Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

People suffering from anxiety are unable to manage their reactions. Everyone is worried and anxious at times. Psychotherapy can help, as can medication like beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

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

Medication

If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren't working then medication could be a good alternative. Anxiety medication reduces fear signals and the fight or flight response within the body. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram), sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are usually the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they are addictive. The most commonly used benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).

There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety however only licensed health care providers can prescribe them. They include psychologists and psychiatrists as well as primary care physicians, some OB/GYNs, and some psychiatrist nurses. They also need meds to treat anxiety and depression undergo special training to prescribe medications.

Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to help reduce anxiety. They can also find methods to relax and relieve stress, such as 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 treatment for anxiety supplements such as 5-HTP or melatonin can help ease anxiety. Consult your physician before taking supplements to treat anxiety or any other health condition. Using supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that includes lifestyle and psychotherapy will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most thoroughly researched and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for treating anxiety disorders. It focuses on maladaptive thinking or behavior patterns that create anxiety. Although several individual CBT protocols have been developed for different anxiety disorders, they share the same holistic treatment for anxiety goals and methods.

The first step in CBT is to recognize the thoughts that are not working and cause Anxiety attack natural treatment (http://www.stes.tyc.edu.Tw/xoops/modules/profile/userinfo.php?uid=1672076). During sessions, the patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and then challenge. The therapist also helps patients identify and alter behavior patterns that hinder them from doing so. The therapist might ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions and to apply the strategies for behavioural change they've learned in daily life.

The ultimate goal is to teach patients how to be their own therapists by aiding them in understanding their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable patients overcome fears that are unfounded and anxieties, decrease their anxiety levels and other negative emotions and become more resilient.

CBT techniques include identifying and reversing distortions in the patient's thinking which include overgeneralizing catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or minimizing positive events. Therapists also help the patient to develop strategies for dealing with stressful situations. These techniques can be employed to treat any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".

Another component of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-provoking object or circumstance. This can be done by making up a scenario or imagining the situation or object in real life. For instance, a patient with PTSD who is afraid of a particular area could be urged to visit the place where they were abused. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is scared of public speaking, might be encouraged to make an address in front of the group.

Some studies have proven that combining CBT with the use of pharmacotherapy can enhance outcomes. However, the results aren't conclusive, and further research is required. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than either of them on its own. Combinations of benzodiazepines and CBT have been shown to be particularly efficacious in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.

Therapy for exposure

Exposure therapy is among the most effective methods for treating anxiety. It can help you confront the things that you are afraid of in a secure environment with an expert. It can be difficult but it can help you realize that your fears are not justified and that you can tolerate your triggers. It can also increase your confidence to take on your challenges in life.

There are a variety of exposure therapies, such as imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. If you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist may suggest that you practice with a buddy or imagine yourself delivering the speech. You can then gradually confront the issue with your therapist's support. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety treatment uk and panic levels during each session. They will adjust the intensity of exposure if necessary.

In the course of a session your therapist will show you to calm and manage your emotions, before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that cause you fear. This could include meditation, a rhythmic breathing and guided imagery. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the behavior that leads to anxiety, such as avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some people require more than two sessions to overcome the anxiety.

The first step is to pinpoint what triggers your anxiety. For example, flying on a plane or in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will then help you choose a method of exposure therapy that is appropriate to your personality and needs. This could mean using a hierarchical system to decide the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques prior the start of.

In vivo exposure therapy is confronting the thing or situation that you're afraid of. It could be as simple as walking across a bridge or having someone touch your arm. This method can be used to treat specific fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.

In vivo exposure therapy can be hard to fit in your schedule between appointments, which is why it is important to find a therapist that is skilled in this kind of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can find a certified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. It's recommended to look up reviews and ask friends or family members for suggestions.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies include a range of healthcare treatments that are not typically considered part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine as well as yoga, meditation, music therapy, massage and yoga. They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.

A recent study revealed that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with slight improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to promote mindfulness, or the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for nearly anyone and does not require any special equipment or instruction. However, people with physical limitations might not be able to take part in meditative practices that involve movements.

Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis and self-hypnosis. These techniques teach you to control anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles, calming breathing, and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or within an environment for treatment. These techniques are typically employed in conjunction with other types of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.

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

Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective anxiety treatments. It teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you to evaluate your fears and determine the probability that they'll happen. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining if it is realistic to be concerned about a possibility that might occur.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique, can be used to alleviate stress. It is based on an assessment of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, called Qi, which is located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen meridian or kidney can trigger anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.