This Is The Good And Bad About Treat Anxiety
Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
People with anxiety are unable to control their reactions. Everyone worries and feels scared at times. Psychotherapy can help, as does medications like beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relax the body.
Medication
If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety then medication could be a viable alternative. Anxiety medication reduces anxiety signals and the fight or flight response that occurs in the body. Antidepressants, the most common medication used to treat anxiety are antidepressants. They work by increasing 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 like venlafaxine, duloxetine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also used to combat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be very helpful in the short term however, they can be addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.
Only licensed health care specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. These include psychologists and psychiatrists as well as primary care physicians, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatric nurses. They must also receive special training to prescribe medication.
Certain people make use of alternative therapies, like exercise, to help alleviate anxiety. They can also find relaxation methods to reduce 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.
Finally, natural supplements like 5-HTP or melatonin can aid in relieving anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements for anxiety, or any other condition. Using supplements in conjunction with a comprehensive 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 studied and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for treating anxiety disorders. It focuses on maladaptive thinking or behavior patterns that cause anxiety to persist. While a variety of individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share certain common treatment goals and techniques.
CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thoughts that cause anxiety. In sessions, patients learn to identify the negative beliefs they hold and challenge. Therapists can also help patients identify and change avoidance behavior. The therapist will ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of sessions and to apply the strategies they've learned in their everyday life.
The ultimate goal is to teach patients how to be their own therapists, by helping them understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them to remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety and other negative feelings and become more resilient.
CBT techniques involve the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's thinking that lead to overgeneralization, catastrophizing, and minimizing positive events. The therapist can also help the patient develop strategies to cope 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 an additional component of CBT. This involves exposure to the object or situation that creates anxiety. This can be done by making up a scenario or imagining the object or scenario in real life. A person suffering from PTSD, who is afraid of a certain location, could be urged by their doctor to visit the site where they were assaulted. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, may be encouraged to make a speech before an audience.
Some studies have shown that combining CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, these results are not conclusive and further research is required. Combining medication with CBT is usually more effective than either alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been shown to be particularly effective in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
Exposure therapy is among the most effective methods to manage anxiety. It helps you confront the things you are scared of in a safe environment with an expert. It may seem difficult, but the process will help you understand that your fears are not justifiable and you can be able to accept the triggers. It will also increase your confidence in dealing with the challenges of life.
There are a variety of forms of exposure therapy, including virtual reality, imaginal and systematic desensitization. For instance, if scared of speaking in public, your therapist might encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with an acquaintance. Then, you can gradually confront the situation 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 if needed.
During the session, your therapist will teach you how to relax, manage your emotions, and then introduces triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This could include techniques such as mindfulness, rhythmic breathing, and guided imagery. They can also teach strategies to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, such avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some people require more than two sessions to overcome the fear.
The first step is to identify the situation or object that triggers your anxiety, such as flying on a plane or being in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist will then help you to decide on a 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 requires you to confront the thing or situation you are afraid of. This could be as simple as crossing the bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This method can be used to treat specific fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate within your schedule between appointments, which is why it is important to find a therapist who specializes in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can locate an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or mental health network. You can also read reviews and ask your family and friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies encompass a broad variety of treatments for health that are not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal medicine yoga, meditation music therapy, massage. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were associated with slight improvements in anxiety symptoms. This method employs different kinds of meditation to help promote mindfulness, which is the ability to focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be performed by anyone, and does not require any special equipment or any special training. People with physical limitations might not be able to take part in meditation that requires moving.
Other treatments that can help relieve anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage anxiety by using relaxation exercises breathing techniques, relaxing breathing, and visual imagery. They can be used at home or in a therapeutic setting. These techniques are often combined with other forms of therapy, such a cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
natural anxiety treatments to relieve anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can increase your energy levels and can help reduce anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It helps you recognize and overcome negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. Your therapist will show you to evaluate your fears and determine the likelihood that they will actually occur. You can use strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences by weighing the pros and cons of the situation and determining whether it is realistic to worry about something that could occur.
Acupuncture is an old Chinese method that can be used to treat anxiety. It is based on a study of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, also known as Qi, which is located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians can trigger anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.