Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone is worried and anxious at times, but those with anxiety have a hard managing their reactions. Psychotherapy and medications like beta blockers that help reduce blood pressure, and benzodiazepines can help.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. Exercise, for instance helps reduce stress and relaxes your body.
Medication
If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy do not help your anxiety, medication may be an alternative. Anxiety medication helps to reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. natural anxiety remedies are among the most popular medications used for anxiety. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are often the first prescription medications prescribed. The SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.
The benzodiazepines can also be used to combat anxiety. They're fast-acting and extremely beneficial in the short term however they are also addictive and should only be used when other treatments don't work. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
There are many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety but only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe them. These include psychiatrists and psychologists as also primary care physicians, doctors of OB/GYNs and some psychiatric nurses. Nurse practitioners, family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medication, but they must get special training in doing so.
Some people use complementary therapies, such as exercise, to reduce anxiety. You can also find relaxation techniques to reduce stress, including deep breathing and mindfulness meditation. 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 help to ease anxiety. However, you should always consult your physician prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or other reason. Supplements can be utilized in conjunction with a comprehensive therapy plan that incorporates psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and supported by empirical evidence. It targets maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate anxiety over time. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and methods.
The first step in CBT is to identify dysfunctional thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist can also help patients recognize and modify avoidance behaviours. The therapist might ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions, and to apply the behavioural strategies that they have learned in everyday life.
The aim is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists by helping them to understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will allow patients overcome fears that are unfounded and anxieties, decrease their anxiety levels and other negative emotions and be more resilient.
CBT techniques include identifying and reversing distortions in the patient's thinking that lead to overgeneralization or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. Therapists also help the patient to develop coping skills for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be applied to any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
Another component of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-inducing subject or event. This may be done through creating a mental picture of the object or the situation or confronting it in actual life. For instance, a patient suffering from PTSD who fears a specific location could be encouraged to go to the location where they were abused. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is scared of public speaking, might be encouraged to deliver an address before an audience.
Some studies have proven that the combination of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. However, the results aren't conclusive, and further research is required. In general, combining medications and CBT is more effective than each alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be particularly effective in those suffering from anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder.
Exposure therapy
One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you confront things that make you anxious in a secure setting with the help of a professional. It may seem difficult but the process will help you understand that your fears aren't justifiable and that you are able to tolerate your triggers. It can also increase your confidence to take on life's challenges.
There are many different kinds of exposure therapy. These include virtual reality, imaginal and systematic desensitization. If you're afraid to speak in public, your therapist may encourage you to practice with a partner or imagine yourself giving the speech. Then, you can gradually confront the scenario with your therapist’s assistance. Your therapist will keep track of your anxiety and panic during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure if necessary.
During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax, manage your emotions, and then introduces triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This may include mindfulness, rhythmic breath and guided images. They can also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in behavior that leads to anxiety, like staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome the anxiety.
The first step is to pinpoint the object or situation that triggers your anxiety, such as flying on a plane, or being with strangers. Your therapist will assist you select the method of exposure therapy that fits your needs and personality. This could involve establishing a hierarchy to determine the order of exposures or a relaxation practice prior to starting.
In vivo therapy is the process of confronting the thing or situation you are afraid of. It could be as easy as crossing a bridge or touching your arm. This method can be used to treat specific fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.
It isn't easy to squeeze in the vivo exposure therapy in between appointments. Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist who is specialized in this kind of cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. You can search for an experienced specialist by searching your local psychological association or mental health network. It's also a good idea to review reviews and ask your relatives or friends for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies include a range of treatments for health that are not traditionally considered part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyles. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, yoga music therapy, massage. They can also aid in relieving depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
Recent research found that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method uses a variety of meditation techniques to promote mindfulness, or the ability of being present in the moment and getting rid of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for nearly everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or instruction. However, those with physical limitations may not be able in meditative practices that involve moving.
Other therapies that can help relieve anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques teach you to control your anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles breathing techniques, relaxing breaths and visual imagery. These techniques can be used at home or in the context of a treatment facility. These techniques are often employed in conjunction with other types of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.
Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels which can lessen your anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and confront negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to assess the potential for anxiety and assess their likelihood of occurring. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences, weighing the pros and cons of the situation and determining whether it's realistic to be worried about something that might occur.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique that is used to alleviate anxiety. It is based on an assessment of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called qi) located in specific meridians. For instance, a deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridians could cause anxiety. Acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when it is combined with psychotherapy and other CAM methods.