15 Reasons To Not Ignore Anxiety Disorder Help
Anxiety Disorder Help
If you experience persistent anxiety symptoms, you can seek assistance. Treatment for anxiety disorders usually includes therapy and medication.
Your doctor might prescribe medication to help with anxiety, such as benzodiazepines and modern antidepressants. SSRIs (like Lexapro and Prozac) and SNRIs (like duloxetine and venlafaxine) are typical examples. Your therapist may also instruct you on techniques to reduce anxiety symptoms, like challenging negative thoughts or exposure therapy.
Medications
Medications are one form of anxiety disorder treatment that can ease symptoms and decrease the need for psychotherapy. But they're not right for everyone, and there are other options to consider, too. Exercise, healthy eating, and relaxation techniques can help you manage stress without the necessity of medication. If you're taking medication to manage your anxiety, ensure that you follow the prescribed dosages and attend your therapy appointments.
Antidepressants are often prescribed by doctors to patients suffering from anxiety disorders. They help to correct an imbalance in brain chemicals and can take anywhere from four to six weeks to start working. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the most common antidepressants that treat anxiety. The neurotransmitters that affect mood are impacted by medications such as Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro. Other medications, such as SNRIs such as Effexor(venlafaxine) or Cymbalta(duloxetine) are also able to be prescribed for anxiety and depression.
If SSRIs aren't enough doctors might prescribe benzodiazepines to ease anxiety symptoms quickly. These tranquilizers act by targeting GABA (gamma-aminobutyric Acid), a chemical that helps calm the brain. Common benzodiazepines include Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam). They can cause serious adverse effects, including addiction, and are therefore only prescribed for short-term usage.
Other medicines, like propranolol (approved for social anxiety disorder) is a medication that blocks the actions of a chemical called monoamine oxidase. They do not affect the brain in the same manner as benzodiazepines, however they can be more effective and do not have the same side effects. Benzodiazepines and SNRIs are typically reserved for patients with severe anxiety, while SSRIs are able to be used in a broad range of anxiety disorders.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy or talk therapy can be part of an treatment plan to treat anxiety disorders. A qualified mental health professional will help you select the appropriate kind of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy involves talking with an therapist and learning techniques and skills for managing anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of psychotherapy which can help you learn to challenge anxious thoughts and behavior. CBT helps you identify and stop unhelpful thinking, feelings, and behavior patterns. It helps you recognize situations, objects, or people who trigger anxiety and teach you how to deal with. CBT is a treatment that is recommended for a variety of anxiety disorders.
EMDR (eye movement desensitization and processing) is a different type of psychotherapy that could be used to treat of anxiety disorders. In this therapy, you will lie on a couch or a reclined chair while your psychotherapist guides you through the various phases of the therapy, which could involve looking at an object through your eyes, listening to music, or reminiscing about a negative incident from your past (for instance, being scared of storms because someone broke up with you during a bad storm). EMDR can help to reduce anxiety symptoms and overcome negative associations.
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on improving your social and interpersonal relationships. IPT is not a treatment for anxiety, but it may help you deal with problems that could be causing anxiety.
Exercise
Exercise is a natural stress buster and has been proven to ease anxiety. Exercise is crucial for your physical health, and it can help improve your sleep. Both of these can be affected by anxiety disorders. It is a low-cost treatment that you can do yourself.
The majority of studies have proven that anything from high intensity interval training to tai-chi can be effective. Finding something you love is key because it increases your chances of taking part and building your resilience. Exercise can also be an escape from the routine of life and reduce anxious rumination. This is particularly helpful for those who suffer from Distraction Theory, a psychological theory that claims that anxious patients are more likely to withdraw from social interactions and engage in a lot of self-talk and worry.
While exercise does not eliminate anxiety but it can be used in conjunction with other treatments to lessen the severity of symptoms. For instance, a patient can pair exposure therapy with exercise to lessen their fear of flying or driving. I Am Psychiatry is to train your attention that helps people learn to control their brain wave activity. During a series of sessions with a certified therapist, the patient watches their own brain waves on an electroencephalograph monitor and teaches themselves to achieve a more relaxed state at will.
The evidence for the effectiveness of exercise as a stand-alone treatment for anxiety is not conclusive, but it represents an attractive option for treatment of this very common mental illness. It is likely to be an element of the future of anxiety disorder treatment in particular since many GPs offer "exercise on prescription" plans which offer patients an exercise program that is subsidised at the local gym.
Relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques aid in reducing anxiety and stress by stimulating the body's relaxation response which is characterized by a decrease in heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. These techniques include meditation, deep breathing, guided imagery and biofeedback-assisted relaxation. These techniques are the most effective for many people when they practice them regularly.
A health care professional or mental health professional can teach you these techniques and give you the tools needed to practice these techniques on your own. Your health care provider may recommend that you participate in self-help and group therapy groups, which are beneficial for interacting with others who have similar issues. Staying in touch with family and friends, exercising daily and staying clear of alcohol and other drugs can help in alleviating stress.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure therapy are two forms of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. CBT helps you identify and overcome the negative thoughts and fears that trigger anxiety. You then learn to replace these thoughts with more realistic, calming ones. Exposure therapy is a process of gradually confronting situations that cause anxiety until you can manage them without anxiety. Usually, you start with the least frightening situations and work up to more difficult ones.
Other treatments for anxiety that are psychological include mindfulness, hypnosis, and support groups. These treatments are particularly helpful for those who suffer from co-occurring disorders, like depression and substance abuse. Other good habits to consider are getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet. Regular exercise is essential because it helps in the burning of stress chemicals produced during stressful periods. It is also essential to build strong relationships with other people as loneliness and isolation can exacerbate anxiety symptoms.
Healthy eating
Anxiety can trigger a range of physical symptoms and behaviors, including abdominal discomfort, muscle tension, and feelings of panic. While it's normal to be worried and anxious at times, extreme anxiety can cause an overwhelming feeling of helplessness and anxiety that can hinder your daily activities. If you suffer from anxiety, you can control your symptoms by developing strategies for dealing with anxiety and following your doctor's advice.
A balanced diet in addition to therapy and medication can help ease anxiety symptoms. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates can reduce stress and give your body the nutrients it needs to function properly.
Avoid eating foods high in fat or sugar as they can aggravate anxiety symptoms. You should also drink plenty of water and other non-caffeinated drinks to stay well-hydrated. A few of the many foods that have been found to reduce anxiety are avocados, bananas, dark chocolate, berries, oysters, and fish. Foods that are naturally rich in magnesium, such as leafy green vegetables (spinach and Swiss chard), pumpkin seeds as well as legumes, nuts and whole grains are also beneficial choices. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in many fish species such as salmon, trout, sardines, and walnuts can also aid in reducing your anxiety symptoms.
There is a strong correlation between anxiety disorders and eating disorders, and it is important to seek treatment for both if you have them. Treatment for both disorders is typically best accomplished by combining psychiatric medications and psychotherapy. Talk therapy can help you understand how to deal with your negative emotions and replace them with more positive ones, while psychiatric medication can help to ease anxiety symptoms and stop them from becoming out of control.