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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 and medications like beta blockers that help lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines may help.

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

Medication

If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren't working, medication may be a good option. Anxiety medications can help reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used drugs used to treat anxiety. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are usually the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants like 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 are extremely beneficial in the short term, but they are 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).

Only licensed health professionals are able to prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These include psychologists and psychiatrists as well as primary health care doctors, some OB/GYNs, and some psychiatric nurses. They also need to undergo special training to prescribe medication.

Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to lessen anxiety. There are also ways to relax and reduce 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.

Finally natural supplements like 5-HTP and melatonin can anxiety disorder be treated help ease anxiety. Consult your doctor before taking supplements for anxiety or any other health condition. Supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most thoroughly researched and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for treating anxiety disorders. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that create anxiety. Although different CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders they all share common treatment goals and techniques.

The first step in CBT is to recognize the thoughts that are not working and contribute to anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge them. Therapists can also help patients recognize and modify their behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist will ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of sessions and to apply the strategies they've learned in their everyday life.

The aim is to eventually help patients become their own therapists, by helping them to understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will enable them to eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety 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. In addition, therapists will help the patient to develop coping skills for stressful situations. These techniques can be utilized to treat all kinds of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".

Another component of CBT is exposure therapy. This involves exposure therapy, which involves exposing the patient to the situation or object that causes them anxiety. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario or confronting it directly in real life. A person suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a specific location, might be encouraged by their physician to visit the site where they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of speaking in public, may be encouraged to make a speech before a group.

Some studies have proven that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. These results are mixed, and more research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is generally more effective than either of them on its own. Combinations of benzodiazepines with CBT have been proven to be particularly efficacious in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is among the most effective methods to manage anxiety. It helps you confront the things you are scared of in a safe environment with an expert. The process may sound difficult but it will help you learn that your fears aren't based on fact and that you are able to accept the discomfort caused by your triggers. It can also increase your confidence to face life's challenges.

There are many kinds of treatments for exposure, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. If you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist might suggest that you practice with a partner or imagine yourself delivering the speech. You can then gradually face the issue with your therapist's support. Your therapist will monitor your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the amount of exposure if needed.

During the session, your therapist will teach you to relax, manage your emotions and then introduces triggers that cause you to feel scared. This could include techniques such as mindfulness, breathing rhythms, and guided imagery. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the habit that causes anxiety, for example, avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted over a series of weekly sessions, and some individuals require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fears.

The first step is to determine the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or being in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will then help you to decide on the method of exposure therapy that will suit your needs and personality. This could involve using a hierarchical system to determine the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques prior the start of.

In vivo therapy is the process of confronting the situation or thing that you are scared of. It could be as simple as crossing an overpass or having someone else contact your arm. This technique can be used to treat specific phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.

It isn't easy to squeeze in the vivo exposure therapy in between appointments. Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist that is skilled in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can search for a certified specialist by contacting 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 ease anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encourage a healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines, meditation, yoga music therapy, massage. They can also aid in relieving depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.

A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with moderate improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to help promote mindfulness, or the ability to focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for almost everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or training. People who have physical limitations may not be able to participate in a meditation practice that involves movements.

Other therapies that can relieve anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and the use of hypnosis. These techniques can help you control anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles breathing, calm breaths, and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or within an environment for treatment. They are usually used in combination with other forms of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels, which can reduce anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you how to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you how to assess your fears and determine the likelihood that they'll actually happen. You can employ strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences by considering the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining whether or not it is realistic to worry about something that could happen.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that is employed to treat anxiety. It is based on the evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called Qi) found in specific meridians. A deficiency of the spleen or kidney meridian can trigger anxiety. Acupuncture studies have suggested that it can help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.