Why Treating Anxiety Is Everywhere This Year
Treating Anxiety
Psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) are both common ways of treating anxiety. CBT helps people identify harmful thought patterns that lead to anxious and troublesome feelings.
The medication can be used to manage physical symptoms of anxiety such as rapid heartbeat or shaking. It is essential to consult with your physician in order to find the best medication and dosage.
Medicines
Anxiety is a natural response to stress and can keep us from sleeping properly But there are treatments that can aid. The use of medication can reduce anxiety symptoms and make life easier by dealing with the root causes. Combining medication and therapy can have a bigger impact on mood and the quality of life.
Antidepressants treat anxiety by increasing the levels of chemicals that calm you down in your brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly used antidepressants. They prevent nerve cells from absorbing serotonin from the brain and increase its availability. This helps you feel more relaxed. SSRIs are medicines like Celexa Lexapro Paxil and Zoloft. Other types of antidepressants that may also be used for anxiety include serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants.
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium work quickly to relieve anxiety symptoms. They accomplish this by acting on brain receptors, which cause a calming affect. They are effective in combating anxiety, but they can be addictive if used for longer than four weeks. They are not as effective over time, and therefore are usually not prescribed for long-term use.
Other antianxiety drugs such as buspirone, quetiapine and clonidine reduce the amount of stress hormones in your body. They do this by blocking receptors within the brain. The most common adverse effect is sleepiness. Antidepressants and SSRIs can also lead to constipation, nausea, diarrhea and sexual dysfunction in a few people.
Other antianxiety drugs such as melatonin or phenytoin act as sedatives, reducing the activity of certain brain cells, which decreases anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to treat anxiety. They reduce the itching that is caused by allergies, and help you feel more relaxed.
Other types of medication that can be used to lower anxiety include monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as moclobemide and Tetracycline. These are typically pursued after other treatments have failed. Some doctors are able to prescribe prescription medications off-label, which have been shown to reduce anxiety in clinical trials, but are not licensed.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy or talk therapy with mental health professionals can ease anxiety disorders. This could be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor who is specialized in mental illness) or psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker. The therapist may also offer assistance and encouragement in addition to addressing the root causes of anxiety. The presence of the therapist can be important for anxiety sufferers; it stimulates the parasympathetic nerve and gives a sense safety to the patient.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is usually the best choice for treating anxiety. This approach teaches you specific skills to directly manage your worries and gradually return you to activities that you've avoided because of anxiety. This involves exposure therapy where you gradually confront the event or object that triggers anxiety to overcome your anxieties.
Psychotherapy gives you a better understanding of the reason you are so anxious and how your mind can magnify dangers that are not actually there. The therapist will also teach you about the physiology of the body's natural "flight-or-fight" response and the reasons it is inappropriately triggered by things that are usually harmless.
Therapy is usually conducted in a series of sessions lasting about an hour each, with patients often receiving assignments to complete between sessions. It may take some time to find the right therapist for you, and you may have to try a few before you find one you are comfortable with.
Self-help techniques can be helpful adjuncts to psychotherapy, including relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques. You can reduce anxiety by getting enough rest and exercising regularly, as well as abstaining from caffeine and nicotine. You can also incorporate more laughter into your routine since laughter can be a great stress reliever. If you are experiencing an acute anxiety attack that is threatening your safety or that of others' safety, ask your doctor for an emergency anxiolytic, preferably one that is benzodiazepine. This treatment is not often required, but it could be very beneficial. The use of medications is not a substitute to psychotherapy but can be helpful in certain instances.
Lifestyle changes
There are many lifestyle changes that, in addition to psychotherapy and medication, could help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, abstaining from smoking and alcohol, getting enough sleep, and utilizing relaxation techniques can all help.
Regular exercise can be a powerful stress-reducing tool and has been proven to improve mood and self-reported anxiety symptoms. It can be a challenge to find an exercise routine that is suitable for you, but even small amounts of exercise can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately-graded exercise has also been shown to be effective in treating depression and has been associated with an increased rates of remission from anxiety disorders. Although the mechanism behind it is unknown but it is believed that exercise alters the brain's chemical chemistry by altering 5-HT neurotransmitters that are found in the dorsal raphe nucleus and decreasing the circulating levels of stress hormone cortisol.
The use of acupuncture, massage therapy, and other CAM treatments has been proven to be beneficial in treating anxiety disorders. However, evidence is limited and is often hampered by poor methodology. While certain studies show potential, the majority of these modalities don't have the clinical evidence required by doctors to suggest them as a viable alternative.
Moreover, the relationship between food and anxiety is a complex. In fact, some foods can actually increase anxiety symptoms. For example high-fat and palatable foods increase the production of reactive oxygen species in the brain, which can result in or worsening anxiety symptoms. It has been proven that dietary improvement, especially the restriction of nicotine and alcohol can help reduce anxiety. However, further research that includes controlled prospective studies as well as assisted substance withdrawal programs, is needed.
It has been proven that other supplements to the diet such as omega-3 fish oils, may reduce anxiety. Researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acid supplements may reduce the production of inflammatory chemicals and improve the effectiveness of antidepressant medications in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. Other changes to your diet that can help with anxiety include increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables, including whole grains and avoiding processed food.
Herbal and dietary supplements
Although herbal remedies and dietary supplements have been utilized for centuries in various regions of the world for relieving anxiety-related symptoms, the effectiveness and security of these natural products has only recently been subjected to rigorous clinical tests. The dietary supplement ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb that comes that comes from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine, has been found to be particularly effective in managing anxiety and stress. The amino acid precursors l-tryptophan as well as l-lysine may also reduce anxiety symptoms by altering neurotransmitters involved in the stress response.
Many people who experience anxiety experience a variety of symptoms, ranging from the temporary feeling of nervousness or worry that is experienced prior to menstrual or surgical procedures to the omnipresent anxiety and feelings of tension that are characteristic of more serious forms of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder panic disorder and social phobias. Anxiety can be debilitating with symptoms such as headaches, trembling and sweating and trouble sleeping.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy is a successful treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps patients to be aware and respond to thoughts and behaviors that cause anxiety in a different way. In combination with medications, this approach can aid in treating anxiety and relieve symptoms such as depression and fatigue.
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also reduce anxiety symptoms. These fatty acid found in fish such as salmon, mackerel, and herring, have been recognized to improve heart health, but may also improve the brain. Flaxseeds are also a great source of omega-3 fats.
It is important to remember that dietary and herbal supplements are not monitored by the FDA in the same way as pharmaceutical drugs are, therefore there is a chance certain products could be infected with other substances or have negative side effects that could be harmful. Consult your physician if you're contemplating using herbal or dietary supplements for anxiety. They can give you information on the possible interactions between the herbs and other medications that you are taking, as well as dosage recommendations.