Notes

Why Treat Anxiety Is Relevant 2023
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 can help, as does medications like beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

Self-help strategies can also ease symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relaxes the body.

Medication

If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't working then medication could be a viable option. Anxiety medication reduces anxiety signals and the fight or flight response that occurs in the body. Antidepressants are among the most popular drugs used to treat anxiety. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety .

Sometimes, benzodiazepines can be used to treat anxiety. They're fast-acting and extremely beneficial in the short-term, but they are addictive and should only be used when other treatments don't work. The most common 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 care providers can prescribe them. These include psychiatrists and psychologists as also primary health care doctors, some doctors of OB/GYNs and some psychiatrist nurses. Nurse practitioners as well as family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses can also prescribe certain medications, but they must get special training in doing so.

Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to help reduce anxiety. There are also ways to relax and reduce stress, such as mindfulness meditation and deep breathing. 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.

Lastly natural supplements like melatonin and 5-HTP can also help ease anxiety. However, it is important to consult your physician prior to taking any supplement for anxiety or any other reason. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications can maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most studied and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for anxiety disorders. It targets abnormal thoughts and behaviors that maintain anxiety over time. Although several individual CBT protocols have been developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share certain common treatment goals and methods.

The first step in CBT is to discover problematic thought patterns that can cause anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. Therapists can also help patients identify and change behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist will ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in their daily life.

Eventually, the aim is to train patients to be their own therapists by helping them understand their habits of thought and behavior. This will allow patients overcome fears that are unfounded and anxiety, as well as other negative emotions and be more resilient.

CBT methods include the identification and correction of mental distortions that affect the patient, such as overgeneralizing or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. In addition, therapists will help the patient to develop techniques to cope with stressful situations. These techniques can be applied to all kinds of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".

Another element of CBT is exposure therapy. This involves exposing the patient to the object or situation that creates anxiety. This can be done by imagining or confronting the situation or object in real life. For instance, a person with PTSD who is scared of a certain location might be encouraged to go to the location where they were abused. Alternatively, a person with social anxiety disorder who is scared of speaking in public might be urged to deliver a speech front of a group.

Some studies have shown that combining CBT with pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, the results are not conclusive and further research is required. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been proven to be particularly effective in those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is among the most effective ways for treating anxiety. It allows you to confront the things that you are afraid of in a safe setting with an expert. It can be difficult, but the process will help you understand that your fears aren't justified and that you can be able to accept the triggers. It will also increase your confidence when it comes to navigating the obstacles of life.

There are many kinds of exposure therapies, such as virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. If you're scared to speak in public, your therapist might suggest that you practice with a buddy or imagine yourself giving the speech. You can then gradually face the issue with your therapist's assistance. During each session your therapist will examine you to determine if you're feeling anxious or panicked and alter the intensity of your exposure according to the need.

During the session, your therapist teaches you to relax, manage your emotions, and then introduces you triggers that cause you to feel scared. This may include meditation, a rhythmic breathing, and guided images. They also provide strategies to avoid engaging the behavior that triggers anxiety, for example, avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually carried out over a number of weekly sessions, and some individuals require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fears.

The first step is to identify the situation or object that triggers anxiety, such as being on a plane or being with strangers. Your therapist will assist you select the best exposure therapy method that is suited to your preferences and personality. This could include using a hierarchy to determine the order of exposures or a series of relaxation exercises prior to beginning.

In vivo therapy requires you to confront the thing or situation you are scared of. It could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone else contact your arm. This approach can be used to treat specific phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.

In vivo exposure therapy may be hard to fit within your schedule between appointments, which is why it is important to find a therapist who specializes in this type of cognitive therapy. You can find a certified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. It's recommended to look up reviews and ask relatives or friends for suggestions.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies are a wide array of health treatments that aren't considered to be part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting the healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicines Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.

A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with slight improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to promote mindfulness, or the ability to focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be practiced by anyone, and it does not require special equipment or training. People who have physical limitations may not be able to take part in meditation that requires movements.

Other therapies that can relieve anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. These techniques help you control your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscle breathing, calming breathing and visual imagery. They can be used at home, or in a treatment setting. They are usually used in combination with other types of therapy, like exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.


Another way to relieve anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol level, which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energetic and can help reduce your anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective anxiety treatments. It helps you identify and confront negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to evaluate fears and determine their probability of occurring. You can apply strategies like looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining whether or not it's realistic to be worried about something that could occur.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that can be used to treat anxiety. It is based on an evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called Qi) found in specific meridians. A deficiency of the spleen or kidney meridian can trigger anxiety. Acupuncture studies have suggested that it can reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM methods.

Homepage: https://www.iampsychiatry.com/anxiety-treatment