Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
People with anxiety are unable to control their reactions. Everyone is anxious and nervous at times. Psychotherapy and medication like beta blockers that are used to control blood pressure, and benzodiazepines can aid in managing.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. Exercise, for instance, helps to reduce stress and relax your body.
Medication
If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't working medications could be a good option. Anxiety medications reduce fears and triggers the fight or flight response in the body. Antidepressants are the most common drugs used to treat anxiety. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically 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.
The benzodiazepines can also be used to combat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be very helpful in the short term, but they are addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat insomnia and anxiety.
Only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These include psychiatrists and psychologists as along with primary health care doctors, some OB/GYNs, and some psychiatrist nurses. Nurse practitioners, family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medications, but they have to be trained specifically to do this.
Certain people utilize complementary therapies, such as exercise, to help alleviate anxiety. There are also relaxation methods to 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.
In addition, natural supplements like melatonin or 5-HTP may also aid in easing anxiety. However, you should always consult your physician prior to taking any supplement for anxiety or any other reason. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle changes can enhance the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the most studied and empirically validated psychotherapeutic methods for treating anxiety disorders. It targets the maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate anxiety over time. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders they all share common goals and strategies for treatment.
Suggested Looking at in CBT is to recognize problematic thought patterns that cause anxiety. In sessions, patients are taught to recognize the negative beliefs they hold and challenge. The therapist also helps patients recognize and modify behaviors that cause them to avoid. The therapist may ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of therapy sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in their daily life.
The aim is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, aiding them in understanding their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety and other negative emotions and become more resilient.
CBT methods focus on identifying and modifying distortions of the patient's thoughts like overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. The therapist also assists the patient develop strategies for coping for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be applied to all kinds of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxiety-inducing object or situation. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario or confronting it in actual life. A patient suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a particular location, might be encouraged by their doctor to visit the place where they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder who is afraid of public speaking might be encouraged to give a speech in front of a group.
Some studies have proven that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. However, these results aren't conclusive, and more research is needed. In general, combining medications and CBT is more effective than either one by itself. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be especially effective in those suffering from generalized anxiety or panic disorder.
Exposure therapy
One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you confront the things that scare you in a secure environment with an experienced therapy. It may sound like a daunting process but it can help you realize that your fears aren't based on fact and that you can tolerate the discomfort caused by your triggers. It can also increase your confidence to take on your challenges in life.
There are many different types of treatments for exposure, including imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. For instance, if you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist might encourage you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with your friend. Then, you can gradually confront the issue with your therapist's assistance. In each session, your therapist will check to see if you're feeling anxious or scared and alter the intensity of your exposure as needed.
During the session, the therapist teaches you to relax, manage your emotions, and then introduces you to triggers that make you feel anxious. This could include meditation, a rhythmic breathing and guided imagery. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, like avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions, and some individuals require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to determine the thing or event that causes anxiety, such as flying on a plane, or being with strangers. Your therapist can help you select an exposure therapy approach that suits your personality and needs. This could involve establishing an order of exposure to determine the order in which exposures are given or a relaxation practice prior to beginning.
In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or situation you are afraid of. This might be as simple as crossing the bridge or touching your arm. This method is often employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific fears.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate into your schedule between appointments, so it is essential to find a therapist who specializes in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can search for a qualified specialist by checking your local psychological association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews and ask your family and friends for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies cover a wide range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encourage an active lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, yoga music therapy, massage. They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.
Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs led to moderate improvements in anxiety symptoms. This method employs various methods of meditation to increase mindfulness or the ability of staying in the present moment while let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or instruction. People who have physical limitations may not be able participate in meditative practice that involves movements.
Other therapies that can relieve anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. These techniques can help you control anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles, calming breaths and visual imagery. They can be used at home or in a therapy setting. These techniques are often used in combination with other forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.
Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are two more ways to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels, which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energetic, which can reduce anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. It teaches you how to identify and challenge negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to assess your anxiety and determine the likelihood that they'll happen. You can employ strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining whether it's reasonable to be worried about something that could happen.
Acupuncture is an old Chinese technique that is used to treat anxiety. It is based on an assessment of the deficiencies and excesses in your energy, also known as qi, located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians can trigger anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.