What Treatment For Anxiety Attacks Is Your Next Big Obsession?
Treatment For Anxiety Attacks
A doctor can run tests to determine if there are any underlying medical conditions that can trigger anxiety attacks. They can also help to develop strategies to manage your anxiety.
Treatments for anxiety such as cognitive behavioral therapy as well as other psychotherapies are efficient. They may take a while to work. Benzodiazepines can be used as an in-between treatment to treat severe anxiety.
Medicines
If psychotherapy isn't sufficient to treat anxiety disorders, medication is a possibility. The medications can aid in managing anxiety attacks by addressing the underlying chemical imbalance that causes anxiety attacks. Anxiety medication includes antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and sedatives. Talk to your doctor about the best medication for you.
Your doctor will look at your symptoms and family history when choosing the right anxiety treatment for you. They will also consider your other health conditions, and any medication you are taking. They might recommend cognitive behavioral therapy or a combination of psychotherapy with medication. Other treatments that can be used to reduce anxiety include biofeedback, exposure therapy and strategies for managing stress.
The most popular antidepressants used to treat anxiety are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These medications correct the imbalance of neurotransmitters within the brain that regulates mood. These include fluoxetine, citalopram and sertraline. Tricyclic antidepressants work similarly to SSRIs, but with fewer side effects. Tricyclic antidepressants should be started with a small dosage and gradually increasing in time. They may interact with certain medications, including some birth control pills, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Benzodiazepines are quick-acting drugs that can be prescribed to treat a severe anxiety attack. These medications focus on GABA (gamma-aminobutryic) in the brain, causing a calming affect. These drugs are prescribed to treat panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, and phobias. Because they can be addictive and addictive, benzodiazepines should be used for a limited period of time. They also lose their effectiveness if taken for more than 4 weeks at one time.
If benzodiazepines don't work Other sedatives may be prescribed, like alprazolam or clonazepam. These medications can be beneficial in treating panic attacks, however, they're not as efficient as SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs are also addictive and may interfere with your sleep cycle.
It is crucial to communicate with your doctor about your symptoms and how your medication is working for you. Ask for regular follow-ups and inform them of how you are managing your symptoms. You can also make use of Telehealth services like Doctor On Demand which is covered by specific Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota policies. These online services allow you to consult with a psychologist or psychiatrist via your smartphone or computer.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a preferred treatment for anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks. It is a proven therapy that targets both the thoughts and actions that contribute to anxiety. The therapist can help you to identify your negative thinking patterns or patterns of thinking, and replace them with healthier ones. The therapist can also assist you improve your behavior by teaching you how to cope with anxiety-related symptoms. These techniques include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and exposure therapy. Therapists may also assign you a task to complete between sessions. For instance, you could track your anxiety levels, or doing an activity you've avoided because of it.
People with panic disorder tend to be prone to avoidance behaviors. This is because they fear another panic attack. Avoiding situations that could create anxiety, like crowded malls, elevators or highway driving is a method to avoid this. These behaviors of avoidance can have a huge impact on the quality of life. This kind of anxiety can result in issues such as difficulty in concentrating at work, depression, or even alcohol abuse.
The reason for panic disorders is believed to be a mix between environmental factors and genetics. Stressful life events like moving to a new house or the death of a loved ones, are typical triggers for these conditions. It is also possible that certain genes are associated with a higher likelihood of developing anxiety disorders.
Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to help you deal with your fears, and improve the quality of your life. Cognitive behavioral therapy, in contrast to medication treats the root of the problem and helps you develop coping strategies that can help you in the future.
This kind of therapy may be difficult to begin with even though it's effective in treating a broad variety of anxiety disorders. It is likely that you will have to attend sessions for a couple of weeks before you start to feel better. It is normal to have some difficulties. It is essential to keep going and keep in mind that you will reap the rewards of your efforts.
Therapy for exposure
There are several treatments for anxiety attacks, such as psychotherapy and medications. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, assists individuals identify unhealthy thoughts and emotions that could trigger panic attacks or worsen them. This type of treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is a technique that teaches people how to change negative patterns and develop more effective coping strategies. It helps people overcome their fears in certain situations. It is important to stick to a treatment plan. Regularly attending weekly therapy sessions can make someone feel better after 10 to 20 weeks.
CBT uses exposure therapy to help you face your fears repeatedly. The therapist will develop plans to expose you to your fears within an environment that is controlled and secure. In the real world (real life) exposure is used where you confront your fears in the real world or virtual reality where you confront your fears in a virtual environment. In vivo exposure is more effective for specific fears. The therapist will gradually expose your fears to you until it becomes less significant.
This therapy can be very intense. It may be characterized by flooding, in which you are subjected to a frightening circumstance for a lengthy duration. It could also involve cognitive processing, psychoeducation and behavioral therapy. It's used in almost all major anxiety disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. It's also effective for social anxiety.
It's important to find an expert who has experience with exposure therapy. Select a specialist who is registered in an association or network that deals with anxiety disorders. It is an excellent idea to read reviews. You may also request the recommendation of your doctor to a specialist. You can join a support group for people suffering from anxiety. You can lower anxiety by staying physically active and utilizing relaxation techniques. Avoid alcohol, recreational drug and smoking, which could cause or worsen anxiety. Overworking yourself can also increase anxiety.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (also called benzos) are powerful medications which treat anxiety well. They can be addictive and can cause serious side effects when used regularly or for a long time. This is the reason they are generally prescribed for short-term relief of sleeplessness or anxiety.
They work by reducing the nervous system, causing sedation and relaxing muscles. Orally, they can be taken in the form of sprays, liquids or tablets. They can also be directly injected into veins. Benzos are utilized to treat generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and insomnia. They are especially beneficial for patients who are experiencing anxiety attacks, since they can provide immediate and effective symptomatic relief. They can be prescribed on their own or as an addition to other treatments, such as CBT for anxiety.
There are several different types of benzos, each possessing different effectiveness in terms of duration of action, and rate of absorption by the body. There is a connection between the duration of time a benzo is employed for and its tendency to be misused, so shorter-acting benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam) are often preferred.
Combining drugs to treat anxiety with other medications like sedatives, alcohol or opioid painkillers can increase the risk of dangerous side effects. These interactions can also intensify the effects of the drug and could cause an overdose or death. Benzodiazepines can also interact with certain food items and herbs. If you are taking a benzo, it's essential to inform your physician and pharmacist of any other medications you are taking or planning to take.
When a person is taking benzodiazepines for long-term use, the brain becomes dependent on it for functioning normally. This is referred to as physical dependence and can lead to a variety of symptoms, including tolerance, withdrawal and craving. This type of dependence is different from addiction, which is a compulsive and uncontrollable need to use the drug.
Benzodiazepines are extremely effective and have few negative effects when employed in the right way. They should only be considered as a treatment option when other alternatives have failed or are not feasible. Non-drug methods of anxiety management include meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy.