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 can help, as do medication like beta blockers (used to lower blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can also ease symptoms. Exercise, for instance can help reduce stress and relax your body.
Medication
If a change in lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication may be an option. Anxiety medications help to suppress fear signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are among the most popular drugs used to treat anxiety. They boost levels of certain neurotransmitters, which influence mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are often the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, venlafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
The benzodiazepines are sometimes used to treat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they are addictive. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
Only licensed health care professionals are able to prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists doctors of primary care and some OB-GYNs. They also need to undergo special training to prescribe medications.
Certain people utilize alternative therapies, like exercise, to ease anxiety. There are also relaxation techniques to reduce stress, such as 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 like 5-HTP or melatonin can help ease anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements to treat anxiety or any other condition. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates lifestyle and psychotherapy will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly researched and supported by evidence-based research. It targets abnormal thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate anxiety over time. Although a variety of individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share some common goals for treatment and techniques.
CBT begins by identifying the dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and then challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and change avoidance behavior. The therapist may request patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries in between sessions, and to apply the behavioural strategies they have learned in their daily life.
In the end, the aim is to train patients to become their own therapists by helping them understand their habits of thought and behavior. This will enable them to overcome unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions, and become more resilient.
CBT techniques include the identification and correction of the way that the patient thinks that lead to overgeneralization or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. Therapists also aid the patient in developing strategies for dealing with anxiety-inducing situations. These techniques can be utilized to treat any type 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. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-provoking subject or event. This could be done by creating a mental picture of the object or the situation, or by confronting it in actual life. For instance, a patient suffering from PTSD who is scared of a certain location might be encouraged to visit the place in which they were assaulted. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, may be encouraged to give a speech before a group.
Some studies have proven that combining CBT with pharmaceutical therapy can improve outcomes. However, the results are not conclusive and more research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is generally more effective than either alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be especially effective in patients suffering from panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective methods to treat anxiety. It can help you confront the things that you are afraid of in a safe environment with an expert. It may sound like a daunting process but it will help you learn that your fears are not based on reality and you can accept the discomfort caused by your triggers. It can also improve your confidence when it comes to navigating life's challenges.
There are a variety of forms of exposure therapy. These include imaginal, virtual reality, and systematic desensitization. For instance, if you're scared of speaking in public Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with an acquaintance. Then, you can gradually confront the issue with your therapist's assistance. In each session your therapist will examine you to determine if you're feeling anxious or scared and adjust the level of exposure depending on the needs.
In an appointment your therapist will show you how to relax and cope with your emotions before explaining the triggers that cause you fear. This may include mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided images. They also teach strategies to avoid engaging the behavior that causes anxiety, like being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted over a series of weekly sessions. However, some individuals require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fear.
The first step is to identify the thing or event that triggers anxiety, for example, flying on a plane or being around strangers. Your therapist will help you select the best exposure therapy method that is suited to your preferences and personality. This could involve using a hierarchical system to decide the sequence in which exposures are made or a series of relaxation techniques prior to beginning.
In vivo exposure therapy is confronting the thing or situation that you're afraid of. This could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This technique can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific phobias.
In vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to integrate in your schedule between appointments, so it's important to find a therapist who is skilled in this kind of cognitive therapy. You can search for an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies cover a wide range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyles. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal medicine yoga, meditation music therapy, massage. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research found that mindfulness-based programs resulted in moderate improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different methods of meditation to increase mindfulness, or the ability of focusing on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be performed by almost anyone, and it does not require special equipment or training. People who have physical limitations may not be able participate in meditation that requires movement.
Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and hypnosis. These techniques help you control anxiety by the focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be used at home or within an environment for treatment. These techniques are typically employed in conjunction with other types of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Another way to ease anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. IamPsychiatry can lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol level, which is a hormone that contributes to anxiety. A healthy diet can increase your energy levels, which can reduce your anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and challenge negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to evaluate the potential for anxiety and assess their probability of occurring. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences by taking into consideration the pros and cons of an event, and determining whether it's realistic to be worried about something that might occur.
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, also known as Qi, that is found in specific meridians. A deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridian can trigger anxiety. Acupuncture can improve anxiety symptoms when it is combined with psychotherapy and other CAM techniques.