious or panicked and adjust the intensity as needed.
During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax and manage your emotions, and then introduces you triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This may include techniques such as mindfulness, breathing rhythms, and guided imagery. They will also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in behavior that leads to anxiety, such as avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.
The first step is to identify the triggers that cause anxiety. For example, flying on a plane or being around strangers. Your therapist will then help you to decide on an approach to exposure therapy that will suit your personality and needs. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the order in which exposures are performed or a series of relaxation techniques prior to beginning.
In vivo exposure therapy involves confronting the thing or situation you're fearful of. It could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone touch your arm. This method can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific phobias.
In vivo exposure therapy can be hard to fit into your schedule between appointments, so it's important to find a therapist who is specialized in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can find a certified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. You can also read reviews or ask family and friends for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies include a range of health treatments that are not typically considered part of Western medicine. They can aid in reducing anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle habits. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine as well as yoga, meditation massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also aid in relieving depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with moderate improvement in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to increase mindfulness, or the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This kind of meditation is suitable for almost everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or instruction. However, those with physical limitations might not be able in meditation practices that require moving.
Other therapies that can be used to relieve anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage anxiety by using relaxation exercises breathing techniques, relaxing breathing techniques, and visual imagery. They can be used at home, or in a treatment setting. These techniques are often combined with other forms therapy, like cognitive behavior therapy or exposure therapy.
Another way to relieve anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. Regular exercise can lower 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 your anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts which lead to anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to evaluate your fears and determine the probability that they will actually occur. You can employ strategies such as comparing your fears with past experiences, weighing out the pros and cons of an event, and determining if it's reasonable to be concerned about what could happen.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that is used to help with anxiety. It is based upon an evaluation of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called qi) found in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen meridian or kidney can trigger anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.