Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a difficult time controlling their reactions. Psychotherapy and medications such as beta blockers that are used to lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines may help.

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

Medication

If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy do not help your anxiety, non medication treatment for anxiety could be an alternative. Anxiety medication helps to reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most common medications used for anxiety. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters that influence mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, as also tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety disorders anxiety.

Sometimes, benzodiazepines can be used to treat anxiety. They are fast-acting and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).

Only licensed health care professionals can prescribe medications to treat anxiety. They can be psychiatrists, psychologists doctors of primary care and OB-GYNs. They also need to undergo special training in order to prescribe medications.

Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to lessen anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and relieve stress like 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.

Lastly natural supplements like melatonin and 5-HTP can also help to ease anxiety. But, it is essential to consult your doctor before taking any supplements to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a comprehensive therapy plan that incorporates lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been extensively researched and supported by empirical evidence. It targets the maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. Although several individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they share the same treatment goals and techniques.

CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. Through sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist can also help patients recognize and modify behavior patterns that hinder them from doing so. The therapist will request patients to keep diaries or "thought notes" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in their daily life.

The aim is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them overcome unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions, and become more resilient.

CBT methods focus on identifying and changing distortions of the patient's thoughts like overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. The therapist can also help the patient develop coping strategies for stressful 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 creating a mental picture or confronting the object or scenario in real life. For example, a patient with PTSD who is scared of a certain location might be encouraged to go to the location in which they were assaulted. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, could be encouraged to make an address before an audience.

Certain studies have demonstrated that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. The results are mixed and more research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is usually more effective than one alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be particularly effective in patients suffering from anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder.

Therapy for exposure

One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you confront the things that make you anxious in a secure environment with an experienced therapist. The process may sound difficult but it can help you learn that your fears are unfounded and that you can tolerate the discomfort caused by your triggers. It will also increase your confidence in navigating the obstacles of life.

There are many different kinds of exposure therapy. These include virtual reality, imaginal, and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're afraid of public speaking your therapist might suggest you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with a friend. Then, you can gradually confront the situation with your therapist's support. Your therapist will monitor your anxiety and panic levels during each session. They will adjust the amount of exposure if needed.

In the course of a session the therapist will show you how to relax and cope with your feelings before explaining the triggers that cause you fear. This could include mindfulness, breathing rhythms, and guided images. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, for example, staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions. However, some individuals require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.

The first step is to determine the thing or event that triggers anxiety, such as flying on a plane or in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist can help you select an exposure therapy approach that fits your personal style and needs. This might involve using a hierarchy to determine the order in which exposures are given or a series of relaxation exercises prior to beginning.

In vivo therapy requires you meds to treat anxiety and depression confront the thing or event you are afraid of. It could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone touch your arm. This technique can be used to treat specific phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.

It can be difficult to schedule the vivo exposure therapy in between appointments. Therefore, it is important to find a therapist who is skilled in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. You can find a qualified specialist by checking your local psychology association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews and ask family and 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 aid in reducing anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle habits. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also help reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.

Recent research revealed that mindfulness-based programs led to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various meditation techniques to promote mindfulness, or the ability of staying in 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 training. People with physical limitations might not be able to take part in meditative practice that involves movement.

Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage your anxiety through the focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breath, and visual imagery. These techniques can be used at home or within an environment for treatment anxiety. These techniques are often paired with other forms of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.

Another way to relieve anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood-pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that can cause anxiety. A healthy diet will make you feel more energetic which can lessen your anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you to evaluate your fears and determine the likelihood that they'll actually happen. You can apply strategies like looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences, considering the advantages and disadvantages of a situation and determining if it is reasonable to worry about what could occur.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that is used to help with anxiety. It is based upon an assessment of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the kidney or spleen meridian can cause weak legs anxiety treatment. Acupuncture studies have suggested that it can improve Anxiety attack treatment without medication symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.