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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

People suffering from anxiety are unable to control their reactions. Everyone is anxious and scared at times. Psychotherapy and medication like beta blockers that help lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines can help.

Self-help strategies can also help alleviate symptoms. For instance, exercise can reduce stress and relax the body.

Medication

If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety, medication could be an alternative. Anxiety medication reduces fear signals and the fight or flight response in the body. Antidepressants, the most common medication used to treat anxiety are antidepressants. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters, which affect mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are often the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine, duloxetine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety disorders anxiety.

The benzodiazepines can also 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 employed when other treatments fail to work. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).

Only licensed health care professionals can prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These doctors include psychologists, psychiatrists doctors of primary care and some OBGYNs. Nurse practitioners, family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medications, but they must receive special training to do so.

Certain people utilize complementary therapies, such as exercise, to reduce anxiety. They can also discover 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.

Additionally, natural anti anxiety treatment supplements such as 5-HTP or melatonin can aid in relieving anxiety. However, it is important to consult your doctor before taking any supplements to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates lifestyle and psychotherapy will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and supported by evidence-based research. It targets the maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate anxiety over time. Although several individual CBT protocols have been designed for different anxiety disorders, they share some common goals for treatment and techniques.

The first step in CBT is to identify the thoughts that are not working and contribute to anxiety. During sessions, the patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist may also assist patients identify and alter avoidance behaviors. The therapist may ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of sessions and to practice the strategies they've learned in everyday life.

The goal is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists by helping them to understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will allow them to eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and improve their resilience.

CBT methods involve identifying and modifying distortions of the patient's thinking that lead to overgeneralization and catastrophizing. The therapist will also help the patient develop strategies to cope to deal with anxiety-inducing situations. These techniques can be employed to treat any type 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-provoking object or circumstance. This could be done by creating a mental picture of the object or the situation or directly confronting it in real life. For instance, a person suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a particular location could be encouraged to visit the spot where they were abused. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who fears speaking in public might be urged to speak in front of an audience.

Some studies have proven that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. These results are mixed, and more research is required. In general, combining medications with CBT is more effective than any one by itself. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be particularly effective in patients suffering from anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder.

Exposure therapy

One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you confront the things that scare you in a secure environment with an experienced therapy. It might seem daunting, but the process can help you recognize that your fears aren't justified and that you can tolerate your triggers. It can also increase your confidence in facing your challenges in life.

There are a variety of forms of exposure therapy, including imaginal, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. If you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist may suggest that you practice with a partner or imagine yourself giving the speech. You can then gradually confront the situation with your therapist's support. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure as needed.

During the session, your therapist will teach you how to relax, manage your emotions and then introduces triggers that can make you feel fearful. This could include techniques such as mindfulness, breathing rhythms, and guided imagery. They will also teach strategies to avoid engaging the behavior that triggers anxiety, for example, being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is usually carried out in a series of weekly sessions. However, some people require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.

The first step is to identify the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or being in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will assist you to decide on an approach to exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the order in which exposures are made or a series of relaxation techniques prior to beginning.

In vivo therapy requires you to confront the thing or event you are afraid of. It could be as easy as crossing an overpass or having someone else contact your arm. This technique can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific fears.

In vivo exposure therapy can be hard to fit into your schedule between appointments, so it is essential to find a therapist who specializes in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. You can also read reviews or ask your family and friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies include a range of health treatments that are not typically considered part of Western medicine. They can ease anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting the healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal therapy, meditation, yoga, music therapy, and massage. They can also reduce depression symptoms by lowering the levels of stress hormones within your body.

A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with slight improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach uses different types of meditation to increase mindfulness, or the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be practiced by almost everyone, and does not require any special equipment or any special training. People with physical limitations may not be able participate in meditative practice that involves movement.

Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis and the use of hypnosis. These techniques assist you in controlling anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscle breathing, calming breath, and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a therapeutic setting. They are usually used in conjunction with other types of therapy, such as exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.

Another way to relieve anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol level, which is a hormone that contributes to anxiety. A healthy diet will make you feel more energetic and can help reduce anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and challenge negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to evaluate fears and determine their probability of occurring. You can use strategies like comparing your fears to past experiences as well as taking into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of a situation, and determining whether it is realistic to worry about what is the best treatment for generalised anxiety disorder for anxiety disorder [prev] could occur.

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese technique, can be utilized to treat stress. It is based on an evaluation of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called qi) that are located in specific meridians. For instance, a lack of qi in the spleen or kidney meridians can cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.