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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

People with anxiety are unable to control their reactions. Everyone is anxious and scared at times. Psychotherapy can help, as can medications like beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. Exercise, for example can help reduce stress and relaxes your body.

Medication

If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy do not help anxiety, medication might be a viable alternative. Anxiety medications can help reduce anxiety signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil, or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.





Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. anxiety treatment at home -acting and can be very helpful in the short term however, they can be addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

Only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These providers can include psychiatrists, psychologists primary care physicians, and OB-GYNs. Nurse practitioners, family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medication, but they must be trained specifically to do this.

Exercise and complementary therapies are a common method used by some people to reduce anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and reduce 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 5-HTP or melatonin may aid in relieving anxiety. Consult your doctor before taking supplements for anxiety, or any other condition. Supplements can be used in conjunction with a complete therapy program that includes lifestyle changes, psychotherapy and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the most thoroughly researched and empirically validated psychotherapeutic strategies for treating anxiety disorders. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that create anxiety. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and techniques.

The first step in CBT is to recognize dysfunctional thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. During sessions, the patients learn to identify these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist may also assist patients recognize and modify their avoidance behaviors. The therapist will ask patients to keep diaries or "thought notes" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in everyday life.

Eventually, the aim is to train patients to become their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will help them eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and improve their resilience.

CBT techniques involve identifying and reversing the way that the patient thinks, such as overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, and minimizing positive events. The therapist will also help the patient develop coping strategies for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be utilized to treat all kinds 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 anxious object or circumstance. This may be done through creating a mental picture of the object or the situation or confronting it in actual life. A patient suffering from PTSD, who is afraid of a particular location, could be urged by their physician to visit the location where they were assaulted. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who fears public speaking might be encouraged to give a speech in front of the group.

Some studies have proven that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. These results are mixed, and further research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is generally more effective than either of them on its own. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been proven to be particularly efficacious in those suffering from panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is among the most effective treatments to treat anxiety. It helps you confront the things that you are afraid of in a safe setting with a therapist. It may sound like a daunting process, but it can help you understand that your fears aren't based on fact and that you can tolerate the discomfort of your triggers. It will also increase your confidence in navigating the obstacles of life.

There are many different kinds of exposure therapy. These include virtual reality, imaginal therapy, and systematic desensitization. If you're scared to speak in public, your therapist could advise you to practice with a friend or imagine yourself delivering the speech. You can then gradually face the situation with your therapist's assistance. During each session your therapist will examine you to determine if you're feeling anxious or panicked and adjust the level of exposure as needed.

In an appointment the therapist will show you how to calm and manage your feelings before introducing you to the triggers that cause you fear. This could include techniques such as mindfulness, rhythmic breathing, and guided imagery. They can also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in the behavior that leads to anxiety, for example, avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted over a series of weekly sessions. However, some individuals require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.

The first step is to determine what triggers your anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or around strangers. Your therapist will then help you choose the method of exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the sequence of exposures or a series of relaxation techniques prior to beginning.

In vivo therapy requires you to confront the thing or situation you are afraid of. This might be as simple as crossing a bridge or touching your arm. This method can be used to treat specific anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder.

It can be challenging to schedule sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore, it is important to find a therapist that is skilled 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 family and friends for suggestions.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies encompass a broad array of health treatments that aren't considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encourage a healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy, and yoga. They can also help reduce depression symptoms by lowering the levels of stress hormones within your body.

A recent study revealed that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various methods of meditation to increase mindfulness, or the ability of being present in the moment and getting rid of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation is suitable for everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or knowledge. People with physical limitations might not be able to take part in meditation that requires movement.

Other therapies that can be used to relieve anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques teach you to manage anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles breathing techniques, relaxing breaths, and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a therapeutic setting. These techniques are typically used in combination with other forms of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.

Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are another way to reduce anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood-pressure, and cortisol levels, which are hormones that can cause anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels, which can reduce anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It helps you identify and overcome negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you to evaluate your fears and determine the likelihood that they will actually occur. You can apply strategies like looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences as well as taking into consideration the pros and cons of a situation and determining whether it is reasonable to worry about what could occur.

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese method, can be employed to relieve stress. It is based on an evaluation of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, called Qi, that is found in specific meridians. For instance, a lack of qi in the kidney or spleen meridians could cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM methods.