Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
People with anxiety are unable to control their reactions. Everyone is worried and nervous at times. Psychotherapy can help, as does medications such as beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. Exercise, for example, helps to reduce stress and relax your body.
Medication
If psychotherapy or lifestyle changes aren't helping your anxiety, medication may be a viable alternative. Anxiety medications can help reduce fear signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most common drugs used to treat 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 prescription medications prescribed. The SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.
Sometimes, benzodiazepines can be used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be very helpful in the short term however, they can be addictive and should only be used when other treatments don't work. The most commonly used benzodiazepines are 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 as well as family practice doctors and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medication, but they must be trained specifically to do this.
Some people use complementary therapies, such as exercise, to reduce anxiety. You can also find ways to relax and reduce stress, like 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.
In addition, natural supplements like 5-HTP or melatonin may aid in easing anxiety. Consult your doctor before taking supplements to treat anxiety or any other condition. Supplements can be used as part of a comprehensive therapy plan that includes lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and supplements.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and supported by empirical evidence. It targets abnormal behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. Although different CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and methods.
CBT begins by identifying the dysfunctional thoughts that cause anxiety. In sessions, patients learn to recognize the negative beliefs they hold and challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and alter behaviors that cause them to avoid. The therapist may ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions, and to implement the behavioural strategies they have learned in their daily life.
The goal is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, aiding them in understanding 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 methods include the identification and correction of mental distortions that affect the patient that lead to overgeneralization or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. In addition, therapists will help the patient to develop techniques to cope with 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 another element of CBT. It involves exposure to the situation or object that causes them anxiety. This can be done by making up a scenario or imagining the situation or object in real life. A person suffering from PTSD who is scared of a particular location, might be encouraged by their physician to visit the location where they were attacked. Alternatively, a person with social anxiety disorder who is afraid of speaking in public might be urged to deliver a speech front of a group.
Some studies have proven that combining CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. The results are mixed and further research is needed. In general, combining medications with CBT is more effective than either one alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been proven to be particularly effective for those suffering from generalized anxiety or panic disorder.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy is among the most effective methods for treating anxiety. It can help you confront the things you are scared of in a safe environment with a therapist. The process may sound difficult but it can help you learn that your fears are unfounded and you can accept the discomfort that triggers you. It can also boost your confidence to face life's challenges.
There are many different types of treatments for exposure, including imaginal therapy, virtual reality and systematic desensitization. If you're scared to speak in public, your therapist might encourage you to practice with a friend or imagine yourself giving the speech. Then, you'll gradually confront the situation in real life with your counselor's assistance. In each session your therapist will be able to see if you're feeling anxious or panicked and alter the intensity of your exposure according to the need.
In an appointment, your therapist will teach you to relax and cope with your feelings before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that create anxiety. This could include techniques such as mindfulness, rhythmic breathing and guided imagery. They also teach strategies to avoid engaging the behavior that triggers anxiety, like being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome their anxiety.
The first step is to identify what triggers your anxiety. For example, flying on a plane or being with strangers. Your therapist will help you choose a method of exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could involve using an orderly system to determine the sequence in which exposures are performed or a series of relaxation techniques prior the start of.
In vivo exposure therapy is directly facing the thing or event that you're scared of. It could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone else contact your arm. This method is often used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder as well as specific fears.
In- treatments for anxiety can be difficult to integrate in your schedule between appointments, which is why it is essential to find a therapist who is skilled in this kind of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. It's also a good idea to review reviews and ask your family members or friends for recommendations.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies encompass a broad range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting an active lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicine as well as yoga, meditation, music therapy, massage, and yoga. They also can reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body.
Recent research revealed that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness or staying in the present moment while letting go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be performed by almost anyone, and it does not require any special equipment or training. People who have physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditation that requires movement.
Other treatments 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 focusing on relaxing muscle, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or within an environment for treatment. They are usually used in combination with other forms of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.
Another way to ease anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood-pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that cause anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more relaxed, which in turn can lessen your anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a highly effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you to recognize and challenge negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you to evaluate your fears and determine the probability that they'll happen. You can apply strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing the pros and cons of an event, and determining whether it's reasonable to be worried about something that could happen.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese technique that can be used to help with anxiety. It is based on an assessment of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, called Qi, which is located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen meridian or kidney can trigger anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture can improve anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM approaches.