Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
People suffering from anxiety are unable to control their reactions. anxiety treatment at home iampsychiatry.com is anxious and nervous at times. Psychotherapy and medications such as beta blockers, which are used to control blood pressure, and benzodiazepines can help.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. For example, exercise helps reduce stress and relax the body.
Medication
If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication could be a viable alternative. Anxiety medication reduces anxiety signals and the fight or flight response within the body. Antidepressants, the most popular medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram), sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine, duloxetine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil, or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Sometimes, benzodiazepines can be used to treat 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. 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, but only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe these medications. They include psychiatrists and psychologists as also primary health care doctors, some doctors of OB/GYNs and some psychiatrist nurses. They must also undergo special training to prescribe medication.
Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to reduce anxiety. You can also find ways to relax and reduce 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.
In addition, natural supplements like melatonin or 5-HTP may also aid in easing anxiety. Consult your doctor before taking supplements for anxiety or any other health condition. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle changes can enhance the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the most thoroughly researched and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for anxiety disorders. It targets maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that maintain anxiety over time. Although several individual CBT protocols have been developed for various anxiety disorders, they share the same treatment goals and methods.
CBT begins by identifying the dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. Through sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist also helps patients identify and alter avoidance behaviours. The therapist may request patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions and to implement the strategies for behavioural change they've learned in daily life.
The goal is to eventually help patients become their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will help them eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and improve their resilience.
CBT techniques involve the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or minimizing positive events. The therapist can also help the patient develop strategies for coping for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be employed to treat all kinds 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 situation or object that creates anxiety. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario, or by confronting it directly in real life. For instance, a person suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a particular location could be encouraged to go to the location where they were assaulted. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who is scared of speaking in public might be urged to speak in front of an audience.
Certain studies have demonstrated that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, the results are mixed and further research is required. In general, mixing medications with CBT is more effective than either one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines with CBT have been shown to be particularly efficacious in those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which lets you face the things that make you anxious in a secure environment with an experienced therapist. It might seem daunting but it can help you realize that your fears aren't justifiable and you can tolerate your triggers. It will also increase your confidence in dealing with life's challenges.
There are many different kinds of exposure therapy, including virtual reality, imaginal and systematic desensitization. For instance, if you're scared of speaking in public Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with a friend. Then, you'll be able to slowly face the situation in real life with your therapy therapist's help. Each session, your therapist will check to see whether you're feeling anxious or panicked and alter the intensity of your exposure as needed.
During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax, manage your emotions, and then introduces you triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This can include techniques like mindfulness, rhythmic breathing, and guided imagery. They will also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, for example, staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted over a series of weekly sessions, and some individuals require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fear.
The first step is to pinpoint the thing or event that triggers your anxiety, such as flying on a plane or being with strangers. Your therapist can help you choose the best exposure therapy method that suits your preferences and personality. This could include using a hierarchy to determine the sequence of exposures or a series of relaxation exercises prior to starting.
In vivo therapy is the process of confronting the thing or event you are scared of. This might be as simple as walking across an overpass or having someone touch your arm. This approach can be used to treat specific anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate into 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 search for an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies are a wide variety of treatments for health that are not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices. These treatments 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.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with moderate improvement in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different methods of meditation to increase mindfulness or the ability of focusing on the present moment while getting rid of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for anyone and does not require any special equipment or instruction. People who have physical limitations may not be able to participate in a meditation practice that involves moving.
Other therapies that can be used to reduce anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques teach you to manage anxiety by using relaxation exercises, calming breaths and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or within the context of a treatment facility. These methods are often combined with other forms of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can increase your energy levels which can lessen your anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you to evaluate your fears and determine the likelihood that they will actually occur. You can employ strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing the pros and cons of an incident, and determining if it is realistic to be concerned about a possibility that might occur.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique, can be used to alleviate stress. It is based on a study of deficiencies and excesses in your energy, called Qi, which is located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the kidney or spleen meridian can cause anxiety. Acupuncture studies have suggested that it can reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.