Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a difficult to control their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as do medications like beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relaxes the body.
Medication
If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety then medication could be a good alternative. Anxiety medications can help reduce fear signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most common drugs used to treat anxiety. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) and sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are often the first prescription medications prescribed. The SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, as also tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
There are many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety however only licensed health care providers are able to prescribe them. These include psychologists and psychiatrists as along with primary care physicians, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatrists. They also need to undergo special training in order to prescribe medications.
Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to help reduce anxiety. You can also find relaxation techniques to reduce stress, including 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 5-HTP or melatonin can aid in easing anxiety. But, it is essential to consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplement for anxiety or any other reason. Supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications can maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been extensively researched and supported by empirical evidence. It targets the maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate anxiety over time. Although different CBT protocols were developed for different anxiety disorders, they all have common treatment goals and methods.
CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. In sessions, patients are taught to recognize these negative beliefs and confront them. The therapist can also help patients identify and alter behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist may request patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions and to apply the behavioural strategies that they have learned in their daily life.
Eventually, the final goal is to help patients to become their own therapists by helping them to understand their current patterns of thinking and behaviour. This will help them overcome unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions, and become more resilient.
CBT methods include identifying and changing distortions in the patient's thinking which include overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, and minimizing positive events. Additionally, therapists help the patient to develop techniques to cope with anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be employed to treat any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
Another aspect of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious object or circumstance. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario, or by directly confronting it in real life. For instance, a person suffering from PTSD who is scared of a certain location could be encouraged to visit the spot where they were assaulted. A person with social anxiety disorder who is afraid of public speaking might be encouraged to give a speech in front of an audience.
Certain studies have demonstrated that combining CBT with pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. The results are mixed and further research is needed. In general, combining medications with CBT is more effective than either one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been proven to be particularly effective for people with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you confront things that scare you in a secure setting with an experienced professional. It may seem difficult but it will help you understand that your fears aren't justifiable and that you are able to be able to accept the triggers. It can also help increase your confidence in navigating the challenges of life.
There are several different types of exposure therapy, such as imaginal, virtual reality, and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're nervous about speaking in public your therapist might suggest you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with a friend. Then, you can slowly face the situation in real life with the help of your counselor's assistance. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure as needed.
During the session, your therapist will teach you how to relax and cope with your emotions and then introduces you triggers that cause you to feel fearful. This can include meditation, a rhythmic breathing and guided images. They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in habit that causes anxiety, like avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series of weekly sessions, and some people require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to pinpoint the situation or object that triggers anxiety, such as being on a plane, or being around strangers. Your therapist will help you select an approach to exposure therapy that fits your needs and personality. This could include using a hierarchical system to decide the sequence in which exposures are performed or a series of relaxation techniques prior the start of.
In vivo exposure therapy involves confronting the object or situation you're fearful of. It could be as simple as walking across the bridge or touching your arm. This method can be used to treat certain anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder.
In vivo exposure therapy can be hard to fit in your schedule between appointments, so it is essential to find a therapist who is skilled in this kind of cognitive therapy. You can locate a certified specialist by contacting your local psychological association or mental health network. It's also a good idea to review reviews and ask your friends or family members for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies are a range of treatments for health that are not typically considered part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encourage an active lifestyle. iampsychiatry.com include acupuncture and herbal medicines as well as yoga, meditation, music therapy, massage and yoga. They can also aid in relieving symptoms of depression by lowering levels of stress hormones in your body.
Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs led to 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 letting go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for nearly anyone and does not require any special equipment or training. People with physical limitations might not be able participate in meditative practice that involves movements.
Other treatments that can help reduce anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques help you manage your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles breathing, calm breathing techniques and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or in the context of a treatment facility. These techniques are typically employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.
Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are another way to lessen anxiety. Regular exercise can decrease your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, which are hormones that contribute to anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more relaxed and, in turn, lessen 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 to evaluate your fears and determine the probability that they will actually occur. 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 realistic to be concerned about what could happen.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that can be employed to help with anxiety. It is based upon an assessment of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called Qi) found in specific meridians. A deficiency of the spleen or kidney meridian can cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM approaches.