Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
The people suffering from anxiety aren’t able to control their reactions. Everyone is worried and scared at times. Psychotherapy can help, as do medications such as beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. Exercise, for example helps reduce stress and relaxes your body.
Medication
If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren’t helping your anxiety medications could be a good option. Anxiety medications reduce fear signals and the fight or flight response that occurs in the body. Antidepressants are among the most popular medications used for anxiety. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters, which influence mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first medications prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety. They’re fast-acting and very helpful in the short term, but they are addictive and should only be used when other treatments don’t work. Benzodiazepines are often used to treat anxiety and insomnia.
There are many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety, but only licensed health care providers are able to prescribe these medications. They can be psychiatrists, psychologists doctors of primary care and some OBGYNs. They must also undergo special training in order to prescribe medications.
Certain people make use of alternative treatment for depression and anxiety therapies, like exercise, to reduce anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and relieve 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.
Lastly natural ways to treat anxiety disorder supplements like 5-HTP and melatonin can help ease anxiety. But, it is essential to consult your physician prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or any other reason. Supplements can be utilized 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 supported psychotherapeutic approaches for anxiety disorders. It targets the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that create anxiety. Although several individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share some common goals for best treatment for social anxiety and methods.
CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thought patterns which contribute to anxiety. In sessions, patients are taught to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist will also help patients identify and alter avoidance behaviours. The therapist will ask patients to keep journals or “thought notes” outside of therapy sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they’ve learned in their daily life.
The aim is to eventually teach patients how to be 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 as well as other negative emotions, and improve their resilience.
CBT techniques involve the identification and correction of distortions in the patient’s thinking that lead to overgeneralization and catastrophizing. The therapist can also help the patient develop coping strategies for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be applied to all types of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called “cognitive-behavioral therapy”.
Another element of CBT is exposure therapy. It involves exposure therapy, which involves exposing the patient to the situation or object that causes them anxiety. This can be done by making up a scenario or imagining the subject or situation in real life. For example, a patient with PTSD who is scared of a certain area could be urged to visit the place where they were abused. A person with social anxiety disorder who fears public speaking might be encouraged to give a speech in front of the group.
Some studies have shown that combining CBT with pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and further research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is usually more effective than one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines with CBT have been proven to be particularly efficacious in people with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Exposure therapy
One of the most effective methods for treating anxiety is exposure therapy, which lets you confront the things that scare you in a secure setting with an experienced professional. It may seem difficult but it will help you understand that your fears aren’t justifiable and you can be able to accept the triggers. It can also help increase your confidence when it comes to navigating the challenges of life.
There are several different types of exposure therapy, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. If you’re scared to speak in public, your therapist could encourage you to practice with a partner or imagine yourself giving the speech. Then, you’ll gradually confront the situation in real life with your therapist’s support. Each session your therapist will be able to determine if you’re feeling anxious or scared and adjust the level of exposure as needed.
In a session your therapist will show you how to calm and manage your feelings before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that trigger your anxiety. This may include meditation, a rhythmic breathing, and guided images. They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the habit that causes anxiety, like avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted over a number of weekly sessions, and some people require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to identify the thing or event that triggers your anxiety, such as flying on a plane or in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist will then help you select a method of exposure therapy that is appropriate to your personality and needs. This might involve using an order of exposure to determine the order in which exposures are given or a series of relaxation exercises prior to beginning.
In vivo exposure therapy is confronting the object or situation that you’re afraid of. This might be as simple as crossing a bridge or touching your arm. This technique can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific fears.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to integrate into your schedule between appointments, which is why it is important to find a therapist that is specialized in this type of cognitive therapy. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. It’s an excellent idea to read reviews and ask friends or family members for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies include a range of New treatments for anxiety for health that are not traditionally considered part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging an active lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine as well as yoga, meditation, music therapy, massage, and yoga. They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with slight improvements in anxiety treatment symptoms. This approach uses different methods of meditation to increase mindfulness, or the ability of staying in the present moment and getting rid of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation is suitable for almost everyone and doesn’t require any special equipment or knowledge. People with physical limitations may not be able to take part in meditative practice that involves movements.
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 breathing, and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or within a treatment environment. These techniques are often used in combination with other forms of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.
Another way to ease anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol level, 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 challenge negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you how to assess your fears and determine the probability that they will actually occur. You can apply strategies like comparing your fears to past experiences by taking into consideration the pros and cons of an event and determining whether it is reasonable to worry about something that might happen.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that can be used to help with anxiety. It is based upon the evaluation of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called Qi) that are located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians can cause anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.