Treating Anxiety Disorders
Speak to a mental health professional in case your anxiety persists and is affecting your daily routine. Psychologists specialize in psychotherapy and might be able to prescribe medication, whereas psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of mental illness.
You can manage your anxiety through the use of counseling, medications, and other treatments. You can also find ways to manage stress, such as learning stress management techniques or joining support groups (in person or online).
Medication
Anxiety disorders can be treated with psychotherapy (talk-therapy), medication, or a combination of both. Talk therapy helps people find better ways to cope with their anxieties and lessen the symptoms. Exercise, sleep and strategies for managing stress can help improve mood. The medications help to reduce the severity of anxiety and make the other treatments more effective.
People with anxiety disorders are at a higher risk of developing other mental health issues, including depression. Depression symptoms often overlap with those of anxiety, so it is important to treat both simultaneously. A psychiatrist trained to treat mental illnesses can diagnose anxiety, and prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms.
A person’s chance of developing an anxiety disorder is increased by specific life experiences as well as inherited traits. Traumas, like an accident in a car or war can trigger an phobic anxiety disorder disorder in certain people. A chronic illness or caregiving can also cause people to worry overly. Abuse of alcohol, specifically alcohol and illicit drugs, can also contribute to development of anxiety disorders.
The most effective treatment option for most anxiety disorders is an antidepressant. Modern antidepressants called SSRIs and SNRIs, such as escitalopram (Lexapro) and duloxetine (Cymbalta), have been proven to be efficient in a variety of clinical studies. Benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium), are also often used to help ease anxiety. However, they shouldn’t be prescribed for more than 4 weeks at a time as they can become addictive and don’t work as well after that.
Other forms of medication that are used to treat anxiety include beta-blockers, like propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Toprol XL), which can lower blood pressure and heart rate. Anticonvulsants, such as levothyroxine (Levothyrix) can help control trembling. Buspirone (BuSpar) in small doses can help those suffering from physical symptoms of Anxiety Anxiety disorders, such as sweating or a rapid pulse.
Certain sedatives, including clonazepam (Klonopin) are available only by prescription. Certain people suffering from severe anxiety take monoamine oxidase inhibitors like Anxair (moclobemide).
Psychotherapy
It’s normal for children to experience some anxiety or fear at times, their feelings shouldn’t interfere with their lives or cause them to avoid school, friends or family. Anxiety disorders can cause severe depression, or other mental health issues that can affect the quality of life of a person. People suffering from these disorders often need psychotherapy (counseling) and medication to manage their symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most commonly used psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. It helps you to change the habits of thought that cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you relaxation techniques and assist you to discover ways to deal with negative emotions. They’ll also employ exposure therapy to gradually expose you to situations that can trigger your anxiety. This is accomplished through systematic desensitization, which involves creating a list of triggers and grading them according to intensity.
Your therapist will teach you how to challenge irrational thoughts and predictions. They will help you test your negative beliefs through tests, weighing the pros and cons, and determining the realistic probability that something bad might happen.
Psychiatrists may prescribe short-term and long-term medications to treat anxiety disorders. Antidepressants, such as buspirone and SSRIs, can help with many types of anxiety disorder levels by altering chemical pathways in the brain that regulate mood. Benzodiazepines like diazepam and lorazepam can help in promoting relaxation of muscles and calming the brain. SNRIs, such as venlafaxine, are able to help reduce anxiety by increasing serotonin levels and norepinephrine levels inside the brain.
Psychiatrists will monitor your symptoms and answer any questions. They will also make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan. It may take some time to recover from your disorder according to the severity. It is possible to test various therapists and a range of treatments before you find one that works for you. It is essential to stick to your treatment plan until you see results. The longer you delay seeking help, the more severe your symptoms could become.
Therapy for interpersonal relationships
Interpersonal therapy is a form of psychotherapy for short durations that is focused on resolving interpersonal problems. It is usually completed in 12-16 sessions. It has been proven empirically to improve depression and anxiety symptoms. Additionally it has been proven to be effective in the treatment of depression that is comorbid with PTSD. It can also be used to address social and occupational difficulties for people suffering from PTSD.
The initial sessions (1-3) are focused on gathering information and identifying problematic areas. The therapist might help you create a list of your most important relationships. The therapist will then help you to prioritize these issues in accordance with your needs and the potential for improvement. In the middle sessions (4-14), you and your counselor will work together to identify solutions to these areas of concern. You will then apply the new strategies to your daily life in between sessions.
The most significant feature of IPT is that it frames the patient’s problems as a medical condition, not as a character flaw. This can ease patients feeling of guilt and self-criticism. It also helps patients realize that their symptoms result from a combination of their current situation and their medical condition.
When choosing a therapist be sure to choose someone who is certified by your state’s association for psychology and who is specialized in your condition. Research the therapist’s training and experience. You can also ask other physicians for recommendations. Make sure that you and your therapist are on the same page regarding the objectives of the sessions before starting therapy. For example, you might be looking to improve your interpersonal skills or conquering your fear of intimacy.
Self-help
Anxiety is normal and a reaction to stressful events. However, it becomes problematic when it gets so intense that it interferes your daily life. People suffering from anxiety disorders typically require medication and psychotherapy to heal. But a few self-help techniques can reduce symptoms and make them easier to live with. Relaxation and breathing exercises for instance can slow your heart rate and calm you. Try doing these exercises several times per day, focusing on how your body feels as you breathe in and out. Identifying negative thought patterns and replacing them by positive ones can ease anxiety.
Changing your diet and getting regular exercise can help you feel better. You may be able to reduce your intake of caffeine, nicotine and alcohol which can trigger or worsen generalised anxiety disorder. Regular exercise reduces tension and stimulates your brain to produce serotonin which is an enhancing chemical for mood. Make sure you do at minimum 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week.
Self-help for anxiety resources include self-help groups, support groups books and online resources. Some of these resources include various activities that can be done at home, for example, identifying the triggers of your anxiety and learning to overcome your anxiety. Some of them also include face-to-face sessions with therapists and other people who have the same problems.
Psychological interventions are essential treatments for anxiety disorders, and they include cognitive behavioural therapy which assists you in changing the patterns of thinking that cause anxiety exposure therapy, which is where you gradually confront the events and people or objects which trigger anxiety and other complementary health methods such as meditation, breathing exercises, and relaxation. These strategies can be combined with medication.
Some people should see a doctor to rule out any medical conditions that could be the cause of their anxiety. They can then start treatment. Anxiety disorders can be very difficult to manage and can affect social, work and school life. They can also cause depression, which is linked with a high risk of suicide. People who do not seek treatment for their symptoms are at a greater risk of developing into a more serious mental health problem.