Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

People suffering from anxiety are unable to control their reactions. Everyone is worried and anxious at times. Psychotherapy and medications such as beta blockers, which are used to lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines can aid in managing.

Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. Exercise, for instance helps reduce stress and relax your body.

Medication

If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy do not help anxiety, medication might be an alternative. Anxiety medication helps to reduce anxiety signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants, the most popular medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are usually the first prescription medications prescribed. The SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

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

Only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe medications to treat anxiety. They can be psychiatrists, psychologists doctors of primary care and some OBGYNs. They must also undergo special training to prescribe medication.

Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to help reduce anxiety. They 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 may aid in easing anxiety. However, you should always consult your physician prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or other reason. Supplements can be utilized in conjunction with a comprehensive therapy program that includes psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied 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 treatment near me disorders, they all share certain common treatment for high functioning anxiety (Learn Even more) goals and techniques.

The first step in CBT is to discover the thoughts that are not working and cause anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients learn to identify these negative beliefs and then challenge. The therapist also helps patients recognize and modify behaviors that cause them to avoid. The therapist might ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries in between sessions, and to apply the behavioural strategies they have learned in their daily life.

The goal is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, by helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will allow them to remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and become more resilient.

CBT techniques include identifying and reversing mental distortions that affect the patient which include overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, and minimizing positive events. The therapist also assists the patient develop coping strategies for stressful 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".

Exposure therapy is another element of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-inducing object or situation. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario, or by confronting it in actual life. A person suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a specific area, may be urged by their physician to visit the site in which they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder who is afraid of public speaking might be encouraged to speak in front of a group.

Some studies have proven that combining strategies of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and further research is needed. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than either alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines and CBT have been shown to be particularly effective in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.

Exposure therapy

One of the most effective treatment for anxiety methods for treating anxiety is exposure therapy, which lets you confront things that scare you in a safe environment with a therapist. The process may sound difficult, but it can help you realize that your fears are not based on reality and you can accept the discomfort that triggers you. It will also increase your confidence when it comes to navigating the obstacles of life.

There are a variety of treatments for exposure, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. For instance, if afraid of public speaking Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with a friend. Then, you can gradually confront the scenario with your therapist’s support. During each session, your therapist will check to determine if you're feeling anxious or panicked and adjust the intensity according to the need.

During a session, your therapist will teach you how to calm down and deal with your emotions before introducing you to the triggers that create fear. This could include mindfulness, rhythmic breath and guided imagery. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in behavior that leads to anxiety, like staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series of weekly sessions. Some people need more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.

The first step is to pinpoint what triggers your anxiety. For example, flying on a flight or being in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will then help you choose an approach to exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the order in which exposures are performed or practicing relaxation techniques prior to starting.

In vivo therapy involves facing the situation or thing that you are afraid of. It could be as simple as walking across the bridge or having someone touch your arm. This method can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific phobias.

It can be challenging to squeeze in sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore it is essential to find a therapist that specializes in this form of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies encompass a broad range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices. These treatments could include acupuncture, herbal medicines, meditation, yoga music therapy, massage. They can also aid in relieving symptoms of depression by lowering levels of stress hormones in your body.

Recent research revealed that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to help promote mindfulness, or the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation is suitable for nearly everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or training. People who have physical limitations may not be able participate in a meditation practice that involves movements.

Other therapies that can be used to reduce anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques teach you to manage your anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles breathing techniques, relaxing breathing and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a treatment setting. These techniques are often paired with other forms of therapy, such a cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.

Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are another way to lessen anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can increase your energy levels which can lessen anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It helps you recognize and overcome negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will show you to evaluate your fears and determine the probability that they'll happen. You can employ strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining whether it's reasonable to be concerned about what could happen.

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese technique, is utilized to relieve stress. It is based on an evaluation of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, referred to as Qi, which is located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridians could cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.