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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but people who suffer from anxiety have a difficult 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 can also ease symptoms. Exercise, for example, helps to reduce stress and relax your body. Medication If a change in lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication may be a viable alternative. Anxiety medication suppresses anxiety signals and the fight or flight response that occurs in the body. Antidepressants, the most popular medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters, which influence mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are usually the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety. Benzodiazepines are also used to combat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they are addictive. Benzodiazepines are often used to treat insomnia and anxiety. Only licensed health professionals can prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These providers can include psychiatrists, psychologists doctors of primary care and some OBGYNs. They must also undergo special training in order to prescribe medications. Exercise and complementary therapies are a common method used by some people to help reduce anxiety. You can also find methods to relax and relieve 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 melatonin or 5-HTP may also aid in easing anxiety. But, it is essential to consult your doctor before taking any supplements for anxiety or any other reason. Using supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and lifestyle changes can maximize the effectiveness of your treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and supported by evidence-based research. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behaviors that lead to anxiety. Despite the fact that different CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and techniques. CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thoughts that cause anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients learn to recognize the negative beliefs they hold and challenge. The therapist will also help patients recognize and modify avoidance behaviours. The therapist may ask patients to keep diaries or "thought notes" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in their everyday life. The aim is to eventually help patients become their own therapists by aiding them in understanding their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will allow them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety and other negative feelings and become more resilient. CBT methods focus on the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's mind, such as overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. Therapists also aid the patient in developing strategies for dealing with anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be used 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 another element of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-inducing subject or event. This could be done by visualizing the object or scenario, or by confronting it directly in real life. A patient with PTSD who is scared of a particular location, might be encouraged by their doctor to visit the place where they were attacked. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of speaking in public, may be encouraged to make a speech before the group. Some studies have shown that combining strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. The results are mixed and further research is needed. In general, combining medications and CBT is more effective than either one by itself. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be particularly effective for people with anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder. Exposure therapy One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you face the things that scare you in a safe environment with the help of a professional. It may seem difficult but it can help you realize that your fears aren't justifiable and you can accept your triggers. It will also boost your confidence to take on your challenges in life. There are many different types of exposure therapies, such as imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. If you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist might suggest that you practice with a buddy or imagine yourself delivering the speech. You can then gradually confront the situation with your therapist's support. Your therapist will monitor your anxiety and panic levels during each session. They will adjust the amount of exposure as needed. During a session the therapist will show you how to calm and manage your emotions before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that create anxiety. This may include techniques such as meditation, breathing with rhythm, and guided imagery. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the habit that causes anxiety, like avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted over a number of weekly sessions. However, some people require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fear. The first step is to identify the thing or event that causes anxiety, for example, flying on a plane, or being around strangers. Your therapist will assist you select a method of exposure therapy that will suit your needs and personality. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the order in which exposures are made or a series of relaxation techniques prior to beginning. In vivo therapy is the process of confronting the thing or situation 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 phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder. In vivo exposure therapy may be difficult to incorporate within your schedule between appointments, which is why it is essential to find a therapist that is skilled in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can search for a qualified specialist by checking your local psychological association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews and ask family and friends for suggestions. Complementary therapies Complementary therapies cover a wide range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyles. These treatments could include acupuncture, herbal therapy, meditation, yoga, music therapy, and massage. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones within your body. Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs resulted in moderate improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs different kinds of meditation to help promote mindfulness, or the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be done by almost everyone, and does not require special equipment or training. People who have physical limitations may not be able participate in meditative practice that involves movement. Other therapies that can be used to relieve anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage your anxiety through focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breathing and visual imagery. They can be used at home, or in a therapy setting. These techniques are often paired with other forms of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy. anxiety treatment herbal and eat well-balanced meals are two more ways to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce the heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, which are hormones that cause anxiety. A healthy diet can increase your energy levels which can lessen anxiety. Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It helps you identify and combat negative thoughts which lead to anxiety. Your therapist will show you how to evaluate fears and determine their probability of occurring. You can employ strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining whether it is realistic to be concerned about what could happen. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that is used to treat anxiety. It is based on an evaluation of deficiencies and excesses in your energy, called Qi, that is found in specific meridians. For instance, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians can trigger anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.
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