Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety The people suffering from anxiety aren't able to manage their reactions. Everyone is anxious and nervous at times. Psychotherapy can help, as do medication like beta blockers (used to lower blood pressure) and benzodiazepines. Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. Exercise, for instance helps reduce stress and relaxes your body. Medication If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy don't help with your anxiety, medication could be a viable alternative. Anxiety medications can help reduce anxiety signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants, the most popular medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are often the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil, or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety. Sometimes, benzodiazepines can be used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and are very helpful in the short-term however, they can be addictive and should only be used when other treatments don't work. The most common benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam). There are a myriad of different medications that can be used to treat anxiety, however only licensed health care providers can prescribe these medications. These providers include psychologists and psychiatrists as well as primary care physicians, OBGYNs, and a few psychiatric nurses. Nurse practitioners as well as family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medications, but they have to receive special training to do so. Certain people make use of complementary therapies, such as exercise, to reduce anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and 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. In addition, natural supplements like 5-HTP or melatonin can help ease anxiety. Consult your doctor before taking supplements for anxiety, or any other condition. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications can maximize the effectiveness of your treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been extensively researched and supported by empirical evidence. It targets the maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. Although different CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share common goals and strategies for treatment. CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thoughts that cause anxiety. In sessions, patients are taught to recognize the negative beliefs they hold and challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and alter behavior patterns that hinder them from doing so. The therapist may request patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions, and to apply the behavioural strategies they've learned in daily life. The ultimate goal is to help patients become their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will allow patients overcome fears that are unfounded and anxiety, as well as other negative emotions and become more resilient. CBT techniques include the identification and correction of mental distortions that affect the patient, such as overgeneralizing catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or minimizing positive events. Additionally, therapists help the patient to develop coping skills for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be used to treat all types of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy". Another aspect of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious subject or event. This may be done through visualizing the object or scenario or directly confronting it in real life. For instance, a person with PTSD who is afraid of a particular location could be encouraged to visit the place where they were assaulted. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of public speaking, might be encouraged to make an address in front of the group. Some studies have proven that combination strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. However, the results aren't conclusive, and more research is needed. In general, mixing medications with CBT is more effective than any one alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be especially effective in people with panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. Therapy for exposure Exposure therapy is one of the most effective methods to manage anxiety. It helps you confront the things that you are afraid of in a safe setting with a therapist. It can be difficult but the process can help you realize that your fears aren't justified and that you can accept your triggers. It will also boost your confidence to take on the challenges of life. 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 might advise you to practice with a partner or imagine yourself delivering the speech. Then, you'll gradually confront the situation in real life with the help of your therapy therapist's help. Your therapist will keep track of your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the amount of exposure if needed. During treatment for generalized anxiety , your therapist will teach you how to relax and cope with your emotions and then introduces you triggers that make you feel anxious. This can include techniques like meditation, breathing with rhythm and guided imagery. They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the behavior that leads to anxiety, such as staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series of weekly sessions. some people require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fear. The first step is to pinpoint the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a flight or being around strangers. Your therapist can help you select the best exposure therapy method that fits your preferences and personality. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the sequence in which exposures are performed or practicing relaxation techniques prior the start of. In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or situation you are afraid of. This might be as simple as walking across the bridge or touching your arm. This technique can be used to treat specific fears and posttraumatic stress disorder. It isn't easy to squeeze in vivo exposure therapy between appointments. Therefore it is essential to find a therapist that specializes in this form of cognitive therapy. You can find a certified specialist through your local psychological association or mental network. It's also a good idea to look up reviews and ask relatives or friends for recommendations. Complementary therapies Complementary therapies include a range of treatments for health that aren't typically thought of as part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting a healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body. Recent research found that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or focusing on the present moment while let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be done by almost everyone, and doesn't require special equipment or training. People with physical limitations may not be able to take part in meditative practice that involves moving. Other therapies that can be used to ease anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques assist you in controlling anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscle breathing, calming breathing, and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or within the context of a treatment facility. They are usually used in conjunction with other types of therapy, such as exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that can cause anxiety. A healthy diet can help you feel more relaxed, which in turn can decrease your feelings of anxiety. Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective anxiety treatments. It helps you recognize and overcome negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you how to assess your fears and determine the likelihood that they'll happen. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences by taking into consideration the pros and cons of the situation and determining whether or not it is reasonable to worry about something that could happen. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese technique, can be utilized to relieve stress. It is based on a study of deficiencies and excesses in your energy, also known as Qi, that is found in specific meridians. For instance, a lack of qi in the spleen or kidney meridians can trigger anxiety. Acupuncture can improve anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM techniques.
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