The Top Treat Anxiety Experts Have Been Doing Three Things
Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
People suffering from anxiety are unable to manage their reactions. Everyone worries and feels nervous at times. Psychotherapy and medications like beta blockers that help lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines can aid in managing.
Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. Exercise, for example, helps to reduce stress and relaxes your body.
Medication
If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy do not help your anxiety, medication may be a viable alternative. Anxiety medications help to suppress fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are often the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, venlafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Sometimes, benzodiazepines can be used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and are extremely beneficial in the short-term however, they can be addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. The most commonly used benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
Only licensed health specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. These providers include psychologists and psychiatrists as along with primary health care doctors, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatrist nurses. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medication, but they must receive special training to do so.
Certain people make use of complementary therapies, such as exercise, to help alleviate anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and relieve stress such as mindfulness meditation and deep breathing. 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.
Finally, natural supplements such as 5-HTP and melatonin can help ease anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements to treat anxiety or any other condition. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a complete therapy plan that incorporates lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and backed by empirical evidence. It targets maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate anxiety over time. Although a variety of individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share the same treatment goals and methods.
CBT begins by identifying the dysfunctional thoughts that cause anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge them. Therapists can also help patients identify and change avoidance behavior. The therapist may ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in their daily life.
The ultimate goal is to teach patients how to be their own therapists, helping them to understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety and other negative emotions and build a stronger resilience.
CBT techniques include identifying and reversing distortions in the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, and minimizing positive events. The therapist will also help the patient develop strategies to cope to deal with anxiety-inducing 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".
Another element of CBT is exposure therapy. It involves exposure therapy, which involves exposing the patient to the situation or object that creates anxiety. This can be done by imagining or confronting the object or scenario in real life. A patient with PTSD who is afraid of a specific location, could be urged by their doctor to visit the place where they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of public speaking, might be encouraged to give an address in front of a group.
Certain studies have demonstrated that combining strategies of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. However, the results are mixed and more research is needed. In general, combining medications with CBT is more effective than any one by itself. Combinations of benzodiazepines and CBT have been shown to be particularly effective for people with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat anxiety. It can help you confront things you are afraid of in a secure setting with a therapist. It might seem daunting, but the process can help you recognize that your fears aren't justifiable and that you are able to tolerate your triggers. It can also increase your confidence to take on the challenges of life.
There are a variety of exposure therapies, such as virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. For instance, if afraid of public speaking, your therapist might encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with an acquaintance. Then, you'll be able to slowly face the situation in real life with the help of your therapy therapist's help. Your therapist will monitor your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure if needed.
During an appointment the therapist will show you to relax and cope with your feelings before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that cause you anxiety. This may include meditation, a rhythmic breathing, and guided images. They can also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, like avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.
The first step is to pinpoint the situation or object that triggers anxiety, for example, flying on a plane, or being around strangers. Your therapist will assist you choose a method of exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could involve establishing an order of exposure to determine the order of exposures or a relaxation practice prior to beginning.
In vivo therapy requires you to confront the thing or event you are afraid of. It could be as easy as crossing the bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This approach can be used to treat certain phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.
In vivo exposure therapy may be hard to fit into your schedule between appointments, which is why it's important to find a therapist that is skilled in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can search for an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies cover a wide array of health treatments that aren't considered to be part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits. These treatments could include acupuncture, herbal medicine yoga, meditation music therapy, massage. They can also aid in relieving depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs resulted in moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach employs various types of meditation to promote mindfulness, or the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation is suitable for almost everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or knowledge. However, those with physical limitations might not be able to participate 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 help you control your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscle, calming breathing, and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a therapeutic setting. These methods are often combined with other forms therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are two more ways to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood-pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that contribute to anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels, which can reduce anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety. Iampsychiatry teaches you how to identify and combat negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to evaluate the likelihood of occurrence. You can apply strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences, weighing the pros and cons of an event and determining whether it is reasonable to worry about something that could occur.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese technique, is used to alleviate stress. It is based on an evaluation of deficiencies and excesses in your energy, referred to as Qi, which is located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridians can trigger anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when it is combined with psychotherapy and other CAM approaches.