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Learn About Treat Anxiety While Working From At Home
Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

Everyone fears and worries at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a tough managing their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as do medications like beta blockers (used to lower blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

Self-help strategies can help alleviate symptoms. Exercise, for example can help reduce stress and relax your body.

Medication

If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren't working, medication may be a viable alternative. Anxiety medications reduce fears and triggers the fight or flight response within the body. Antidepressants are the most common drugs used to treat anxiety. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are often the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, as also tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.

The benzodiazepines can also be used to treat anxiety. They are fast-acting and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Benzodiazepines are used to treat insomnia and anxiety.

There are a myriad of different medications that can be used to treat anxiety but only licensed health care providers are able to prescribe them. These include psychiatrists and psychologists as well as primary health care doctors, some doctors of OB/GYNs and some psychiatric nurses. They must also receive special training to prescribe medications.

Some people use alternative therapies, like exercise, to reduce anxiety. They 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.

In addition, natural supplements like 5-HTP or melatonin may help ease anxiety. However, it is important to consult your physician prior to taking any supplement to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Supplements can be utilized in conjunction with a comprehensive therapy plan that includes lifestyle changes, psychotherapy and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most thoroughly researched and empirically validated psychotherapeutic strategies 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 all share the same treatment goals and methods.

CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thought patterns which contribute to anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients learn to recognize the negative beliefs they hold and challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and change avoidance behaviors. The therapist might ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions and to implement the behavioural strategies that they have learned in their daily life.

The ultimate goal is to help patients become their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will allow them to remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety and other negative feelings and become more resilient.

CBT methods include identifying and changing mental distortions that affect the patient that lead to overgeneralization or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. Therapists also help the patient to develop techniques to cope with anxiety-provoking 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".

Another component of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-inducing object or circumstance. This can be done by imagining the object or situation, or by confronting it directly in real life. For instance, a person suffering from PTSD who is scared of a certain location might be encouraged to visit the spot in which they were assaulted. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, may be encouraged to give an address in front of an audience.

Some studies have proven that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. However, the results aren't conclusive, and further research is required. In general, mixing medications with CBT is more effective than any one alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be particularly effective in people with anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder.

Therapy for exposure

One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which lets you confront things that scare you in a safe environment with an experienced professional. The process may sound difficult, but it can help you realize that your fears aren't based on fact and you can accept the discomfort caused by your triggers. It will also increase your confidence when it comes to navigating life's challenges.

There are many kinds of exposure therapies, such as imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. If you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist might encourage you to practice with a friend or imagine yourself giving the speech. You can then gradually confront the scenario with your therapist’s support. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety and panic during each session. They will adjust the amount of exposure if necessary.

During the session, your therapist will teach you how to relax and manage your emotions and then introduces triggers that cause you to feel fearful. This can include mindfulness, rhythmic breath, and guided images. They will also teach strategies to avoid engaging the behavior that triggers anxiety, such being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions, and some individuals require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.

The first step is to determine the thing or event that causes anxiety, such as flying on a plane or being around strangers. Your therapist will help you select the method of exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could involve establishing a hierarchy to determine the order of exposures or a relaxation practice prior to beginning.

In how anxiety is treated involves facing the thing or situation you are scared of. This could be as simple as crossing the bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This method is often employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific fears.

In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate within your schedule between appointments, which is why it's important to find a therapist who is skilled in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. It's also a good idea to review reviews and ask your family members or friends for suggestions.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies are a range of healthcare treatments that aren't typically thought of as part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicine Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also help reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones in your body.

A recent study revealed that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with slight improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach employs various types of meditation to increase mindfulness, which is the ability to focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for almost anyone and does not require any special equipment or instruction. People with physical limitations might not be able to participate in meditative practice that involves movements.

Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques help you control anxiety by using relaxation exercises, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be utilized at home or within an environment for treatment. These techniques are often paired with other forms therapy, like cognitive behavior therapy or exposure therapy.

Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are another way to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels, which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet can help you feel more energetic and, in turn, reduce anxiety symptoms.

Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It helps you recognize and challenge negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to assess your fears and determine the probability that they'll actually happen. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing out the pros and cons of an incident, and determining if it's reasonable to be worried about something that could happen.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique that can be employed to treat anxiety. It is based on an evaluation of the deficiencies and excesses in your energy, called qi, located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridian can trigger anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.


Read More: https://www.iampsychiatry.com/anxiety-treatment