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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
People suffering from anxiety are unable to manage their reactions. Everyone is worried and scared at times. treatment for anxiety near me can help, as do medication like beta blockers (used to lower blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can aid in easing symptoms. Exercise, for example helps reduce stress and relaxes your body.
Medication
If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication may be a viable alternative. Anxiety medication helps to reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are among the most popular medication used to treat anxiety. They boost levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) and sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are usually the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they are addictive. The most common benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
Only licensed health care professionals can prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These providers can include psychologists, psychiatrists, primary care physicians and OBGYNs. Nurse practitioners, family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses can also prescribe certain medications, but they have to receive special training to do so.
Certain people make use of alternative therapies, like exercise, to reduce anxiety. There are also ways to relax and relieve stress like 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.
Additionally natural supplements such as melatonin and 5-HTP can also help ease anxiety. However, you should always consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or any other reason. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle changes will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and backed by empirical evidence. It targets abnormal thoughts and behaviors that maintain anxiety over time. Although a variety of individual CBT protocols have been developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share some common goals for treatment and methods.
The first step in CBT is to discover the thoughts that are not working and can cause anxiety. In sessions, patients are taught to recognize these negative beliefs and confront them. The therapist will also help patients recognize and modify behavior patterns that hinder them from doing so. The therapist will request patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in their everyday life.
The aim is to eventually help patients become their own therapists, helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and become more resilient.
CBT methods include identifying and changing the way that the patient thinks that lead to overgeneralization or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. The therapist also assists the patient develop coping strategies to deal with anxiety-inducing situations. These techniques can be applied to all kinds of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious object or circumstance. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario or directly confronting it in real life. A person suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a certain location, could be urged by their doctor to visit the site where they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder who fears public speaking might be encouraged to deliver a speech front of a group.
Some studies have proven that combining strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, the results are not conclusive and more research is needed. In general, combining medications with CBT is more effective than either one by itself. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been shown to be particularly efficacious in those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you confront things that scare you in a secure environment with an experienced therapist. It may seem difficult but it can help you recognize that your fears aren't justifiable and you can be able to accept the triggers. It will also boost your confidence in facing your challenges in life.
There are many different types of treatments for exposure, including imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. For instance, if afraid of public speaking Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with a friend. You can then gradually face the scenario with your therapist’s support. Each session your therapist will be able to see if you're feeling anxious or panicked and adjust the intensity according to the need.
During the session, your therapist teaches you how to relax, manage your emotions and then introduces you triggers that can make you feel fearful. This may include techniques such as meditation, breathing with rhythm, and guided imagery. They can also provide strategies to avoid engaging the behaviors that cause anxiety, such avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually carried out in a series of weekly sessions. some people require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to determine what triggers your anxiety. For example, flying on a plane or being in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will help you select an exposure therapy approach that suits your personality and needs. This could mean using an orderly system to determine the order of exposures or a series of relaxation techniques prior to starting.
In vivo exposure therapy involves directly facing the thing or event that you're scared of. It could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This method is often used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific phobias.
In vivo exposure therapy can be hard to fit in your schedule between appointments, which is why it is essential to find a therapist who is specialized in this type of cognitive therapy. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies are a wide variety of treatments for health that are not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyles. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with moderate improvement in anxiety symptoms. This method uses a variety of methods of meditation to increase mindfulness or staying in the present moment and getting rid of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be practiced by almost everyone, and doesn't require special equipment or any special training. People with physical limitations may not be able to take part in meditation that requires moving.
Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques help you control anxiety by focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breathing, and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a therapy setting. These techniques are typically used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are another way to reduce anxiety. Regular exercise can decrease the heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that can cause anxiety. A healthy diet can help you feel more relaxed and, in turn, decrease your feelings of anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. It teaches you how to identify and combat negative thoughts which lead to anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to assess the likelihood of occurrence. You can employ strategies like comparing your fears to past experiences as well as taking into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of the situation and determining whether it is realistic to worry about what could happen.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that can be employed to help with anxiety. It is based upon an assessment of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called qi) located in specific meridians. For instance, a deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridians can trigger anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.
