Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

Everyone is worried and anxious at times, but those with anxiety have a hard to control their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as does medications like beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

Self-help strategies may also aid in easing symptoms. Exercise, for example helps reduce stress and relax your body.

Medication

If a change in lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety, medication may be a viable alternative. Anxiety medication reduces anxiety signals and the fight or flight response in the body. Antidepressants, the most popular medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters that influence mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) and sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.

Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Benzodiazepines are used to treat insomnia and anxiety.

Only licensed health specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. They can be psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care physicians and some OBGYNs. They also need to undergo special training to prescribe medications.

Certain people make use of alternative therapies, like exercise, to help alleviate anxiety. You can also find methods to relax and relieve stress and anxiety treatment, 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 treat anxiety without medicine 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 health condition. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications can maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and supported by empirical evidence. It focuses on maladaptive thinking or behavior patterns that create anxiety. While a variety of individual CBT protocols have been developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share certain common treatment goals and methods.

CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients are taught to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. Therapists can also help patients recognize and modify their behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist will ask patients to keep journals or "thought notes" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in their daily life.

Eventually, the final goal is to help patients to be their own therapists by helping them to understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them to remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety and other negative emotions and become more resilient.

CBT techniques involve the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's thinking that lead to overgeneralization and catastrophizing. Therapists also assist the patient in developing techniques to cope with anxiety-inducing situations. These techniques can be used to treat all kinds 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 situation. This can be done by creating a mental picture or confronting the subject or situation in real life. A patient with PTSD who is afraid of a specific area, may be urged by their physician to visit the place where they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is scared of public speaking, might be encouraged to give a speech before an audience.

Certain studies have demonstrated that combining CBT with pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, these results are mixed 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 effective in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.

Exposure therapy

One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you confront things that scare you in a secure setting with an experienced therapist. It might seem daunting, but the process can help you realize that your fears aren't justifiable and that you are able to accept your triggers. It can also boost your confidence to face the challenges of life.

There are many kinds of exposure therapies, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. If you're afraid to speak in public, your therapist might advise you to practice with a buddy or imagine yourself giving the speech. Then, you'll be able to gradually face the scenario in real life with the help of your therapy therapist's help. Your therapist will keep track of your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the intensity of exposure if necessary.

In an appointment the therapist will show you how to calm and manage your feelings before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that cause you anxiety. This can include techniques like mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided imagery. They can also teach strategies to avoid engaging in the behavior that causes anxiety treatment symptoms, like avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. Some people require more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.

The first step is to pinpoint the situation or object that causes anxiety, for example, flying on a plane or being in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist will assist you choose the method of exposure therapy that fits your personality and needs. This could involve using a hierarchical system to decide the order of exposures or a series of relaxation techniques prior the start of.

In vivo therapy requires you to confront the situation or thing that you are afraid of. It could be as easy as crossing an overpass or having someone else reach out to you. This method can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific phobias.

In vivo exposure therapy may be difficult to incorporate in your schedule between appointments, which is why it is essential to find a therapist that is specialized in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychological association or mental network. It's an excellent idea to review reviews and ask your relatives or friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies cover a wide variety of treatments for health that are not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encourage an active lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicines, meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones within your body.

Recent research found that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach employs various types of meditation to promote mindfulness, or the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation is suitable for nearly everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or instruction. People who have physical limitations may not be able to take part in meditation that requires moving.

Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis and self-hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage anxiety by focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breath and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or in the context of a treatment facility. They are usually used in combination with other forms of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are another way to reduce Anxiety treatment. Regular exercise can decrease your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, which are hormones that contribute to anxiety. A healthy diet can increase your energy levels which can lessen anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective anxiety treatments. It helps you identify and confront negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to assess your the potential for anxiety and assess their probability of occurring. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing out the pros and cons of an event, and determining whether it is realistic to be worried about a possibility that might occur.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that can be used to alleviate anxiety. It is based on an assessment of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called qi) located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians can trigger anxiety. Acupuncture can improve anxiety symptoms when it is combined with psychotherapy and other CAM techniques.