Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but people who suffer from anxiety have a difficult managing their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as does medication like beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. For example, exercise helps reduce stress and relaxes the body.
Medication
If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren't working medications could be a good 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 are antidepressants. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters, which affect mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are often the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines can also be used to combat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be helpful 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. They can be psychiatrists, psychologists primary care physicians, and OB-GYNs. They must also receive special training to prescribe medications.
Some people use complementary therapies, such as exercise, to help alleviate 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.
Additionally, natural supplements such as melatonin or 5-HTP may also help ease anxiety. Consult your physician before taking supplements to treat anxiety or any other health condition. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications can enhance the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively studied and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for anxiety disorders. It targets the maladaptive thoughts or behaviors that create anxiety. Although different CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders they all share common goals and strategies for treatment.
CBT begins by identifying the dysfunctional thoughts that cause anxiety. In sessions, patients are taught to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist also helps patients identify and change behaviors that cause them to avoid. The therapist may ask patients to keep diaries or "thought notes" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in their daily life.
In the end, the aim is to train patients to be their own therapists by helping them to understand their current patterns of thinking and behaviour. This will allow them overcome unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and be more resilient.
CBT methods include identifying and reversing distortions in the patient's thinking that lead to overgeneralization catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or minimizing positive events. The therapist can also help the patient develop strategies to cope for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be employed to treat all kinds 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 may be done through visualizing the object or scenario, or by confronting it in actual life. A patient suffering from PTSD, who is afraid of a certain location, could be urged by their physician to visit the site where they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder who is scared of speaking in public might be urged to speak in front of an audience.
Some studies have proven that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, these results aren't conclusive, and more research is needed. Combining medication with CBT is generally more effective than one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines with CBT have been proven to be particularly effective for patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.
Therapy for exposure
Exposure therapy is among the most effective ways to manage anxiety. It helps you confront the things you are scared of in a comfortable environment with a therapist. The process might sound daunting, but it can help you learn that your fears aren't based on fact and you can accept the discomfort caused by your triggers. It can also increase your confidence in facing the challenges of life.
There are a variety of forms of exposure therapy, such as imaginal, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. If you're scared to speak in public, your therapist might encourage you to practice with a friend or imagine yourself delivering the speech. Then, you can gradually confront the scenario with your therapist’s assistance. In each session, your therapist will check to see whether you're feeling anxious or scared and adjust the intensity as needed.
During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax, manage your emotions and then introduces you triggers that can make you feel anxious. This could include mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided images. They will also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, like avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted over a number of weekly sessions. However, some individuals require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to determine what triggers your anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or being around strangers. Your therapist will assist you select a method of exposure therapy that fits your needs and personality. This could involve establishing a hierarchy to determine the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques before beginning.
In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or situation you are afraid of. It could be as simple as crossing the bridge or having someone touch your arm. This method can be used to treat certain fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate in your schedule between appointments, so it's important to find a therapist that specializes in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can locate an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or the mental health network. It's also a good idea to review reviews and ask your friends or family members for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies include a range of treatments for health that are not traditionally considered part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting a healthy lifestyle. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal medicine yoga, meditation music therapy, massage. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones within your body.
A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with moderate improvement in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different methods of meditation to increase mindfulness or focusing on the present moment while letting go 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 who have physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditative practice that involves moving.
Other therapies that can relieve anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage anxiety by focus on relaxing muscles, calming breathing, and visual imagery. They can be used at home or in a treatment setting. These techniques are typically employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.
Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are another way to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can decrease your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that contribute to anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energized and, in turn, decrease your feelings of anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective anxiety treatments. It helps you identify and overcome negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to evaluate fears and determine their likelihood of occurring. You can use strategies like comparing your fears with past experiences, weighing the pros and cons of an incident, and determining if it is realistic to be concerned about something that could happen.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique that can be employed to help with anxiety. Iampsychiatry is based upon an assessment of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called qi) located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the spleen or kidney meridian can cause anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.