The Little-Known Benefits Of Treating Anxiety
Treating Anxiety
Treating anxiety typically involves psychological counseling, which includes psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT helps people recognize the negative thought patterns that lead to anxious and tense feelings.
Medicines can ease physical symptoms of anxiety, like shaking and rapid heartbeat. Patients should work closely with their doctor to find the right dosage and medication for them.
Medicines
Anxiety is a natural response to stress. It can also prevent us from sleeping But there are treatment options that can help. The use of medication can reduce anxiety symptoms and make life easier by addressing the underlying causes. Combining therapy with medication can have a greater impact on mood and the quality of life.
Antidepressants treat anxiety by increasing levels of chemicals that calm you down in your brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently used antidepressants. They block nerve cells from absorbing serotonin in the brain, and increase the availability of serotonin. This helps you feel calmer. These include drugs like Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. Other antidepressants which could be used to treat anxiety include serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants.
Benzodiazepines, like Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam), work quickly to ease anxiety symptoms by stimulating the brain's receptors to create a calming effect. They are effective in treating anxiety, however, they can become addictive if they are used for more than four weeks. They also don't do well when taken over a period of time.
Other antianxiety drugs like quetiapine, buspirone and clonidine reduce the amount of stress hormone cortisol in your body by blocking receptors in the brain. The most frequently reported side result is the feeling of drowsiness. Antidepressants and SSRIs can cause constipation, nausea, diarrhea and sexual dysfunction in some people.
Other antianxiety medicines like phenytoin and mellatonin are sedatives that reduce the activity of specific neurons in the brain, which help reduce anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to treat anxiety, by reducing the itching caused by allergies and making you feel more relaxed.
Monoamine oxide inhibitors like tetracycline and moclobemide are also used to decrease anxiety. These are typically pursued after other treatments have failed. Certain doctors may prescribe prescription medications off-label, which have been shown to reduce anxiety during clinical trials, but are not licensed.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders are often treated with psychotherapy, or through talk therapy with an expert in mental health. This can be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker. In addition to addressing the root of the anxiety, the therapist will offer support and encouragement. The physical presence of the therapist can be crucial for those suffering from anxiety; it activates the parasympathetic nerve and provides a sense of safety to the patient.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for anxiety. This approach teaches you how to manage your anxiety and gradually return to activities that you stayed away from due to anxiety. This involves exposure therapy, in which you gradually encounter the thing or event that causes anxiety, in order to learn to tolerate it and overcome your fears.
anxiety treatments medication can help you understand why you are anxious and how your mind can create fearful scenarios that don't exist. The therapist will also teach you on the anatomy of the body's natural "flight-or-fight" response and the reasons it's not appropriate to trigger it by things that are usually harmless.
Therapy is typically done in sessions that last about an hour each and patients are often given assignments to complete between sessions. It may take some time to find the right therapist for you, and you may need to test several before you find one you are at ease with.
Self-help techniques can be helpful additions to psychotherapy, for example relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques. You can reduce anxiety-related symptoms by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. You can also avoid nicotine and caffeine. Humor is an excellent stress reliever. Try to incorporate more laughter into your daily life. If you are experiencing an acute anxiety attack that threatens your safety or that of others' safety, ask your physician for an urgent anxiety medication, which is usually a benzodiazepine. This treatment isn't often required, but it could be extremely beneficial. The use of medications is not a substitute to psychotherapy, but can be beneficial in certain situations.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to psychotherapy and medication in addition, there are a variety of lifestyle modifications that can significantly help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise and a healthy diet avoidance of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, ensuring enough sleep, and employing relaxation techniques can be helpful.
Regular exercise can be a great stress reliever and has been shown to improve mood and self-reported anxiety symptoms. It can be challenging to find an exercise program that is appropriate for you, but even small amounts of exercise can be beneficial.
Regular, moderate graded exercise has also been shown to be effective in treating depression and has been associated with a higher the rate of remission for anxiety disorders. Although the mechanism behind it is unclear, it is believed that exercise alters brain chemistry by modulating 5-HT neurotransmitters that are found in the dorsal raphe Nucleus and decreasing the circulating levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.
The practice of acupuncture, massage therapy and other CAM treatments has been shown to have some benefit in treating anxiety disorders. The evidence isn't conclusive, and poor methodological practices are often the reason for this. While there are a few studies that show promise, most of these modalities do not have the clinical evidence required by doctors to suggest them as a viable alternative.
The relationship between anxiety and food is complex. In reality, certain foods can actually increase anxiety symptoms. For example the highly palatable and fat-rich foods promote the production of reactive oxygen species in the brain that create or exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Dietary improvement, specifically the cutting down on nicotine, alcohol and caffeine, has been shown to help reduce anxiety, but more research is required, including programs to help with withdrawal from substances and controlled prospective studies.
Other dietary supplements like omega-3 fish oil have been proven to be beneficial in reducing anxiety. The reason is unclear, but researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines. They also increase the effectiveness of antidepressants in reducing anxiety symptoms. Other dietary changes that can help with anxiety include increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables, incorporating whole grains and avoiding processed foods.
Herbal and nutritional supplements
Clinical trials have only recently been conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of natural supplements that have been used in some parts of the world for centuries to alleviate anxiety symptoms. Ashwagandha, a herb that comes that is part of Indian medicine's Ayurvedic tradition, is particularly effective in reducing stress and anxiety. The amino acid precursors l-tryptophan, and l -lysine can reduce anxiety symptoms as well through their effects on neurotransmitters which are involved in the stress response.
Many people who suffer from anxiety experience a variety of symptoms, ranging from a transient feeling of nervousness or anxiety that can occur prior to surgery or menstruation to the constant anxiety and feelings of tension that characterize more serious types of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobias and panic disorder. Symptoms of anxiety can also be debilitating and include headaches, trembling and sweating, muscle tightness, and trouble sleeping.
Talk therapy or psychotherapy is a proven treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a kind of psychotherapy that teaches patients to identify and respond to thoughts and behaviors that cause anxiety in a different manner. When used in conjunction with medications CBT can aid in treating anxiety and reduce associated symptoms like fatigue and depression.
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish like mackerel, salmon and herring, can also reduce anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids, which are found in fish such as mackerel, salmon, and herring, are known for their heart-health benefits, however, they can also enhance brain functioning. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids are flaxseeds as well as walnuts, chia and flax seeds.
It is important to remember that dietary and herbal products are not subject to the supervision of the FDA the same way as pharmaceutical drugs. This means that there is the possibility that some products could be contaminated or produce adverse side effects. If you are considering using dietary supplements or herbs to control anxiety, talk to your doctor before starting any treatment plan so that they can advise you about possible interactions with other medications you could be taking and provide recommendations for dosages.