What To Look For In The Treating Anxiety That's Right For You
Treating Anxiety
Treating anxiety typically involves psychotherapy, which may include psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps people identify the harmful thought patterns which lead to anxiety and troubling feelings.
Medication can help control anxiety-related physical symptoms like a rapid heartbeat or shaking. It is important to communicate with your health care provider in order to find the most effective medication and dosage.
Medications
Anxiety is a natural response to stress. It can prevent us from sleeping, however there are treatments to aid. Medication can reduce anxiety-related symptoms and make it easier to live your life without worrying about the root of the problem. A combination of medication and therapy could be even more effective on your mood and improve your quality of life.
Antidepressants reduce anxiety by increasing levels of chemicals that calm you down in your brain. The most commonly used kind of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which block neurons in the brain from absorbing serotonin and increase its availability, helping you feel more relaxed. SSRIs include medications such as Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. Antidepressants like serotonin-norepinephrine-re inhibitors (SNRIs) tricyclic antidepressants, as well as others are also available to treat anxiety.
Benzodiazepines, like Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam), work quickly to ease anxiety symptoms by acting on the brain's receptors to create the body to relax. They are effective in managing anxiety, but they can become addictive if they are used for more than 4 weeks and don't work as well over time, and therefore are generally not prescribed for long-term use.
Other antianxiety medicines like quetiapine, buspirone and clonidine reduce the amount of stress hormones that are present in your body. They do this by blocking receptors within the brain. The most frequent adverse result is sleepiness. Some people can also experience nausea, diarrhea constipation, nausea, and sexual dysfunction while taking antidepressants or SSRIs.
A few other antianxiety medications like phenytoin and melatonin are sedatives which reduce the activity of specific neurons in the brain, which can help reduce anxiety. Antihistamines are also used to treat anxiety, reducing the itching that is caused by allergies, and allowing you to feel more relaxed.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as tetracycline and moclobemide, can also be employed to lower anxiety. These are usually prescribed after other treatments have failed. Some doctors are able to prescribe prescription medications off-label that have shown to reduce anxiety during clinical studies, but aren't licensed.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders are often relieved by psychotherapy, or through talk therapy with a mental health professional. This could be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor who is specialized in mental illness) psychologist, psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker. The therapist may also offer support and encouragement, in addition to addressing the root causes of anxiety. The physical presence of the therapist is also crucial for those suffering from anxiety; it stimulates the parasympathetic nerve and gives a sense security to the patient.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is generally the best option for treating anxiety. This method helps you develop specific skills to directly manage your anxiety and gradually allow you to return to activities you've avoided because of anxiety. This includes exposure therapy, in which you gradually encounter the object or situation that triggers your anxiety in order to be able to manage it and overcome your fears.
Psychotherapy can help you understand why you feel anxious, and how your imagination may exaggerate dangers that do not exist. The therapist will also teach you about the physiology of the body's natural "flight-or-fight" response and why it is inappropriately triggered by things that are typically harmless.
Therapy is typically done in sessions that last about an hour each and patients are often given assignments to complete between sessions. Finding the right therapist for you can be a challenge. You may need to try several before you find someone who you are comfortable with.
Self-help methods can be beneficial adjuncts to psychotherapy, including meditation, relaxation exercises and breathing techniques. You can decrease anxiety by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly, as well as avoiding smoking and caffeine. Humor is a fantastic stress relieving factor. Try to incorporate more laughter into your daily life. If you're experiencing an acute anxiety attack that is threatening your safety or others' safety, consult your physician for an emergency anxiety medication, which is usually one that is benzodiazepine. This type of treatment is not often needed however it can be very effective. Medications are not a substitute for psychotherapy, however, they can be helpful in some cases.
Lifestyle changes
There are a variety of lifestyle changes that, along with psychotherapy and medication, could aid those suffering from anxiety disorders. Regular exercise and a healthy diet, avoidance of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, getting enough sleep, and employing relaxation techniques can be helpful.
Regular exercise is a great method to lower stress levels and improve your mood. It has been proven that it can reduce anxiety symptoms and self-reported mood. It can be difficult to find an exercise program that is appropriate for you, but even a small amount of exercise can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately graded exercise was also found to be effective at treating depression and anxiety disorders. Although the mechanism is unclear, it's believed that exercise alters brain chemistry through modulating 5-HT Neurotransmitters in dorsal Raphe Nucleus and decreasing levels of cortisol.
anxiety treatment at home of acupuncture, massage therapy, and other CAM treatments has been proven to have some benefit in treating anxiety disorders. However, the evidence is not conclusive and often hampered by poor methodology. While some studies show promise, the majority of these therapies lack the clinical proof required for doctors to recommend them.
The relationship between anxiety and food is complex. In fact, some foods can actually cause anxiety symptoms. For instance the highly palatable and fat-rich foods promote the production of reactive oxygen species in the brain, which can result in or worsening anxiety symptoms. Dietary improvement, particularly restriction of alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, has been proven to be helpful in reducing anxiety, but more research is needed, including programs for withdrawal from alcohol and other substances, as well as controlled prospective studies.
Other supplements to your diet, such as omega-3 fish oil have been shown to be of value in helping to reduce anxiety. Researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acid supplements may decrease the production of inflammatory molecules and enhance the effectiveness of antidepressants in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. Other changes to your diet that can be beneficial to anxiety sufferers include increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables, including whole grains, and avoiding processed foods.
Herbal and nutritional supplements
Although herbal remedies and dietary supplements have been used for centuries in some regions of the world to relieve anxiety-related symptoms, the effectiveness and safety of these natural remedies is only recently tested in rigorous clinical trials. Ashwagandha, a plant from Indian medicine's Ayurvedic tradition, is especially effective at controlling anxiety and stress. The amino acid precursors l -tryptophan and l -lysine also help reduce anxiety symptoms due to their effects on neurotransmitters that are involved in the stress response.
Many people who suffer from anxiety suffer from a wide spectrum of symptoms. These symptoms may range from a brief feeling of nervousness or worry before menstrual cycle or surgery or menstrual flow, to more constant feelings of anxiety and unease that are often associated with more severe anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as well as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder (panic disorder) and social fears. Symptoms of anxiety can also be debilitating, and may include headaches, trembling and sweating, muscle tightness, and trouble sleeping.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy is a successful treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that helps patients to identify and respond to the thoughts and behaviors that cause anxiety in a different way. When used in conjunction with medications this method can aid in treating anxiety and reduce associated symptoms such as depression and fatigue.
A diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids can aid in reducing anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids, which are found in fish like mackerel, salmon and herring, are renowned for their heart-health benefits, however, they can also enhance brain function. Flaxseeds can also be a great source of omega-3 fats.
It is important to remember that dietary and herbal supplements aren't regulated by the FDA in the same way as pharmaceutical drugs are, and therefore there is a possibility that certain products could be contaminated with other substances or cause negative side effects that could be dangerous. If you're considering taking supplements or herbs to reduce anxiety, consult your doctor before starting any treatment plan so that they can advise you on possible interactions with other medications you could be taking, and offer recommendations for dosages.