Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but people with anxiety have a hard to control their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as do medications such as beta blockers (used to treat blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. Exercise, for example helps reduce stress and relaxes your body.

Medication

If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't helping your anxiety medications could be a viable alternative. Anxiety medication suppresses fears and triggers the fight or flight response within the body. Antidepressants are among the most popular medication used to treat anxiety without medication anxiety. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram), sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are often the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, venlafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil, or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

The benzodiazepines can also be used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and can be extremely beneficial in the short term however they are also addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

Only licensed health care specialists can prescribe medication to treat anxiety. These providers include psychologists and psychiatrists as well as primary care physicians, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatric nurses. They also need to undergo special training in order to prescribe medications.

Certain people utilize alternative therapies, like exercise, to reduce anxiety. You can also find relaxation techniques to 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.

Finally natural treatment for anxiety and depression supplements such as 5-HTP and melatonin may help ease anxiety. Consult your doctor before taking supplements for anxiety or any other condition. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a complete therapy plan that incorporates psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and supported by evidence-based research. It targets the maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. Despite the fact that different CBT protocols were developed for different anxiety disorders, they all have common goals and strategies for treatment anxiety without medication.

CBT starts by identifying dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. During sessions, the patients are taught to recognize the negative beliefs they hold and challenge. The therapist also helps patients identify and change behaviors that cause them to avoid. The therapist may request patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries in between sessions, and to apply the strategies for behavioural change they've learned in daily life.

The ultimate aim is to train patients to become their own therapists by helping them to understand their patterns of thinking and behaviour. This will help them dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and become more resilient.

CBT techniques include the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or minimizing positive events. Therapists also help the patient to develop techniques to cope with anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be utilized to treat all types of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".

The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. It involves exposing the patient to the thing or circumstance that causes them anxiety. This can be done by making up a scenario or imagining the subject or situation in real life. A person suffering from PTSD, who is afraid of a particular location, could be urged by their doctor to visit the location where they were assaulted. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, could be encouraged to give an address before a group.

Some studies have shown that combining CBT and the use of pharmacotherapy can enhance outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and more research is required. Combining medication with CBT is usually more effective than either alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have been shown to be particularly effective for patients suffering from generalized anxiety or panic disorder.

Therapy for exposure

One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you face the things that make you anxious in a secure setting with a therapist. It can be difficult but the process can help you realize that your fears aren't justifiable and that you are able to tolerate your triggers. It can also help increase your confidence when it comes to navigating life's challenges.

There are many different kinds of exposure therapy, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. For instance, if afraid of public speaking your therapist might suggest you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with an acquaintance. Then, you can gradually confront the issue with your therapist's assistance. During each session, your therapist will check to determine if you're experiencing anxiety or panic and alter the intensity of your exposure as needed.

During the session, your therapist teaches you how to relax and cope with your emotions and then introduces you to triggers that can make you feel scared. This could include mindfulness, rhythmic breath and guided images. They will also provide 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 people need more than two sessions to overcome the fear.

The first step is to identify what triggers your anxiety. For example, flying on a flight or being in the presence of strangers. Your therapist will then help you to decide on the method of exposure therapy that is appropriate to your needs and personality. This could include using a hierarchical system to determine the order of exposures or a series of relaxation techniques prior to starting.

In vivo therapy is the process of confronting the thing or event you are afraid of. It could be as simple as walking across the bridge or touching your arm. This method can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific phobias.

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

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies include a range of treatments for health that are not traditionally considered part of Western medicine. They can reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting a healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, yoga music therapy, massage. They can also help reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.

A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs are associated with moderate improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various meditation techniques to promote mindfulness or the ability of focusing on the present moment while getting rid of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation is suitable for nearly everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or training. People with physical limitations may not be able participate in a meditation practice that involves movement.

Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and the use of hypnosis. These techniques help you manage anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscles breathing, calm breathing, and visual imagery. These techniques can be used at home or in an environment for treatment anxiety without medication. These techniques are typically employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.

Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are another way to decrease anxiety. Regular exercise can decrease your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that cause anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energized, which in turn can decrease your feelings of anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It helps you identify and combat negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will demonstrate how to assess the probability of occurring. You can employ strategies like the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, taking into consideration the pros and cons of a situation and determining whether or not it is realistic to worry about something that might happen.

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese method, can be employed to treat stress. It is based upon the evaluation of excesses or deficiencies in your energy (called qi) found in specific meridians. A deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridian can cause anxiety. Acupuncture studies have suggested that it can reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.