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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

People with anxiety are unable to manage their reactions. Everyone worries and feels nervous at times. Psychotherapy and medications such as beta blockers that help control blood pressure, and benzodiazepines may help.

Self-help strategies may also aid in easing symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relax the body.

Medication

If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication could be an alternative. anxiety treatments medication suppresses anxiety signals and the fight or flight response in the body. Antidepressants, the most common medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They boost levels of certain neurotransmitters, which influence mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are usually the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine, duloxetine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil, or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

Benzodiazepines are also sometimes used to treat anxiety. They're fast-acting and extremely beneficial in the short term however, they can be addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. Benzodiazepines are often used to treat insomnia and anxiety.

Only licensed health specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. These providers include psychologists and psychiatrists as along with primary health care doctors, some doctors of OB/GYNs and some psychiatric nurses. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses can also prescribe certain medications, but they have to get special training in doing this.

Exercise and complementary therapies are a common method used by some people to lessen anxiety. They can also discover relaxation methods to reduce 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 may aid in easing anxiety. However, you should always consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or other reason. Supplements can be utilized in conjunction with a complete therapy program that includes psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been extensively researched and supported by empirical evidence. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behaviors that create anxiety. Although different CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders, they all have common goals and strategies for treatment.

The first step in CBT is to identify problematic thought patterns that can cause anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients learn to identify these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and change avoidance behaviors. The therapist may ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in their daily life.

The ultimate goal is to help patients become their own therapists, aiding them in understanding their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them to eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and improve their resilience.

CBT techniques include identifying and reversing mental distortions that affect the patient, such as overgeneralizing catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or minimizing positive events. The therapist also assists the patient develop strategies to cope for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be used to treat any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".

Another aspect of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-inducing object or situation. This can be done by making up a scenario or imagining the subject or situation in real life. A patient suffering from PTSD, who is afraid of a particular location, could be urged by their doctor to visit the location in which they were attacked. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, may be encouraged to make an address before an audience.

Some studies have proven that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and more research is needed. In general, mixing medications with CBT is more effective than either one alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have proven to be particularly effective in those suffering from anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder.





Therapy for exposure

One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you confront things that make you anxious in a safe environment with an experienced therapist. The process may sound difficult but it will help you understand that your fears are not based on reality and that you are able to accept the discomfort caused by your triggers. It will also increase your confidence in dealing with the obstacles of life.

There are several different types of exposure therapy. These include virtual reality, imaginal therapy, and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're scared of speaking in public Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with your friend. Then, you can gradually confront the situation with your therapist's support. Your therapist will keep track of your anxiety and panic during each session. They will adjust the intensity of exposure if necessary.

During the course of a session your therapist will show you how to calm down and deal with your feelings before explaining the triggers that trigger your anxiety. This can include techniques like mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided imagery. They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in behavior that leads to anxiety, such as staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some people require more than two sessions to overcome the anxiety.

The first step is to identify the situation or object that triggers your anxiety, such as being on a plane or being with strangers. Your therapist can help you select an exposure therapy approach that suits your personal style and needs. This could include using an orderly system to determine the sequence in which exposures are performed or practicing relaxation techniques prior to starting.

In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or event you are scared of. It could be as easy as walking across the bridge or having someone touch your arm. This method is often used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific phobias.

In vivo exposure therapy may be hard to fit within your schedule between appointments, so it is essential to find a therapist who is skilled in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies encompass a variety of healthcare treatments that are not typically considered part of Western medicine. They can ease anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encourage an active lifestyle. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal medicine yoga, meditation, music therapy, and massage. They also can reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones within your body.

A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with slight improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This method uses a variety of meditation techniques to promote mindfulness, or the ability of being present in the moment while getting rid of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be practiced by almost everyone, and does not require any special equipment or any special training. People with physical limitations might not be able participate in meditation that requires moving.

Other therapies that can be used to relieve anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques help you control your anxiety through the focus on relaxing muscles, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be used at home or in an environment for treatment. These techniques are often used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.

Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are another way to lessen anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more relaxed and, in turn, lessen your anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you how to assess your fears and determine the probability that they'll happen. You can apply strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing out the pros and cons of an incident, and determining if it's reasonable to be concerned about a possibility that might occur.

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese technique, can be employed to alleviate stress. It is based on the evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called Qi) that are located in specific meridians. For instance, a lack of qi in the kidney or spleen meridians can cause anxiety. Acupuncture studies have suggested that it can improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.