How Anxiety is Treated

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to moment. This is usually a reaction to stressful events in life. However, when these anxiety levels become too much and cause problems with daily life it could be a sign of anxiety disorder.

Mental health professionals can examine your symptoms and run tests to rule out other ailments. Treatment options include psychotherapy and medications.

Medicines

Everyone is anxious and nervous at times, but if they are persistent or disrupt your day-to-day life to the point where you are unable to function it's time to talk to your mental health professional regarding medication. If you are suffering from anxiety, your physician will assist you in finding the most effective medication for you and will also discuss other treatments that can be beneficial, like psychotherapy, exercise and stress management techniques.

Antidepressants and medications for anxiety reduction are used to combat anxiety. Antidepressants enhance the activity of chemicals in your brain, such as serotonin, which affects mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating a variety of conditions, including depression and anxiety. Other antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants as well as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, are also approved to treat anxiety disorders. Others such as benzodiazepines increase the activity of the receptors for the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which has an calming effect.

There are two kinds of anxiolytic medications: standing doses, which are taken regularly or as-needed, and medications you use when your anxiety is a problem. The first one can take a bit of time to work but they typically eliminate or reduce the symptoms. As-needed medications work faster, in about 20 minutes. However, they only improve anxiety so long as the medication is in your system.

While medications are an important element of your treatment, they aren't able to alleviate anxiety. Your clinician will discuss other methods to treat symptoms, such as psychotherapy (talk-therapy), exercise and stress management, and self-help techniques, such as breathing exercises, progressive muscular relaxation and biofeedback. Many people who suffer from anxiety and phobias respond well to cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, which teaches you to recognize the thoughts that cause your anxiety and help you manage them. Other treatments include eye-movement desensitization Reprocessing or EMDR. This can help people overcome anxiety, trauma and depression. Some people are benefited by Acupuncture, which is the practice of placing needles in certain areas of the body to ease pain and tension.

Counseling

Counseling (or psychotherapy) is designed to teach you new strategies to think and deal with anxiety. It assists you in identifying the triggers that cause anxiety, and to discover the root causes. Treatments for anxiety attack treatment that have been proven by research, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) exposure therapy and interpersonal therapy, are effective. These therapies can also be combined with the pharmacotherapy treatment plan.

Anxiety can be debilitating It's crucial to keep in mind that you're not alone. Anxiety affects more than 40 million people in the US. The anxiety and anxiety that anxiety brings can cause problems in every aspect of your life. There are a myriad of mental health professionals that can help, including psychologists counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists. WithTherapy will match you with a therapist who is uniquely matched to your preferences and needs.

Many people who suffer from anxiety suffer from symptoms like fear, anxiety, or trouble sleeping. Often, these feelings are triggered by specific situations or events. Counseling can help you learn to recognize triggers and how to manage them so you can feel better.

Cognitive and behavioral treatments have been shown to be more effective than medications to manage anxiety and the results of therapy may last for months and even years after treatment for high functioning anxiety is finished. This is because, unlike medications psychotherapy helps you learn how to conquer your anxiety thoughts and behaviors.

In addition to learning to recognize the triggers of your anxiety, therapy can provide a safe place for you to talk about your feelings with someone who is going through the same struggles as you. Talking with a therapist can help you deal with common anxiety symptoms like thinking about, having negative or defeating feelings and anxiety.

Some people find relief through herbal remedies and supplements, in addition to psychotherapy. However, it's important note that these options aren't regulated by FDA in the same way that prescription medications are, and could have dangerous adverse effects. Therefore, before you try supplements or herbs be sure to speak with your physician first. You can also join a group for those suffering from anxiety to find others who share your experiences.

Strategies for self-help

Anxiety can cause physical symptoms like heart palpitations and sweating. There are medical conditions that could cause anxiety, but most of the time it's due to lifestyle factors like poor diet and exercise habits, as well as sleep issues. Self-management techniques are a great method to improve your lifestyle and control these symptoms. Relaxation exercises, avoiding nicotine and caffeine, sleeping more, and implementing effective stress-management techniques are all options. Regular exercising is suggested to boost serotonin levels, which counteract anxiety symptoms.

Self-help methods are usually more effective in reducing anxiety symptoms than medications. They can include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which helps patients recognize and modify negative thinking patterns. Another option is exposure therapy, which aids people confront the things or situations that trigger anxiety by gradually increasing their contact with them. This can be achieved by imagining the situation or actually going there. Exposure therapy may be used alone or as part of CBT.

Some people suffering from anxiety find it beneficial to keep a record of their symptoms. This can help you keep track of the intensity and frequency of your symptoms, as well as their impact on your daily activities and relationships. Journals can help a person identify what triggers their anxiety. In addition, a person can join a support group to meet people who suffer from anxiety and talk about their experiences.

Other treatments for anxiety include psychotherapy and other types of counseling. A psychiatrist, who is a specialist in mental health, is able to prescribe medication. A psychologist or other qualified mental health professional can provide psychotherapy, which includes discussing your concerns and devising coping strategies. A common type of therapy for anxiety is cognitive behavior therapy or CBT, which is a form of psychotherapy which has been proven to be to be effective in clinical tests.

Psychotherapy

The use of medication to treat anxiety is helpful, but therapy gives people the chance to regain physical and emotional control when anxiety takes over. Studies conducted on randomized clinical trials have shown that psychotherapy is more effective than medication in reducing anxiety symptoms, and its effects endure well beyond the treatment sessions.

The most common form of psychotherapy for anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In CBT, patients learn skills to manage anxiety by identifying negative thoughts that trigger anxiety. They then replace these thoughts with realistic, calming ones. Patients can also learn different strategies to manage symptoms, such as mindfulness and relaxation.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a different type of psychotherapy which can be beneficial for those suffering from anxiety. It teaches people how to deal with their worries and not avoid them. This type of therapy encourages patients try new things, and then gradually confront their fears, until they can manage them without any problems. Other strategies for coping include eye movement desensitization therapy (EMDR) which is a method that uses repetitive eye movements back and forth to alter negative emotions into memories that cause anxiety.

Psychotherapy for anxiety may also incorporate other methods, such as stress-reduction activities and exercise. Regular exercise can help maintain blood pressure and heart rate at a normal level which can help alleviate anxiety symptoms. A balanced diet with low sugar levels and a limit on caffeine can also help to reduce anxiety symptoms.

The best psychotherapists will be able communicate with you so that you feel comfortable discussing your feelings and sharing your thoughts. However, finding a good therapist can take some time, and it's not uncommon to have clients meet with several therapists before finding a good fit. To get the most benefit from therapy requires patience, dedication and a clear communication with your Therapist.