Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but people who suffer from anxiety have a difficult to control their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as can medications such as beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

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

Medication

If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy don't help with anxiety, medication might be an alternative. Anxiety medication helps to reduce fear signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used best medication to treat anxiety used to treat anxiety are antidepressants. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) and sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

Benzodiazepines are also sometimes used to treat anxiety. They are fast-acting and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they are addictive. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat insomnia and anxiety.

Only licensed health specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. They include psychiatrists and psychologists as well as primary care physicians, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatrist nurses. Nurse practitioners as well as family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses can also prescribe certain medications, but they must receive special training to do this.

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

Finally, natural supplements like melatonin or 5-HTP may also aid in relieving anxiety. But, it is essential to consult your physician prior to taking any supplement for anxiety or other reason. Supplements can be used as part of a comprehensive therapy plan that incorporates lifestyle changes, psychotherapy and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most thoroughly researched and empirically validated psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders. It targets the maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate anxiety over time. Although several individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they share some common goals for treatment and methods.

The first step in CBT is to recognize problematic thought patterns that cause anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients are taught to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist can also help patients recognize and modify their behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist may request patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions, and to implement the strategies for behavioural change they've learned in daily life.

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

CBT methods focus on identifying and changing distortions of the patient's mind like overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. The therapist also assists the patient develop strategies for coping for stressful 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 element of CBT is exposure therapy. This involves exposure to the thing or circumstance that creates anxiety. This could be done by creating a mental picture of the object or the situation or confronting it in actual life. A person suffering from PTSD, who is afraid of a specific area, may be urged by their doctor to visit the location where they were assaulted. Or, a person suffering from social Separation Anxiety Disorder Treatments (Http://Www.Annunciogratis.Net/Author/Rosalinamee) disorder who is scared of public speaking could be encouraged to deliver a speech front of an audience.

Certain studies have demonstrated that combination strategies of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. These results are mixed, and further research what is the best anxiety treatment needed. In general, combining medications with CBT is more effective than any one by itself. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be especially effective in those suffering from panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder treatment anxiety disorder.

Therapy for exposure

Exposure therapy is one of the most effective ways to manage anxiety. It allows you to confront the things that you are afraid of in a comfortable environment with a therapist. The process may sound difficult but it can help you realize that your fears aren't based on fact and that you can tolerate the discomfort of your triggers. It will also increase your confidence in navigating the challenges of life.

There are a variety of treatments for exposure, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. If you're scared to speak in public, your therapist might advise you to practice with a buddy or imagine yourself giving the speech. You can then gradually confront the scenario with your therapist’s support. Your therapist will monitor your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure as needed.

During the session, your therapist will teach you to relax, cope with your emotions and then introduces you to triggers that cause you to feel scared. This may include techniques such as meditation, breathing with rhythm, and guided imagery. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in habit that causes anxiety, like staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually carried out over a series of weekly sessions. However, some people require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fear.

The first step is to determine the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a flight or being with strangers. Your therapist can help you select an exposure therapy approach that suits your preferences and personality. This might involve using a hierarchy to determine the sequence of exposures or a series of relaxation exercises prior to starting.

In vivo therapy requires you to confront the thing or event you are afraid of. It could be as simple as crossing an overpass or touching your arm. This method can be used to treat specific phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.

It can be challenging to squeeze in the vivo exposure therapy in between appointments. Therefore it is essential to find a therapist that is specialized in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. You can find a certified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. You can also read reviews or ask family and friends for recommendations.

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 promoting healthy lifestyles. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicine, meditation, Yoga, music therapy, massage, and yoga. They also can reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.

Recent research found that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvement in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to increase mindfulness, which is the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for almost everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or instruction. People who have physical limitations may not be able participate in meditation that requires movements.

Other therapies that can be used to ease anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques teach you to manage anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles breathing techniques, relaxing breaths and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a therapeutic setting. These techniques are often paired with other forms of therapy like cognitive behavior therapy or exposure therapy.

Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energetic, which can anxiety go away without treatment reduce your anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective anxiety treatments. It teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to evaluate your fears and determine the likelihood that they will actually occur. You can employ strategies such as comparing your fears to past experiences by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a situation, and determining if it's realistic to be worried about something that might occur.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that is employed to help with anxiety. It is based on the evaluation of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen meridian or kidney can cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.