Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone fears and worries at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a tough time controlling their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as can medication like beta blockers (used to lower blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can also ease symptoms. Exercise, for example, helps to reduce stress and relax your body.
Medication
If psychotherapy or lifestyle changes aren't working then medication could be a good option. Anxiety medications help to suppress fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters, which affect mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram), sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are usually the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, venlafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also used to combat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. The most commonly used benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
There are many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety however only licensed health professionals can prescribe them. These include psychologists and psychiatrists as well as primary care physicians, OBGYNs, and a few psychiatrist nurses. They also need to undergo special training to prescribe medications.
Some people use alternative therapies, like exercise, to ease anxiety. There are also ways to relax and reduce stress, like 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.
Additionally, natural supplements such as 5-HTP or melatonin can help ease anxiety. However, it is important to consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplement for anxiety or other reason. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a complete therapy program that includes lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most studied and empirically validated psychotherapeutic strategies for treating anxiety disorders. It targets maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate anxiety over time. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and techniques.
CBT begins by identifying the dysfunctional thoughts that cause anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and confront them. The therapist will also help patients recognize and modify avoidance behaviours. The therapist will ask patients to keep journals or "thought notes" outside of sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in everyday life.
The aim is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, helping them to understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will help them eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and build a stronger resilience.
CBT techniques involve the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. The therapist can also help the patient develop strategies for coping to deal with anxiety-inducing 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".
The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious object or situation. This may be done through imagining the object or situation, or by confronting it directly in real life. A patient with PTSD who is scared of a certain area, may be urged by their physician to visit the site where they were attacked. Alternatively, a person with social anxiety disorder who is scared of public speaking could be encouraged to deliver a speech front of a group.
Some studies have proven that combining strategies of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. However, the results aren't conclusive, and further research is required. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than either of them on its own. Combinations of benzodiazepines and 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 methods for treating anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you confront things that make you anxious in a secure setting with the help of a therapy. The process may sound difficult, but it can help you learn that your fears are not based on reality and that you can tolerate the discomfort that triggers you. It can also increase your confidence to face life's challenges.
There are many different kinds of exposure therapy, such as virtual reality, imaginal and systematic desensitization. If anxiety treatment for dogs about speaking in public, your therapist might suggest that you practice with a friend or imagine yourself giving the speech. Then, you can gradually face the scenario in real life with your counselor's assistance. Each session, your therapist will check to see if you're experiencing anxiety or panic and adjust the intensity depending on the needs.
During the session, your therapist teaches you to relax, cope with your emotions and then introduces you triggers that cause you to feel scared. This could include techniques such as meditation, breathing with rhythm, and guided imagery. They can also teach strategies to avoid engaging in the behavior that causes anxiety, such avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.
The first step is to identify the thing or event that triggers anxiety, such as being on a plane or being with strangers. Your therapist will assist you select an exposure therapy method that is suited to your personal style and needs. This could involve establishing a hierarchy to determine the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques before beginning.
In vivo exposure therapy is directly facing the thing or situation you're fearful of. It could be as simple as walking across an overpass or having someone touch your arm. This technique can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific phobias.
In vivo exposure therapy can be hard to fit into your schedule between appointments, which is why it is essential to find a therapist that is specialized in this type of cognitive therapy. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies include a range of healthcare treatments that are not traditionally considered part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting the healthy lifestyle. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal medicine yoga, meditation music therapy, massage. They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research revealed that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various methods of meditation to increase mindfulness, or the ability of focusing on the present moment and letting go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for almost anyone and does not require any special equipment or knowledge. People with physical limitations may not be able participate in a meditation practice that involves moving.
Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and hypnosis. These techniques teach you to control anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles breathing, calm breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or in a treatment environment. These techniques are often paired with other forms of therapy, like cognitive behavior therapy or exposure therapy.
Another method to reduce 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 help you feel more energized which can reduce anxiety symptoms.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective anxiety treatments. It helps you identify and challenge negative thoughts which lead to anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to assess fears and determine their likelihood of occurring. You can employ strategies like looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences by taking into consideration the pros and cons of the situation and determining whether or not it is reasonable to worry about what could happen.
Acupuncture is an old Chinese method that can be employed to alleviate anxiety. It is based on an assessment of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called Qi) that are located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridian can cause anxiety. Acupuncture studies have suggested that it can improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.