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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

People with anxiety are unable to manage their reactions. Everyone is worried and nervous at times. Psychotherapy and medication like beta blockers that are used to lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines may help.

Self-help strategies can also aid in easing symptoms. Exercise, for example can help reduce stress and relax your body.

Medication

If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety, medication may be a viable option. Anxiety medication suppresses anxiety signals and the fight or flight response that occurs in the body. Antidepressants are among the most popular medication used to treat anxiety. They boost levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. SSRIs like citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are usually the first medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, venlafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

The benzodiazepines are sometimes used to treat anxiety. They are fast-acting and can be helpful in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).

Only licensed health care specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. They include psychologists and psychiatrists as also primary care physicians, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatric nurses. They must also receive special training to prescribe medication.

Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to reduce 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.

Additionally natural supplements like 5-HTP and melatonin can help to ease anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements to treat anxiety or any other condition. Utilizing supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that incorporates lifestyle and psychotherapy will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively studied and empirically supported psychotherapeutic approaches for treating anxiety disorders. It targets the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that cause anxiety to persist. Although different CBT protocols were developed for different anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and techniques.

The first step in CBT is to discover the thoughts that are not working and can cause anxiety. During sessions, the patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and then challenge. The therapist may also assist patients recognize and modify their avoidance behaviors. The therapist may ask patients to keep journals or "thought notes" 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, aiding them in understanding their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them to eliminate unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and build a stronger resilience.

CBT methods involve identifying and modifying distortions of the patient's mind that lead to overgeneralization and catastrophizing. The therapist can also help the patient develop coping strategies to deal with anxiety-inducing 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".

Exposure therapy is another element of CBT. https://www.iampsychiatry.com/anxiety-treatment involves exposing the patient's anxious object or circumstance. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario, or by confronting it in actual life. A patient with PTSD who is scared of a specific location, might be encouraged by their doctor to visit the location where they were assaulted. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who is scared of speaking in public might be urged to deliver a speech front of a group.

Some studies have shown that combination strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and more research is needed. In general, combining medications and CBT is more effective than each by itself. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be particularly effective for those suffering from anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or generalized disorder.

Therapy for exposure

Exposure therapy is among the most effective ways for treating anxiety. It helps you confront the things that you are afraid of in a comfortable environment with an expert. The process may sound difficult, but it can help you realize that your fears are unfounded and that you are able to accept the discomfort that triggers you. It will also boost your confidence to face the challenges of life.

There are many different types of treatments for exposure, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're nervous about speaking in public your therapist might suggest you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with a friend. Then, you'll slowly face the situation in real life with your counselor's assistance. In each session, your therapist will check to see if you're experiencing anxiety or panic and alter the intensity of your exposure according to the need.

During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax, cope with your emotions and then introduces triggers that make you feel fearful. This can include mindfulness, rhythmic breath, and guided images. They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the behavior that leads to anxiety, like avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually carried out over a series of weekly sessions, and some individuals require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fear.

The first step is to pinpoint the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or being in the presence of strangers. Your therapist can help you select an exposure therapy method that suits your personal style and needs. This might involve using a hierarchy to determine the sequence of exposures or a relaxation practice prior to starting.

In vivo exposure therapy involves confronting the thing or event that you're scared of. This could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone else touch your arm. This approach can be used to treat specific fears and posttraumatic stress disorder.

It isn't easy to schedule the vivo exposure therapy in between appointments. Therefore it is essential to find a therapist who is specialized in this kind of cognitive therapy. You can locate an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews and ask your family and friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies are a range of health treatments that aren't typically thought of as part of Western medicine. They can help reduce anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle habits. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine Meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy and yoga. They can also aid in relieving depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.

Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs led to moderate improvements in anxiety symptoms. This approach uses different techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or focusing on the present moment while letting go of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be done by anyone, and it doesn't require special equipment or training. People with physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditation that requires moving.

Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercise, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and hypnosis. These techniques teach you to control anxiety by using relaxation exercises breathing techniques, relaxing breathing techniques, and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or in an environment for treatment. These techniques are often used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.

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Exercise regularly and eat well-balanced meals are another way to reduce anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which is the hormone that triggers anxiety. A healthy diet will make you feel more energetic and can help reduce anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. It helps you identify and confront negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to assess the potential for anxiety and assess their likelihood of occurring. You can employ strategies like looking at your fears in relation to previous experiences as well as weighing the pros and cons of the situation, and determining whether or not it is realistic to worry about something that might happen.

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese method, can be used to treat stress. It is based on an assessment of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, referred to as qi, located in specific meridians. For instance, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians can cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture can improve anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM methods.