Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

People with anxiety are unable to control their reactions. Everyone worries and feels scared at times. Psychotherapy can help, as can medication like beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

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

Medication

If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication may be an option. 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 influence mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

The benzodiazepines are sometimes used to treat anxiety. They're fast-acting and very helpful in the short-term, but they are addictive and should only be used when other treatments don't work. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).

Only licensed health specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care physicians and OBGYNs. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medications, but they have to be trained specifically to do this.

Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to lessen anxiety. There are also methods to relax and relieve 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.

In addition, natural supplements like 5-HTP or melatonin can aid in easing anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements for anxiety, or any other condition. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a comprehensive therapy plan that incorporates lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective anxiety treatment extensively studied ocd and anxiety treatment empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for treating anxiety disorders. It targets the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that lead to anxiety. Although several individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they share some common goals for treatment and techniques.

CBT starts by identifying dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. In sessions, 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 apply the strategies for behavioural change they have learned in everyday life.

The ultimate goal is to teach patients how to be their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them to remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety and other negative emotions and improve their resilience.

CBT methods include identifying and reversing the way that the patient thinks which include overgeneralizing or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. The therapist can also help the patient develop coping strategies to deal 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 element of CBT is exposure therapy. It involves exposure therapy, which involves exposing the patient to the thing or circumstance that creates anxiety. This could be done by visualizing the object or scenario or confronting it in actual life. A patient suffering from PTSD who is scared of a particular location, might be encouraged by their doctor to visit the place where they were assaulted. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of public speaking, might be encouraged to make an address in front of an audience.

Some studies have proven that combining CBT with the use of pharmacotherapy can enhance outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and further research is needed. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than either of them on its own. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be particularly effective in people with panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.

Therapy for exposure

Exposure therapy is among the most effective ways for treating anxiety. It can help you confront the things that you are afraid of in a secure setting with a therapist. The process might sound daunting, but it can help you understand that your fears are unfounded and you can accept the discomfort that triggers you. It will also increase your confidence in navigating life's challenges.

There are a variety of forms of exposure therapy. These include imaginal, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. For instance, if you're nervous about speaking in public your therapist might suggest you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with your friend. Then, you'll be able to gradually face the scenario in real life with your counselor's assistance. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety and panic levels during each session. They will adjust the intensity of exposure if necessary.

In an appointment your therapist will show you how do you treat anxiety without medication to relax and cope with your emotions before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that cause you fear. This could include techniques such as meditation, breathing with rhythm, and guided imagery. They also teach strategies to avoid engaging in the behavior that triggers anxiety, like being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some people need more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.

The first step is to determine the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a flight or being with strangers. Your therapist will help you choose an approach to exposure therapy that will suit your personality and needs. This could include using a hierarchical system to determine the order in which exposures are performed or practicing relaxation techniques prior to beginning.

In vivo exposure therapy involves directly facing the thing or situation that you're afraid of. It could be as simple as crossing the bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This method can be used to treat certain fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.

In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate into your schedule between appointments, so it's important to find a therapist who specializes in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. It's an excellent idea to read reviews and ask family members or friends for suggestions.

Complementary therapies

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

A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with slight improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or staying in the present moment while letting go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation is suitable for anyone and does not require any special equipment or training. People with physical limitations may not be able to take part in meditation that requires movement.

Other therapies that can relieve anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. These techniques help you manage your anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles breathing techniques, relaxing breaths, and visual imagery. They can be used at home, or in a therapy setting. These techniques are typically used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.

Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are two other ways to treat anxiety without medication to lessen anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels, which can reduce anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It helps you identify and combat negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to assess the potential for anxiety and assess their likelihood of occurrence. You can apply strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing out the pros and cons of an event, and determining whether it's reasonable to be worried about something that could happen.

Acupuncture is an old Chinese technique that is employed to treat anxiety. It is based on an assessment of the deficiencies and excesses in your energy, called Qi, that is found in specific meridians. For instance, a lack of qi in the spleen or kidney meridians can cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when it is combined with psychotherapy and other CAM methods.