Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but those with anxiety have a hard managing their reactions. Psychotherapy and medications like beta blockers that help lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines can aid in managing.
Self-help strategies may also help alleviate symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relaxes the body.
Medication
If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety then medication could be a good alternative. Anxiety medications can help reduce anxiety signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants, the most popular medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters that influence mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
The benzodiazepines are sometimes used to treat anxiety. They're fast-acting and very helpful in the short term however they are also addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. The most common benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
There are many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety, but only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe them. They include psychiatrists and psychologists as well as primary care physicians, OB/GYNs, and some psychiatrists. Nurse practitioners as well as family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medications, but they have to get special training in doing this.
Some people use complementary therapies, such as exercise, to help alleviate anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and relieve stress, such as 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 like 5-HTP and melatonin may aid in easing anxiety. However, you should always consult your physician prior to taking any supplements to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications can enhance the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively studied and empirically validated psychotherapeutic strategies for treating anxiety disorders. It focuses on maladaptive thinking or behaviors that lead to anxiety. Although a variety of individual CBT protocols have been developed for different anxiety disorders, they share some common goals for treatment and methods.
CBT begins by identifying the dysfunctional thought patterns which contribute to anxiety. Through sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist will also help patients recognize and modify behaviors that cause them to avoid. The therapist may ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries in between sessions, and to implement the strategies for behavioural change they've learned in daily life.
The ultimate goal is to teach patients how to be their own therapists, aiding them in understanding their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them overcome unfounded fears and anxiety, as well as other negative emotions and become more resilient.
CBT methods include identifying and reversing distortions in the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, and minimizing positive events. In addition, therapists will 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-inducing object or situation. This may be done through creating a mental picture of the object or the situation or confronting it in actual life. For instance, a person suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a particular area could be urged to visit the place where they were abused. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who fears public speaking might be encouraged to speak in front of an audience.
Some studies have proven that combination strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and more research is required. In general, combining medications and CBT is more effective than either one by itself. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been shown to be particularly effective for those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you confront things that scare you in a secure setting with a therapy. It may seem difficult but the process can help you recognize that your fears are not justifiable and that you are able to accept your triggers. It can also help increase your confidence in navigating 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 nervous about speaking in public Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with a friend. Then, you'll gradually face the scenario in real life with your therapy therapist's help. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety and panic levels during each session. They will adjust the amount of exposure as needed.
During the session, your therapist teaches you how to relax and manage your emotions and then introduces triggers that can make you feel scared. This could include mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided imagery. They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in habit that causes anxiety, like staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. some individuals require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fear.
The first step is to determine the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will then help you choose the method of exposure therapy that will suit your needs and personality. This could involve using a hierarchical system to decide the sequence in which exposures are performed or a series of relaxation techniques prior the start of.
In vivo therapy involves facing the situation or thing that you are scared of. It could be as easy as crossing the bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This method can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific fears.
It can be challenging to fit in sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist who is specialized in this kind of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychological association or mental network. It's an excellent idea to read reviews and ask family members or friends for suggestions.
best herbal treatment for anxiety cover a wide range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal therapy, meditation, yoga music therapy, massage. They can also help reduce depression symptoms by lowering the levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to increase mindfulness, which is the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This kind of meditation is suitable for nearly everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or instruction. People with physical limitations may not be able to take part in meditation that requires moving.
Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercise and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and hypnosis. These techniques help you manage anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles, calming breathing techniques and visual imagery. They can be used at home, or in a therapy setting. These techniques are typically employed in conjunction with other types of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.
Another way to relieve anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can lower the heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that can cause anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more relaxed and, in turn, decrease your feelings of anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. It helps you identify and challenge negative thoughts which lead to anxiety. Your therapist will teach you to evaluate your fears and determine the likelihood that they'll happen. You can apply strategies like comparing your fears to past experiences as well as considering the pros and cons of an event and determining whether it is reasonable to worry about something that could happen.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that can be employed to treat anxiety. It is based upon an assessment of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called qi) located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the spleen or kidney meridian can cause anxiety. Acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM methods.