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Treat Anxiety Tips That Can Change Your Life
Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

People with anxiety are unable to control their reactions. Everyone is worried and scared at times. Psychotherapy can help, as can medication like beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. Exercise, for example, helps to reduce stress and relaxes your body.

Medication

If psychotherapy or lifestyle changes aren't working then medication could be a viable option. Anxiety medication helps to reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They boost levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be very helpful in the short term however they are also addictive and should only be used when other treatments don't work. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

Only licensed health care specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. These include psychiatrists and psychologists as also primary care physicians, doctors of OB/GYNs and some psychiatrist nurses. Nurse practitioners as well as family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medications, but they have to be trained specifically to do this.

Certain people utilize alternative therapies, like exercise, to ease anxiety. There are also ways to relax and reduce 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.

Finally, natural supplements such as 5-HTP and melatonin can help ease anxiety. However, you should always consult your physician prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or other reason. Supplements can be used in conjunction with a comprehensive therapy plan that incorporates psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the most studied and empirically validated psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders. It targets the maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that maintain anxiety over time. Despite the fact that different CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders, they all have common goals and strategies for treatment.


CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thoughts that cause anxiety. In sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and alter behavior patterns that hinder them from doing so. The therapist might ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries in between sessions, and to implement the strategies for behavioural change they have learned in everyday life.

The goal is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, aiding them in understanding their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will allow them to overcome unfounded fears and anxieties, decrease their anxiety levels and other negative emotions and be more resilient.

CBT techniques include identifying and reversing the way that the patient thinks which include overgeneralizing or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. The therapist also assists the patient develop strategies for coping to deal with anxiety-inducing situations. These techniques can be used to treat 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-provoking object or circumstance. This could be done by imagining the object or situation or confronting it directly in real life. For instance, a patient with PTSD who fears a specific location could be encouraged to visit the spot in which they were assaulted. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, could be encouraged to deliver an address in front of a group.

Some studies have proven that the combination of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and more research is required. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than one alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be particularly effective in people with generalized anxiety or panic disorder.

Therapy for exposure

One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you face the things that make you anxious in a secure environment with an experienced therapist. It might seem daunting but the process will help you understand that your fears aren't justifiable and 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 a variety of forms of exposure therapy. These include virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. If treatment for anxiety attacks scared to speak in public, your therapist might encourage you to practice with a buddy or imagine yourself giving the speech. You can then gradually face the scenario with your therapist’s assistance. In each session your therapist will be able to determine if you're feeling anxious or scared and adjust the intensity depending on the needs.

During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax and manage your emotions and then introduces triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This could include techniques such as mindfulness, rhythmic breathing, and guided imagery. They will also teach strategies to avoid engaging the behaviors that cause anxiety, for example, being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is usually carried out in a series of weekly sessions, and some people require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fear.

The first step is to determine the object or situation that triggers your anxiety, such as flying on a plane, or being in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist will help you select an exposure therapy approach that suits your personal style and needs. This might involve using a hierarchy to determine the sequence of exposures or a relaxation practice prior to beginning.

In vivo therapy is the process of confronting the situation or thing that you are scared of. It could be as simple as crossing an overpass or touching your arm. This method can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific phobias.

It can be challenging to squeeze in sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore, it is important to find a therapist that is skilled in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies encompass a broad range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging the healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine as well as yoga, meditation massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also aid in relieving depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.

A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or the ability of staying in the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for nearly anyone and does not require any special equipment or instruction. People with physical limitations might not be able participate in meditative practice that involves moving.

Other treatments that can help reduce anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques can help you control anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles breathing techniques, relaxing breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be utilized at home or within a treatment environment. These techniques are often used in conjunction with other types of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.

Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are two other ways to lessen anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels and can help reduce your 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 teach you how to assess your the probability of occurring. You can employ strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing the pros and cons of an event, and determining whether it is realistic to be worried about something that could happen.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that can be used to alleviate anxiety. It is based upon the evaluation of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called qi) found in specific meridians. A deficiency of the spleen meridian or kidney can trigger anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM methods.

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