Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

Everyone fears and worries at times, but people who suffer from anxiety have a difficult time controlling their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as can medications like beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

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

Medication

If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren’t helping your anxiety, medication may be an alternative. Anxiety medication helps to reduce fears and trigger the body’s fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most common medications used for anxiety. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters, which influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are often the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety treatment without medication.

The benzodiazepines are sometimes used to treat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Benzodiazepines are often used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

There are many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety, however only licensed health care providers can prescribe these medications. They include psychologists and psychiatrists as well as primary care physicians, doctors of OB/GYNs and some psychiatrists. They also need to undergo special training in order to prescribe medications.

Exercise and complementary therapies are utilized by some people to reduce anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and reduce stress, like 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 like melatonin or 5-HTP may also help ease anxiety. Consult your doctor before taking supplements to treat anxiety or any other health condition. Using supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that includes lifestyle and psychotherapy will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the most thoroughly researched and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for treating anxiety disorders. It targets the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that cause anxiety to persist. Despite the fact that different CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders, they all have common treatment goals and techniques.

The first step in CBT is to identify dysfunctional thought patterns that can cause anxiety. In sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and alter avoidance behaviours. The therapist will ask patients to keep diaries or “thought records” outside of therapy sessions and to practice the strategies they’ve learned in everyday life.

The ultimate goal is to help patients become their own therapists, by aiding them in understanding their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will allow them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety and other negative emotions and build a stronger resilience.

CBT methods involve the identification and correction of distortions in the patient’s thoughts, such as overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. Therapists also assist the patient in developing strategies for dealing with anxiety-inducing 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”.

Exposure therapy is another element of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient’s anxiety-inducing object or situation. This can be done by creating a mental picture or confronting the subject or situation in real life. For instance, a patient with PTSD who is afraid of a particular location could be encouraged to visit the spot where they were assaulted. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of public speaking, might be encouraged to deliver an address before the group.

Some studies have proven that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. However, these results aren’t conclusive, and further research is required. Combining medications with CBT is usually more effective than one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines and CBT have been shown to be particularly effective in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.

Therapy for exposure

Exposure therapy is among the most effective methods to manage anxiety. It allows you to confront things you are afraid of in a comfortable setting with an expert. It may seem difficult, but the process can help you recognize that your fears are not justified and that you can tolerate your triggers. It can also help increase your confidence in dealing with the obstacles of life.

There are a variety of exposure therapies, including imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. If you’re afraid to speak in public, your therapist may encourage you to practice with a buddy or imagine yourself delivering the speech. Then, you’ll slowly face the situation in real life with the help of your therapist’s support. Each session your therapist will be able to see whether you’re experiencing anxiety or panic and adjust the level of exposure according to the need.

In the course of a session, your therapist will teach you how to calm down and deal with your feelings before explaining the triggers that create fear. This may include mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided images. They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in habit that causes anxiety, such as staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some people need more than two sessions to overcome the fear.

The first step is to pinpoint the situation or object that triggers anxiety, such as being on a plane or being in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist will assist you choose the best exposure therapy method that fits your personality and needs. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the order in which exposures are made or practicing relaxation techniques prior to starting.

In vivo exposure therapy involves confronting the object or situation you’re fearful of. It could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This technique can be used to treat specific fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.

In vivo exposure therapy may be hard to fit into your schedule between appointments, so it is important to find a therapist that is specialized in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can find an experienced specialist by searching your local psychological association or mental health network. It’s an excellent idea to review reviews and ask your family members or friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies are a range of healthcare treatments that are not typically considered part of Western medicine. They can aid in reducing anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyles. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine Meditation, Yoga, music therapy, massage, and yoga. They can also help alleviate symptoms of depression by lowering levels of stress hormones in your body.

Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs led to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method uses a variety of meditation techniques to promote mindfulness or focusing on the present moment and getting rid of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be performed by anyone, and doesn’t require special equipment or training. People with physical limitations may not be able to take part in meditative practice that involves movement.

Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. These techniques help you control anxiety by the focus on relaxing muscles, calming breathing, and visual imagery. They can be used at home or in a therapy setting. These techniques are often employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, like exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.

Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are two more ways to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, which are hormones that contribute to anxiety. A healthy diet will make you feel more energetic, which can reduce anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you to identify and challenge negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how To treat anxiety And stress to assess fears and determine their likelihood of occurring. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences by taking into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining if it is reasonable to worry about something that could happen.

Acupuncture is an old 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. A deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridian can cause anxiety. Acupuncture can improve anxiety symptoms when it is combined with psychotherapy and other CAM techniques.