Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

Everyone fears and worries at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a difficult to control their reactions. Psychotherapy and medications such as beta blockers that help control blood pressure, and benzodiazepines can help.

Self-help strategies can aid in easing symptoms. For example, exercise helps reduce stress and relax the body.

Medication

If a change in lifestyle or psychotherapy do not help anxiety, medication might be an alternative. Anxiety medications reduce anxiety signals and the fight or flight response that occurs in the body. Antidepressants are among the most popular medications used for anxiety. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that influence mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are usually 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 can also be used to combat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be very helpful in the short term, but they are 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).

There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety however only licensed health professionals can prescribe them. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists doctors of primary care and OB-GYNs. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medications, but they have to get special training in doing this.

Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to help 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.

Finally natural supplements like 5-HTP and melatonin may aid in easing anxiety. However, you should always consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or other reason. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a complete therapy plan that incorporates lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and supported by empirical evidence. It focuses on maladaptive thinking or behaviors that cause anxiety to persist. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders, they all have common treatment for anxiety attacks goals and methods.

The first step in CBT is to discover problematic thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. Through sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist also helps patients recognize and modify behaviors that cause them to avoid. The therapist will ask patients to keep journals or "thought records" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in their daily life.

Eventually, the final goal is to help patients to be their own therapists through helping them understand their habits of thought and behavior. This will help them to overcome unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and be more resilient.

CBT methods include identifying and changing distortions in the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. The therapist can also help the patient develop strategies to cope for stressful 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 Treatment-inducing object or circumstance. This could be done by creating a mental picture of the object or the situation or directly confronting it in real life. A person suffering from PTSD, who is anxiety treatable afraid of a certain area, may be urged by their physician to visit the place in which they were attacked. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is scared of public speaking, might be encouraged to deliver an address before an audience.

Some studies have proven that combining strategies of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and more research is required. Combining medications with CBT is generally more effective than either alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be particularly effective in those suffering from anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder.

Therapy for exposure

Exposure therapy is among the most effective methods for treating anxiety. It helps you confront things you are afraid of in a safe environment with an expert. It can be difficult, but the process will help you understand that your fears aren't justifiable and that you are able to tolerate your triggers. It will also boost your confidence in facing life's challenges.

There are many different types of exposure therapies, such as imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. For instance, if afraid of public speaking your therapist might suggest you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with an acquaintance. You can then gradually face the situation with your therapist's support. During each session, your therapist will check to determine if you're experiencing anxiety or panic and alter the intensity of your exposure depending on the needs.

During the session, your therapist will teach you to relax, manage your emotions, and then introduces you to triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This could include mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided images. They can also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in behaviors that cause anxiety, for example, staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually carried out in a series of weekly sessions, and some people require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fears.

The first step is to pinpoint the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a flight or being with strangers. Your therapist will help you choose an exposure therapy approach that is suited to your personal style and needs. This could include using an order to determine the order of exposures or a series of relaxation exercises prior to beginning.

In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or event you are scared of. This might be as simple as walking across the bridge or touching your arm. This method can be used to treat specific anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder.

It isn't easy to squeeze in vivo exposure therapy between appointments. Therefore, it is important to find a therapist that specializes in this form of cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. You can find a certified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. You can also read reviews and ask family and friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies encompass a broad array of health treatments that aren't considered to be part of Western medicine. They can ease anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging an active lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines, meditation, yoga, music therapy, and massage. They can also help alleviate depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.

Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs led to moderate improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or the ability of staying in the present moment while let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for anyone and does not require any special equipment or training. However, those with physical limitations might not be able to participate in meditation that requires movements.

Other therapies that can help relieve stomach anxiety treatment include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques help you manage your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles, calming breaths and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a therapy setting. They are usually used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.

Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are two more ways to lessen anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can help you feel more relaxed, which in turn can decrease your feelings of anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective anxiety treatments. It teaches you how to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will show you how to assess your fears and determine the probability that they will actually occur. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining whether it's reasonable to be worried about something that could happen.

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese technique, is utilized to relieve stress. It is based on the evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen meridian or kidney can cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when it is combined with psychotherapy and other CAM approaches.