Treating Anxiety
Psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) are the most common treatments for anxiety. CBT helps people identify the destructive thoughts that cause anxiety and distressing feelings.
Medications help control the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as shaking and heartbeats that are rapid. It is essential to consult with your doctor in order to find the most effective medication and dosage.
Medications
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. It can prevent us from sleeping, however there are treatments to help. The use of medication can help reduce anxiety-related symptoms and help you live your life, while addressing the root of the problem. Combining therapy and medication can have a bigger impact on mood and quality of life.
Antidepressants address the root of anxiety by boosting levels of chemicals in your brain that help create a feeling of calm. The most popular type of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which block nerve cells in the brain from absorbing serotonin, and increase its availability, allowing you to feel calmer. SSRIs are medicines like Celexa Lexapro Paxil and Zoloft. Other types of antidepressants that could be used to treat anxiety include serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants.
Benzodiazepines, like Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) works quickly to reduce anxiety symptoms by stimulating brain receptors to cause a calming effect. They are effective in treating anxiety however, they can be addictive if they are used for more than four weeks. They also don't work well over time.
Other antianxiety drugs such as quetiapine, buspirone and clonidine reduce the amount of stress hormone in your body. They do this by blocking receptors within the brain. The most frequent side effects are drowsiness and dry mouth. Antidepressants and SSRIs can cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation and sexual dysfunction in some people.
Other antianxiety medications like phenytoin and melatonin work as sedatives, reducing the activity of specific brain cells, which decreases anxiety. Antihistamines are also used to treat anxiety, decreasing the itching that is caused by allergies and causing you to feel more relaxed.
Other types of medications that are used to decrease anxiety are monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as moclobemide and tetracycline. These are usually used after other treatments have failed. Some doctors can prescribe prescription medications off-label that have shown to reduce anxiety during clinical studies, but aren't licensed.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders can be alleviated through psychotherapy or through talk therapy with an expert in mental health. This could be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor who is specialized in mental illness) or psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker. In addition to assisting with the root cause of the anxiety, the therapist may provide support and encouragement. The presence of the therapist is also important for anxiety sufferers; it stimulates the parasympathetic nerve and conveys a sense of security to the patient.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is typically the best choice for treating anxiety. This approach teaches you specific techniques to help you manage your anxiety and gradually allow you to return to activities that you've avoided due to anxiety. This involves exposure therapy, in which you gradually confront the thing or event that causes anxiety, so you can learn to accept it and overcome your fears.
Psychotherapy can help you understand why you are 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 why it's not appropriate to trigger it by things that are typically harmless.
The therapy is typically conducted in a series of sessions that last one hour each. Patients are often given assignments to complete between sessions. Finding the right therapist may be a challenge. You may have to test several before you discover a therapist you are comfortable with.
Self-help methods, such as breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, and meditation, can be a helpful adjunct to psychotherapy. You can decrease the effects of anxiety by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. You can also avoid smoking and caffeine. Humor is a great stress relief. You can try to incorporate more laughter into your everyday life. In the event that you experience an acute anxiety episode that threatens your safety or that of others, seek out your doctor for emergency anxiolytic treatment, which is usually a benzodiazepine. This treatment is rarely needed, but it can be very efficient. Medications are not a substitute for psychotherapy, however they can help in certain cases.
Lifestyle changes
There are a variety of lifestyle changes that, along with psychotherapy and medication, could help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine, getting enough sleep, and utilizing relaxation techniques can be helpful.
Regular exercise is an effective method to reduce stress and improve your mood. It has been proven that it can reduce anxiety symptoms and self-reported mood. It can be difficult to find a fitness program that is suitable for you, but even small amounts of exercise can be beneficial.
Regular, moderate graded exercise has also been found to be effective in treating depression and has been associated with an increased remission rate of anxiety disorders. While the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, it is believed that exercise alters brain chemistry through modulating 5-HT neurotransmitters that are found in the dorsal raphe nucleus, and decreasing the circulating levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.
It has been proven that acupuncture, massage and other CAM treatments can be effective in treating anxiety disorders. However, evidence is limited and often hindered by poor research methodology. While some studies have shown promise but the majority of these treatments lack the clinical proof required for doctors to recommend them.
Moreover, the relationship between food and anxiety is a complex. In reality, certain foods can trigger anxiety symptoms. Foods that are highly palatable and fatty can stimulate the production in the brain of reactive oxygen species that can aggravate or trigger anxiety-related symptoms. Dietary improvement, specifically the cutting down on nicotine, alcohol and caffeine, has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing anxiety, although further research is needed, including programs to help with withdrawal from substances and controlled future studies.
cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety as omega-3 fish oil have been proven to be beneficial in helping to reduce anxiety. Researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acid supplements may decrease the production of inflammatory chemicals and improve the effectiveness of antidepressants in reducing anxiety symptoms. Other dietary changes can ease anxiety, such as increasing the amount and variety of fruits and vegetables as well as incorporating more whole grains and avoiding all processed food items.
Herbal and dietary supplements
Clinical trials have only been conducted to assess the safety and effectiveness of natural substances that have been used in certain regions of the world for centuries to relieve anxiety symptoms. Ashwagandha, a dietary supplement (Withania somnifera) is an herb that comes that comes from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine has been proven to be particularly effective in controlling anxiety and stress. The amino acid precursors l-tryptophan, and l -lysine can also reduce anxiety symptoms through their influence on neurotransmitters that are involved in the stress response.
Many people who experience anxiety experience a variety of symptoms, ranging from the intermittent feeling of anxiety or anxiety that can occur before menstrual surgery or surgery to the constant anxiety and feelings of tension that are characteristic of more serious forms 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 headaches, trembling and sweating, muscle tightness, and difficulties sleeping.
Talk therapy or psychotherapy is a proven treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy which teaches patients to identify and respond to the thoughts and behaviors contributing to anxiety in a different manner. This approach, when used in conjunction with medication, can help to treat anxiety and reduce associated symptoms like fatigue and depression.
A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may aid in reducing anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids, which are found in fish such as mackerel, salmon, and herring, are well-known for their benefits to heart health, however, they can also enhance brain functioning. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids are flaxseeds, walnuts and chia seeds.
It is important to note that herbal and dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that pharmaceutical drugs are, and therefore there is a possibility that some products may be contaminated with other substances or have adverse effects that could be harmful. Consult your physician if you're considering using dietary or herbal supplements to treat anxiety. They can offer advice on possible interactions between herbs and other medications you may be taking and dosage guidelines.