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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety

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

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

Medication

If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help your anxiety medications could be a viable alternative. Anxiety medications help to suppress fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants, the most common medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters, which affect mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are often the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.

Benzodiazepines can also be used to combat anxiety. They're quick-acting and are very helpful in the short-term, but they are addictive and should only be employed when other treatments fail to work. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).

There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety, however only licensed health professionals can prescribe these medications. These doctors include psychiatrists, psychologists primary care physicians, and OB-GYNs. They also need to undergo special training to prescribe medication.

Some people use alternative therapies, like exercise, to reduce anxiety. They can also find methods to relax and relieve 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 panic attacks supplements like 5-HTP and melatonin can aid in easing anxiety. Consult your physician before taking supplements for anxiety or any other health 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 among the many psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and supported by empirical evidence. It targets maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. 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 problematic thought patterns that can cause anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist can also help patients recognize and modify behaviors that cause them to avoid. The therapist may ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions and to implement the strategies for behavioural change they have learned in their daily life.

The goal is to eventually teach patients how to be their own therapists, helping them to understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them to overcome unfounded fears, reduce their anxiety and other negative emotions and be more resilient.

CBT methods involve identifying and modifying distortions of the patient's thoughts like overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. The therapist will also help the patient develop strategies for coping to deal with anxiety-inducing situations. These techniques can be used to treat any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".

Exposure therapy is an additional component of CBT. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious object or situation. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario or confronting it in actual life. A patient with PTSD who is afraid of a particular area, may be urged by their physician to visit the place in which they were attacked. A person suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of public speaking, might be encouraged to deliver an address in front of an audience.

Some studies have proven that combination strategies of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, the results aren't conclusive, and more research is needed. In general, combining medications and CBT is more effective than either one alone. Combinations of CBT and benzodiazepines have proven to be particularly effective for people with generalized anxiety disorder treatment anxiety or panic disorder.

Therapy for exposure

One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which lets you confront things that scare you in a secure setting with a therapist. It can be difficult but it will help you understand that your fears are not justifiable and that you are able to accept your triggers. It will also boost your confidence to face life's challenges.

There are several different types of exposure therapy. These include virtual reality, imaginal therapy, and systematic desensitization. If you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist could suggest that you practice with a friend or imagine yourself delivering the speech. Then, you can gradually confront the situation with your therapist's support. Your therapist will keep track of your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure if needed.

During the session, your therapist teaches you to relax, cope with your emotions and then introduces you to triggers that make you feel anxious. This may include mindfulness, rhythmic breath, and guided images. They can also provide strategies to avoid engaging the behavior that triggers anxiety, like being cautious about elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted in a series of weekly sessions, and some people require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears.

The first step is to pinpoint the triggers that cause anxiety. For instance, being on a plane or around strangers. Your therapist will then help you choose the method of exposure therapy that fits your personality and needs. This could include using a hierarchical system to decide the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques prior to starting.

In vivo exposure therapy is directly facing the thing or situation you're fearful of. It could be as easy as crossing an overpass or having someone else contact your arm. This method can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific fears.

In vivo exposure therapy can be hard to fit into your schedule between appointments, so it is important to find a therapist that specializes in this type of cognitive therapy for behavioral. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychology association or mental network. You can also read reviews and ask your family and friends for recommendations.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies are a wide range of healthcare treatments not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can ease anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting a healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicines as well as yoga, meditation massage, music therapy and yoga. They also can reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones within your body.

A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were associated with slight improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This method uses a variety of techniques of meditation to improve mindfulness, or the ability of staying in the present moment and letting go of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for anyone and does not require any special equipment or training. However, those who have physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditation that requires movements.

Other treatments that can help ease anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and the use of hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage your anxiety by focusing on relaxing muscle breathing, calming breath and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or in a treatment environment. These techniques are typically used in conjunction with other types of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Another way to ease anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet will make you feel more energetic, which can reduce your anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a highly effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you to identify and combat negative thoughts which lead to Anxiety Treatment London. Your therapist will instruct you how to evaluate your fears and determine the probability that they'll actually happen. You can use strategies like comparing your fears to past experiences by taking into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of an event and determining if it is reasonable to worry about what could happen.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique, can be utilized to alleviate stress. It is based on a study of deficiencies and excesses in your energy, referred to as qi, located in specific meridians. A deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridian can cause anxiety. Some studies suggest that acupuncture can help alleviate anxiety symptoms when it is combined with psychotherapy and other CAM techniques.

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