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Treatment of Anxiety Disorders Anxiety can destroy an individual's life by making them feel depressed and tired. The fear of being anxious can make people unable to socializing, creating a false feeling that they are in danger, and creating a sense of isolation. Exercise psychotherapy, medication, and exercise are all a part of the treatment of anxiety. Medications can include antidepressants, such as SSRIs (citalopram, Escitalopram) and benzodiazepines such as diazepam or lorazepam. Medicines Anxiety disorders result of anxiety that lasts for too long or interferes in daily activities. Treatment for anxiety disorders typically includes psychotherapy and medication. While medications can ease the symptoms, they do not treat anxiety disorders. Therefore, they must be used in combination with psychotherapy and lifestyle adjustments. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are often prescribed to treat anxiety. Antidepressants help to correct an imbalance in the chemical system of the brain, which can cause anxiety. Benzodiazepines, like Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are sedatives that are fast-acting to stop the body's reaction to anxiety. They are also addictive and should not be used long-term. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, also known as SSRIs aid in reducing the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. They also block receptors that absorb serotonin in the brain, allowing more of the mood enhancing chemical to circulate and easing anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. SSRIs have a good safety record, are widely available and effective for a majority of people. Cons: Some patients might have side effects, such as dry mouth, dizziness and drowsiness. Propranolol and various other psychiatric medications can also alleviate anxiety symptoms. These medications are typically prescribed to treat high blood-pressure and heart issues. However, doctors may prescribe them "off label" to treat anxiety. They are used to decrease the effects of stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline that increase blood pressure and heart rate. They can also trigger negative side effects, such as orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure when standing up) and bradycardia (slower than normal heart rate) and sedation. Making changes to your diet and getting enough exercise can help reduce anxiety. So can relaxing activities like yoga and meditation. Additionally, there are mind-body treatments that can help ease anxiety, such as the acupuncture method and tai chi. Speak to your doctor about the treatments that could be the best for you. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioral therapy, a psychotherapy that is based on scientific research that is effective in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the idea that emotions, thoughts and physical sensations have a connection and that negative patterns may trap you in a vicious cycle. CBT helps you identify your negative thought patterns, and implement techniques that will help you control them. It also teaches how to control your reactions to anxiety-producing scenarios and develop coping mechanisms. In the first session, the therapist will usually conduct an assessment. This may involve completing questionnaires, interviewing you, or providing written materials. This will allow them to comprehend your specific disorder, pinpoint distressing symptoms and determine if the current treatments are working. The test will also determine if you're able to establish a an therapeutic relationship. CBT is usually short-term and will last 20 or less sessions. In these sessions, you will meet with your therapist at least once every week or twice a week. Your therapist will instruct you on various self-help techniques like how to reframe negative thinking and practice positive outcome images. They will also help you learn coping skills including how to relax your body and calm your mind. Your therapist may also provide you with tools, like therapy worksheets, which will help you track the symptoms and triggers. They can help you work through your anxiety in small steps to ensure that the process becomes less daunting. For instance, if are worried about social interactions, they might begin by playing a role with your therapist, and then proceed to talk to family members or friends. CBT also incorporates behavioural tests. It allows you to challenge your irrational catastrophic predictions by providing evidence against them. If you're afraid that something bad could occur to you if leave your home you can conduct an behavioural test by making an assumption. For example, "If I go for dinner, I'll be afflicted with food poisoning." Then you can note whether or not the prediction was accurate. Hypnotherapy Hypnotherapy is a different treatment to medications for anxiety. Hypnosis helps people relax, change their perception of their symptoms and alter their behavior. It can be used to help overcome fears. It can be used to decrease anxiety and stress, but can also help with pain. The effects of hypnosis are long-lasting and can be felt after only one session. During a hypnosis treatment (or when listening to an audio recording), the therapist will guide you into a trance which is similar to being in a dream. In this relaxed state you can listen to the suggestions of the therapist and respond. They may ask you to imagine a safe and comfortable place and after that they will advise you to pay attention to the sensory details as they slowly become more real. This is referred to as "deepening trance". This is where the therapy begins to take effect and you will begin to notice a change in your symptoms. Many people notice a change straight away. After a hypnotherapy you can feel the shift immediately after they leave the room or close their eyes. This is normal and it can also feel mystical. For https://www.iampsychiatry.com/anxiety-treatment , however it could take a few sessions before they can see any positive changes. This is normal and it is essential to allow time for the therapy to work.
In some cases the use of hypnosis is used to treat PTSD. This is a condition that occurs following a traumatic experience like a car accident, natural disaster or war. It can trigger depression, anxiety, and other problems. Symptoms of PTSD are arousing memory of night terrors, an increase in anxiety. Hypnotherapy is a great method of controlling PTSD and is typically combined with other talking therapies for best results. Exercise Exercise may be the best treatment for anxiety. Exercise can ease anxiety symptoms for a long time. A regular routine of physical activity can also aid in reducing them. Although it is well documented that regular exercise can provide benefits for health, only a few studies have focused on the effects it has on anxiety. A new study suggests high intensity exercise is especially effective in treating anxiety. The researchers in the study, headed by University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson The study assigned 223 people suffering from anxiety to a 12-week group workout program that included either high or low intensity exercises. They also provided them with instructions on how to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. The results were clear that those in the high intensity group showed significantly more improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the low-intensity group. These findings have implications for the use of exercise programs in general practice. Patients with anxiety tend to be more sedentary than people who do not suffer from the condition. This could be a contributing factor to their mental health issues. Research shows that those who are physically active are less likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder than those who are sedentary. Exercise has a positive impact on mental health. It stimulates the release good-feeling hormones, such as dopamine, serotonin, and others. It can improve sleep and increase self-esteem. But the benefits of physical exercise are even greater studies have proven that it's more effective than antidepressants in treating anxiety. A recent meta-analysis done by Jayakody et al. identified eight studies which compared groups who exercised with those who didn't exercise. Each study reported a reduction in anxiety. The researchers limited their analysis to studies involving people who have a diagnosis of anxiety disorder. This means that more research is needed to determine whether exercise is an option for those with clinically raised anxiety levels. |
