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 and medication like beta blockers, which are used to reduce blood pressure, and benzodiazepines can aid in managing.

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

Medication

If a change in lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication could be a viable option. Anxiety medications can help reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are among the most popular medication used to treat anxiety. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first prescription medications prescribed. The SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.

Benzodiazepines can also be used to combat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they are addictive. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat insomnia and anxiety.

There are a myriad of different medications that can be used to treat anxiety but only licensed health professionals can prescribe these medications. These providers can include psychiatrists, psychologists primary care physicians, and OBGYNs. They must also receive special training to prescribe medication.

Some people use complementary therapies, such as exercise, to 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 melatonin or 5-HTP may also aid in relieving anxiety treatment without drugs. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements for anxiety or any other condition. Using supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications can maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the most thoroughly researched and empirically validated psychotherapeutic strategies for anxiety disorders. It targets the maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that maintain anxiety over time. Although a variety of individual CBT protocols have been developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share certain common treatment goals and techniques.

The first step in CBT is to discover problematic thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. In sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and change avoidance behaviors. The therapist will ask patients to keep journals or "thought notes" outside of sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in their everyday life.

The aim is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, helping them to understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety treatment natural and other negative feelings and build a stronger resilience.

CBT techniques involve identifying and reversing mental distortions that affect the patient which include overgeneralizing catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or minimizing positive events. The therapist can also help the patient develop strategies for coping for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be applied to any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".

The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious object or circumstance. This can be done by creating a mental picture or confronting the subject or situation in real life. For instance, a patient suffering from PTSD who is scared of a certain location might be encouraged to go to the location where they were abused. A person with social anxiety disorder who is scared of public speaking could be encouraged to deliver a speech front of an audience.

Some studies have shown that combination strategies of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. These results are mixed, and further research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is usually more effective than either alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines with CBT have been proven to be particularly efficacious in those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

Therapy for exposure

One of the most effective methods for treating anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you confront the things that scare you in a secure environment with the help of a therapy. The process might sound daunting, but it can help you realize that your fears are not based on reality and that you are able to accept the discomfort that triggers you. It can also boost your confidence to take on your challenges in life.

There are a variety of forms of exposure therapy. These include imaginal, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're nervous about speaking in public Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with your friend. Then, you can gradually confront the situation with your therapist's support. In each session your therapist will be able to see if you're feeling anxious or scared and adjust the intensity as needed.

During an appointment the therapist will show you to relax and cope with your emotions before explaining the triggers that trigger your anxiety. This can include mindfulness, rhythmic breath, and guided images. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, for example, avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually carried out over a number of weekly sessions, and some people require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fear.

The first step is to determine the situation or object that triggers your anxiety, for example, flying on a plane, or being with strangers. Your therapist will help you select an approach to exposure therapy that will suit your personality and needs. This could mean using an orderly system to determine the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques prior the start of.

In vivo exposure therapy is confronting the object or situation you're fearful of. It could be as simple as crossing an overpass or having someone touch your arm. This method is often employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific fears.

In vivo exposure therapy can be hard to fit within your schedule between appointments, which is why it's important to find a therapist that specializes in this type of cognitive therapy. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychological association or mental network. You can also read reviews or ask family and friends for suggestions.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies are a range of health treatments that are not traditionally considered part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging the healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicine Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also help relieve symptoms of depression by lowering levels of stress hormones in your body.

Recent research found that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach uses different methods of meditation to increase mindfulness or the ability of staying in the present moment while getting rid of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation is suitable for nearly everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or knowledge. People who have physical limitations may not be able participate in meditative 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 can help you manage your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles breathing, calm breaths and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a therapy setting. These techniques are often employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.

Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are another best way to treat anxiety disorder to reduce anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that contribute to anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energetic, which can reduce your anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and challenge negative thoughts that can cause anxiety in Elderly treatment. Your therapist will show you how to assess your the likelihood of occurrence. You can employ strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences by considering the advantages and disadvantages of the situation and determining whether it what is the treatment for anxiety disorder realistic to worry about something that might occur.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that can be used to treat anxiety. It is based on an assessment of deficiencies and excesses in your energy, called Qi, that is found in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians can trigger anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.