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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

People with anxiety are unable to control their reactions. Everyone worries and feels nervous at times. Psychotherapy can help, as does medications like beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

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

Medication

If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety medications could be a viable option. Anxiety medication helps to reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They increase levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) and sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are typically the first medications prescribed. The SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor can also be 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 can be addictive. The most commonly used benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).

There are many different medications that can be used to treat anxiety but only licensed health professionals can prescribe these medications. These providers can include psychologists, psychiatrists, primary care physicians and OBGYNs. They must also undergo special training to prescribe medication.

Exercise and complementary therapies are a common method used by some people to help reduce anxiety. You can also find methods to relax and relieve 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 like 5-HTP and melatonin can help ease anxiety. However, it is important to consult your physician prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or any other reason. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a comprehensive therapy plan that incorporates psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and backed by empirical evidence. It targets the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that create anxiety. Despite the fact that different CBT protocols were developed for different anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and methods.
https://www.iampsychiatry.com/anxiety-treatment starts by identifying dysfunctional thought patterns which contribute to anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist will also help patients recognize and modify behaviors that cause them to avoid. The therapist will ask patients to keep diaries or "thought records" outside of sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in their everyday life.

Eventually, the aim is to train patients to become their own therapists through helping them understand their habits of thought and behavior. This will help patients overcome fears that are unfounded and anxieties, decrease their anxiety levels and other negative emotions and be more resilient.

CBT techniques involve identifying and changing the way that the patient thinks that lead to overgeneralization or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. In addition, therapists will aid the patient in developing strategies for dealing with stressful situations. These techniques can be applied to 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 subject or event. This may be done through imagining the object or situation or confronting it directly in real life. For example, a patient with PTSD who is scared of a certain location might be encouraged to go to the location where they were abused. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of speaking in public, may be encouraged to make a speech before the group.

Certain studies have demonstrated that combining CBT with pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and more research is needed. In general, mixing medications with CBT is more effective than each by itself. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been proven to be particularly effective for patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.

Therapy for exposure

Exposure therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating anxiety. It can help you confront the things that you are afraid of in a safe environment with a therapist. It might seem daunting, but the process can help you recognize that your fears are not justified and that you can accept your triggers. It can also improve your confidence when it comes to navigating the challenges of 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 could encourage you to practice with a partner or imagine yourself giving the speech. You can then gradually face the issue with your therapist's assistance. During each session, your therapist will check to see if you're feeling anxious or scared and adjust the intensity as needed.

During an appointment your therapist will show you to calm and manage your emotions before explaining the triggers that cause you anxiety. This could include meditation, a rhythmic breathing, and guided images. They can also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the habit that causes anxiety, such as avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series of weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome their fear.

The first step is to identify what triggers your anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or being with strangers. Your therapist will help you select the method of exposure therapy that will suit your personality and needs. This could involve using a hierarchical system to determine the sequence in which exposures are made or a series of relaxation techniques prior to beginning.

In vivo exposure therapy is confronting the object or event that you're scared of. It could be as easy as walking across the bridge or touching your arm. This technique can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific fears.

In-vivo exposure therapy can be difficult to integrate within your schedule between appointments, which is why it's important to find a therapist that is skilled in this kind of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can search for an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or the mental health network. It's recommended to look up reviews and ask friends or family members for suggestions.

Complementary therapies

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Complementary therapies cover a wide range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging an active lifestyle. These treatments can include acupuncture, herbal therapy yoga, meditation, music therapy, and massage. They also can reduce depression symptoms by lowering the levels of stress hormones in your body.

Recent research revealed that mindfulness-based programs resulted in moderate improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness, or the ability of being present in the moment while let go of negative thoughts and emotions. This kind of meditation is suitable for almost anyone and does not require any special equipment or training. People with physical limitations might not be able to participate in meditation that requires movements.

Other therapies that can help reduce anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis and self-hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage your anxiety by the focus on relaxing muscles, calming breathing, and visual imagery. They can be practiced at home or in a therapeutic setting. These methods are often combined with other forms therapy, like cognitive behavior therapy or exposure therapy.

Regular exercise and eating balanced meals are two other ways to reduce anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol level, which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet will increase your energy levels and can help reduce anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It teaches you to identify and combat negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will show you how to assess your fears and determine the likelihood that they'll happen. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining if it's realistic to be concerned about something that could happen.

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese method, can be used to treat stress. It is based on an evaluation of deficiencies and excesses in your energy, also known as Qi, that is found in specific meridians. For instance, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians can trigger anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could improve anxiety symptoms in combination with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.