Treating Anxiety
Treating anxiety typically involves psychological counseling, which includes psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT helps people recognize the negative thoughts that cause anxiety and tense feelings.
Medication can help control anxiety-related physical symptoms, like a rapid heartbeat or shaking. It is essential to communicate with your physician in order to find the best medication and dosage.
Medicines
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. It can hinder us from sleeping, but there are solutions that can help. The use of medication can reduce anxiety symptoms and make life easier while dealing with the root causes. Combining medication and therapy can have a bigger impact on your mood and the quality of life.
Antidepressants address the root of anxiety by boosting levels of brain chemicals which create a sense calm. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently used antidepressants. They prevent nerve cells from absorbing serotonin in the brain and increase its availability. This makes you feel more relaxed. These include drugs like Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. Antidepressants, such as serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs) tricyclic antidepressants, and others are also available ways to treat anxiety without medication combat anxiety.
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam), work quickly to ease anxiety symptoms by activating the brain’s receptors to create an calming effect. They are effective in treating anxiety however, they can be addictive if used for longer than four weeks. They also do not work well over time.
Other antianxiety medicines like buspirone, quetiapine, and clonidine reduce the amount of stress hormones that are present in your body. They accomplish this by blocking receptors in the brain. The most common side effects are drowsiness and dry mouth. Antidepressants and SSRIs can also lead to constipation, diarrhea, nausea and sexual dysfunction in certain people.
Other antianxiety medications like phenytoin or melatonin function as sedatives, reducing the activity of certain brain neurons, which reduces anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to treat anxiety, reducing the itching caused by allergies, and allowing you to feel more relaxed.
Other types of medications that are used to reduce anxiety include monoamine oxidase inhibitors, like moclobemide and tetracycline. They are typically prescribed after other treatments fail. Certain doctors may prescribe prescription medications off-label that have been proven to reduce anxiety during clinical trials, but they are not licensed.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy or psychotherapy with mental health professionals can help ease anxiety disorders. This could be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor with a specialization in mental illness), psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker. The therapist can also provide assistance and encouragement in addition to addressing the underlying factors that cause anxiety. The therapist’s physical presence is crucial for those suffering from anxiety Treatment cbt. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system and gives them a sense of safety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is usually the best option for treating anxiety. This method helps you develop specific techniques to help you manage your worries and gradually return you to activities that you’ve avoided because of anxiety. This involves exposure therapy, in which you slowly encounter the situation or object that causes anxiety, so you can learn to tolerate it and overcome your fears.
Psychotherapy helps you understand the reasons you feel anxious, and how your imagination can create fearful scenarios that don’t exist. The therapist also teaches you about the physiology of the body’s natural “flight-or-fight” response and the reasons it’s not appropriate to trigger it by things that are typically harmless.
Therapy is typically conducted in a series of sessions lasting about an hour each with patients typically receiving assignments to complete between sessions. Finding the right therapist can be a challenge. It is possible to test several before you find a therapist you are comfortable with.
Self-help techniques, like relaxation exercises, breathing techniques, and meditation, can be a helpful supplement to psychotherapy. You can lessen anxiety by getting enough rest and exercising regularly, as well as avoiding caffeine and nicotine. Humor is an excellent stress relieving factor. You can try to include more laughter into your life. If you’re experiencing an acute anxiety attack that could be threatening your safety or that of others’ safety, consult your doctor for an emergency anxiolytic, and preferably a benzodiazepine. This type of treatment isn’t always required, but it could be very beneficial. They are not an alternative to psychotherapy, but they can help in certain cases.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to psychotherapy and medication in addition, there are a variety of lifestyle modifications that can greatly aid people suffering from anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a nutritious diet, avoiding tobacco, alcohol and caffeine and getting enough sleep and implementing relaxation techniques can help.
Regular exercise can be a great stress reliever and has been proven to improve mood and self-reported anxiety symptoms. Making a workout routine that is anxiety treatable safe for every person can be challenging however even a small amount of physical activity can be beneficial.
Regular, moderate graded exercise has also been shown to be effective in treating depression and has been associated with a higher remission rate of anxiety disorders. Although the mechanisms are still not clear, it is believed that exercise alters brain chemical by altering the neurotransmitters 5-HT in the dorsal raphe nucleus and reducing levels of cortisol.
It has been established that acupuncture, massage and other CAM therapies can be beneficial in treating anxiety disorders. However, evidence is scarce and often hindered by poor research methodology. While some studies show promise however, the majority of these therapies lack the clinical proof required for doctors to recommend them.
Moreover, the relationship between food and anxiety is complex. In reality, certain foods can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. For example high-fat and palatable foods increase the production of reactive oxygen species in the brain that create or exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Dietary improvements, including the restriction of alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, has been proven to help reduce anxiety, however more research is needed, including assisted substance withdrawal programs and controlled prospective studies.
Other dietary supplements such as omega-3 fish oil have been found to be useful in decreasing anxiety. The reason is unclear however, researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines. They also increase the effectiveness of antidepressants in lowering anxiety symptoms. Other changes in diet that could be beneficial to anxiety sufferers include increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables, including whole grains and avoiding processed food.
Herbal and dietary supplements
While herbal remedies and diet supplements have been utilized for centuries in various regions of the world to relieve anxiety symptoms, the effectiveness and safety of these natural remedies is only recently tested in rigorous clinical trials. Ashwagandha, a dietary supplement (Withania somnifera) is an herb that comes that comes from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine, has been found to be particularly effective in reducing anxiety and stress. The amino acid precursors l -tryptophan and l -lysine reduce anxiety symptoms as well through their influence on neurotransmitters that are involved in the stress response.
Many people who suffer from anxiety experience a variety of symptoms, from the temporary feeling of nervousness or worry that occurs prior to surgery or menstruation to the pervasive tension and unease that characterize more serious kinds of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder social phobias and panic disorder. The symptoms of anxiety can be debilitating, and may include trembling, headaches, sweating, muscle tightness and trouble sleeping.
Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy is a proven treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy which teaches patients to recognize and respond to the thoughts and behaviors that trigger anxiety in a different way. When used in conjunction with medications CBT can aid in treating anxiety and reduce associated symptoms such as depression and fatigue.
A diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also help reduce anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids that are found in fish such as mackerel, salmon, and herring, are identified to improve the health of the heart and also boost the health of the brain. Flaxseeds are also a good source of omega-3 fats.
It is important to remember that dietary and herbal products are not regulated by the FDA the same way as pharmaceutical drugs. This means that there is a possibility that certain products may be contaminated or have harmful side effects. If you are considering using herbs or dietary supplements to reduce anxiety, talk to your doctor before starting any treatment plan so that they can advise you about possible interactions with other medications you may be taking and provide recommendations for dosages.
