Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but people with anxiety have a hard to control their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as do medication like beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

Self-help strategies can also ease symptoms. For example, exercise helps reduce stress and relaxes the body.

Medication

If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help your anxiety medications could be a good alternative. Anxiety medications help to suppress fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They boost levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) and sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are often the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

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

Only licensed health care professionals can prescribe medications to treat anxiety. They include psychiatrists and psychologists as along with primary care physicians, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatrist nurses. Nurse practitioners as well as family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medications, but they have to receive special training to do so.

Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to reduce anxiety. They can also discover ways to relax and reduce stress, such as 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.

Additionally natural supplements like melatonin and 5-HTP can also help ease anxiety. Consult your physician before taking supplements for anxiety, or any other health condition. Supplements in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan that includes lifestyle and psychotherapy will maximize the effectiveness of your non drug treatment for anxiety.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and backed by empirical evidence. It targets the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that lead to anxiety. While a variety of individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they share certain common treatment goals and methods.

The first step in CBT is to identify problematic thought patterns that cause anxiety. During sessions, the patients learn to identify these negative beliefs and then challenge. The therapist may also assist patients recognize and modify their avoidance behaviors. The therapist may request patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions, and to apply the behavioural strategies they have learned in their daily life.

The aim is to eventually help patients become their own therapists, by aiding them in understanding their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them overcome unfounded fears and anxieties, decrease their anxiety levels and other negative emotions and become more resilient.

CBT methods focus on identifying and changing distortions of the patient's thoughts that lead to overgeneralization and catastrophizing. The therapist will also help the patient develop coping strategies for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be employed 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 object or situation. This can be done by imagining or confronting the situation or object in real life. For example, a patient with PTSD who is afraid of a particular area could be urged to visit the place in which they were assaulted. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who is scared of speaking in public might be urged to speak in front of a group.

Some studies have shown that combining CBT and the use of pharmacotherapy can enhance outcomes. However, the results are not conclusive and more research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is usually more effective than either of them on its own. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be especially effective in those suffering from panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.

Therapy for exposure

Exposure therapy is one of the most effective treatments for treating anxiety. It allows you to confront the things you are scared of in a secure environment with a therapist. It can be difficult but it can help you recognize that your fears are not justifiable and that you are able to accept your triggers. It can also help increase your confidence when it comes to navigating the obstacles of life.

There are many kinds of exposure therapies, such as imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. If you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist could advise you to practice with a friend or imagine yourself delivering the speech. You can then gradually face the scenario with your therapist’s assistance. Your therapist will keep track of your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure if necessary.

In the course of a session your therapist will show you how to relax and cope with your emotions, before introducing you to the triggers that trigger your anxiety. This can include techniques like meditation, breathing with rhythm and guided imagery. They will also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in the habit that causes anxiety, for example, avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some people require more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.

The first step is to identify the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or being around strangers. Your therapist will assist you choose an exposure therapy method that is suited to your personality and needs. This could involve establishing a hierarchy to determine the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques before starting.

In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or situation you are afraid of. It could be as easy as crossing a bridge or having someone touch your arm. This approach can be used to treat specific phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.

It can be challenging to squeeze in sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist who is specialized in this kind of cognitive therapy. You can find a certified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. You can also read reviews and ask family and friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies are a wide variety of treatments for health that are not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encourage the healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy, and yoga. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.

A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with slight improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various methods of meditation to increase mindfulness, or the ability of being present in the moment while getting rid of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be done by anyone, and it does not require special equipment or training. However, people with physical limitations might not be able to participate in meditative practices that involve moving.

Other treatments that can help reduce anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, and self-hypnosis. These techniques teach you to manage anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles breathing techniques, relaxing breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at Home treatment for anxiety attack or within an environment for treatment. These methods are often combined with other forms of therapy, such a cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.

Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol level, which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet can increase your energy levels which can lessen your anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective anxiety treatments. It teaches you to identify and challenge negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you how to assess your fears and determine the likelihood that they will actually occur. You can employ strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences as well as considering the pros and cons of an event and determining whether or not it is realistic to worry about what could happen.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method that can be used to alleviate anxiety. It is based upon the evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called Qi) located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians can trigger anxiety. Some studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM approaches.