Learn About Treat Anxiety While You Work From At Home
Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but people with anxiety have a hard managing their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as does medications such as beta blockers (used to lower blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can aid in easing symptoms. For example, exercise helps reduce stress and relax the body.
Medication
If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy do not help anxiety, medication might be an option. Anxiety medications reduce fears and triggers the fight or flight response in the body. Antidepressants are among the most popular medications used for anxiety. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are usually the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, dulafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
The benzodiazepines are sometimes used to treat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they are addictive. Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety and insomnia.
There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety, but only licensed health professionals can prescribe these medications. These include psychologists and psychiatrists as well as primary care physicians, some OB/GYNs, and some psychiatrists. They must also receive special training to prescribe medication.
Certain people utilize complementary therapies, such as exercise, to help alleviate anxiety. There are also anxiety treatment medicines I Am Psychiatry to relax and reduce stress, such as 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.
Lastly, natural supplements such as 5-HTP and melatonin can help to ease anxiety. However, you should always consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplement to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle changes will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the most thoroughly researched and empirically validated psychotherapeutic methods for treating anxiety disorders. It targets maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. Despite the fact that different CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders, they all have common treatment goals and techniques.
The first step in CBT is to discover the thoughts that are not working and cause anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients are taught to recognize the negative beliefs they hold and challenge. The therapist may also assist patients identify and alter avoidance behavior. The therapist may request patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions, and to apply the behavioural strategies that they have learned in everyday life.
The aim is to eventually help patients become their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns in thinking and behavior. This will help them remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety and other negative feelings and become more resilient.
CBT techniques involve identifying and changing distortions of the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. The therapist will also help the patient develop strategies for coping for anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be applied to any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
Exposure therapy is an additional component of CBT. It involves exposure to the thing or circumstance that creates anxiety. This may be done through visualizing the object or scenario or confronting it in actual life. A patient suffering from PTSD who is scared of a specific area, may be urged by their physician to visit the site where they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of speaking in public, could be encouraged to give an address before the group.
Certain studies have demonstrated that combining CBT with pharmaceutical therapy can improve outcomes. These results are mixed, and more research is needed. Combining medication with CBT is usually more effective than one alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be especially effective in patients suffering from anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder.
Exposure therapy
One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which lets you confront the things that scare you in a safe environment with a professional. It may sound like a daunting process but it will help you realize that your fears aren't based on fact and you can accept the discomfort of your triggers. It will also boost your confidence to face life's challenges.
There are a variety of forms of exposure therapy. These include virtual reality, imaginal and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist might encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with an acquaintance. Then, you can gradually confront the situation with your therapist's assistance. Your therapist will monitor your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure if needed.
During the session, the therapist teaches you to relax, manage your emotions, and then introduces you triggers that cause you to feel anxious. This can include mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided images. They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, like staying clear of elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted over a number of weekly sessions. However, some individuals require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.
The first step is to pinpoint the situation or object that triggers anxiety, such as being on a plane or around strangers. Your therapist will assist you choose an approach to exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could include using an order of exposure to determine the sequence of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques before beginning.
In vivo therapy involves facing the thing or event you are afraid of. It could be as simple as crossing an overpass or touching your arm. This approach can be used to treat specific phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.
In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to incorporate in your schedule between appointments, so it's important to find a therapist who specializes in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. You can also read reviews and ask family and friends for suggestions.
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 encouraging a healthy lifestyle. These treatments could include acupuncture, herbal therapy yoga, meditation music therapy, massage. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with moderate improvement in anxiety symptoms. This method employs different kinds of meditation to help promote mindfulness, or the ability to concentrate on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for almost anyone and does not require any special equipment or knowledge. However, people with physical limitations might not be able in meditative practices that involve movements.
Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercise, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis and hypnosis. These techniques teach you to manage your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles breathing techniques, relaxing breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or within the context of a treatment facility. These methods are often combined with other forms of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy.
Regular exercise and eating balanced meals are two other ways to reduce anxiety. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels which can lessen your anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective anxiety treatments. It teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts which lead to anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to evaluate the probability of occurring. You can employ strategies such as looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences, considering the pros and cons of the situation and determining whether or not it is reasonable to worry about something that could occur.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese method, can be utilized to treat stress. It is based on a study of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, also known as Qi, which is located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the kidney or spleen meridian can trigger anxiety. Some studies suggest that acupuncture can help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM methods.