Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but those with anxiety have a hard to control their reactions. Psychotherapy and medications such as beta blockers, which are used to lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines can help.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. Exercise, for example helps reduce stress and relax your body.
Medication
If a change in lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help with anxiety, medication might be an option. Anxiety medication helps to reduce anxiety signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most common medications used for anxiety. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram), sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) 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 can also be used to combat anxiety. They are fast-acting and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they are addictive. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
Only licensed health professionals can prescribe medications to treat anxiety. They include psychologists and psychiatrists as also primary health care doctors, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatrist nurses. They must also receive special training to prescribe medications.
Certain people make use of complementary therapies, such as exercise, to help alleviate anxiety. There are also relaxation methods to 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.
In addition, natural supplements like 5-HTP or melatonin may help ease anxiety. Consult your physician before taking supplements for anxiety, or any other health condition. Supplements can be taken as part of a comprehensive therapy program that includes lifestyle changes, psychotherapy and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been extensively researched and supported by empirical evidence. It focuses on maladaptive thinking or behavior patterns that create anxiety. Despite the fact that different CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders they all share common goals and strategies for treatment.
CBT begins by identifying the dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients learn to identify these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist may also assist patients identify and change avoidance behaviors. 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 ultimate final goal is to help patients to become their own therapists by helping them to understand their habits of thought and behavior. This will enable them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and build a stronger resilience.
CBT techniques involve the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's thoughts that lead to overgeneralization and catastrophizing. Additionally, therapists help the patient to develop techniques to cope with anxiety-inducing 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".
The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. It involves exposing the patient to the object or situation that creates anxiety. This can be done by imagining the object or situation, or by confronting it in actual life. For instance, a patient suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a particular location could be encouraged to visit the place where they were abused. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, may be encouraged to deliver an address in front of an audience.
Certain studies have demonstrated that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. However, these results aren't conclusive, and more research is needed. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been proven to be particularly efficacious in those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective ways to manage anxiety. It helps you confront the things that you are afraid of in a secure environment with a therapist. It may seem difficult but the process can help you realize that your fears aren't justifiable and that you are able to tolerate your triggers. It can also increase your confidence to take on your challenges in life.
There are a variety of exposure therapies, including imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. If you're afraid to speak in public, your therapist could encourage you to practice with a buddy or imagine yourself delivering the speech. You can then gradually face the issue with your therapist's assistance. Each session, your therapist will check to determine if you're experiencing anxiety or panic 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 to triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This could include mindfulness, rhythmic breath and guided imagery. They can also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in behavior that leads to anxiety, like avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome their fear.
The first step is to pinpoint the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a flight or being in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will help you choose the best exposure therapy method that is suited to your preferences and personality. This could include using a hierarchical system to decide the sequence in which exposures are performed or practicing relaxation techniques prior to beginning.
In vivo exposure therapy involves confronting the object or event that you're scared of. It could be as easy as crossing a bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This method can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific fears.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate into your schedule between appointments, which is why it is important to find a therapist that is specialized in this type of cognitive therapy. You can find a certified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. It's also a good idea to read reviews and ask relatives or friends for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies cover 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 encouraging a healthy lifestyle. These treatments could include acupuncture, herbal medicine yoga, meditation music therapy, massage. They can also help reduce depression symptoms by lowering the levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research revealed that mindfulness-based programs resulted in moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs different kinds of meditation to increase mindfulness, or the ability to focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be performed by anyone, and does not require any special equipment or any special training. However, those who have physical limitations might not be able to participate in meditative practices that involve moving.
Other therapies that can be used to relieve anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques teach you to control anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles breathing techniques, relaxing breathing techniques, and visual imagery. They can be used at home or in a treatment setting. These techniques are often used in combination with other forms of therapy, such as exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Another way to ease anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels, which can reduce your anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective anxiety treatments. It teaches you to identify and combat negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to assess your the potential for anxiety and assess their likelihood of occurrence. You can employ strategies like the comparison of your fears to previous experiences by considering the advantages and disadvantages of an event and determining if it is reasonable to worry about something that could occur.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese technique, is employed to alleviate stress. It is based on the evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called qi) located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the spleen or kidney meridian can cause anxiety. Acupuncture can help alleviate anxiety symptoms when paired with psychotherapy and other CAM approaches.