Treating Anxiety
Treating anxiety typically involves psychological counseling, which includes psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT helps people recognize the harmful thought patterns that can trigger anxious and tense feelings.
The use of medication can help reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, like shaking and rapid heartbeat. People must work closely with their doctor to determine the
best drug to treat anxiety dosage and medication for their needs.
Medicines
Anxiety is a natural response to stress. It can keep us from sleeping, however there are treatments that can help. The use of medication can reduce anxiety symptoms and ease your life while taking care of the root cause. A combination of medications and therapy may have an even greater impact on your mood and increase your quality of life.
Antidepressants address the root cause of anxiety by increasing levels of chemicals in your brain which create a sense calm. The most commonly used kind of antidepressants is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which block nerve cells in the brain from absorbing serotonin, and increase its availability, helping you feel more calm. SSRIs are medicines like Celexa Lexapro Paxil and Zoloft. Antidepressants like serotonin-norepinephrine-re inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and others are also used
pills to treat anxiety treat anxiety.
Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are effective in relieving anxiety symptoms. They do this by affecting brain receptors, which cause an energizing effect. They are effective at treating anxiety but can become addictive if taken for longer than 4 weeks. They also are not as effective over time, so they are generally not prescribed for long-term use.
Other antianxiety medicines like quetiapine, buspirone, and clonidine reduce the amount of stress hormone cortisol in your body by blocking receptors in your brain. The most frequent side effects are drowsiness as well as dry mouth. Antidepressants and SSRIs can cause constipation, nausea, diarrhea and sexual dysfunction in certain people.
A few other antianxiety medications like phenytoin and mellatonin are sedatives that decrease the activity of certain neurons in the brain, which helps reduce anxiety. Antihistamines are also used to treat anxiety. They reduce the itching that is caused by allergies and make you feel more relaxed.
Other types of medications that are used to decrease anxiety include monoamine oxide inhibitors, like moclobemide and tetracycline. These are usually used when other treatments fail. Some doctors are able to prescribe prescription medications off-label, which have been proven to reduce anxiety in clinical studies, but aren't licensed.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders are often relieved by psychotherapy, or through talk therapy with an expert in mental health. This could be a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a licensed clinical social worker. In addition to addressing the root cause of anxiety, the therapist may offer support and encouragement. The presence of the therapist is also crucial for those suffering from anxiety; it activates the parasympathetic nervous system and gives a sense security to the patient.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is typically the best option to treat anxiety. This method helps you learn to manage anxiety and gradually return to the activities you avoided due to anxiety. This includes exposure therapy in which you gradually encounter the situation or object that causes anxiety, and then overcome your anxieties.
Psychotherapy can help you understand why you are anxious and how your imagination can exaggerate dangers that do not exist. The therapist will also teach you on the anatomy of the body's
natural Treatment for anxiety And depression "flight-or-fight" response and why 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 and patients are often given assignments to complete between sessions. It can take a while to find the right therapy for you, and you may need to try several before you find one you are comfortable with.
Self-help techniques can be useful additions to psychotherapy, for example meditation, relaxation exercises, and breathing techniques. You can lessen the effects of anxiety by getting enough rest, exercising regularly and avoiding smoking and caffeine. It is also possible to incorporate more laughter into your routine since laughter is an effective stress-reducing agent. In the event that you experience an extreme anxiety attack that threatens your safety or that of others, consult your doctor for emergency anxiolytic treatment, which is usually a benzodiazepine. This treatment is rarely needed, but it can be extremely effective. The use of medication is not an alternative to psychotherapy, however they can help in certain cases.
Lifestyle changes
Alongside psychotherapy and medication in addition, there are a variety of lifestyle modifications that can greatly aid people suffering from anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, getting enough sleep, and employing relaxation techniques can help.
A regular exercise program is a powerful stress reducer and has been shown to improve mood and self-reported anxiety symptoms. Developing an exercise regimen that is safe for each individual can be a challenge However, even a small amount of physical activity can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately-graded exercise was also found to be effective at treating depression and anxiety disorders. Although the mechanisms behind this are unclear, it is believed that exercise influences brain chemistry through modulating 5-HT neurotransmitters within the dorsal raphe nucleus, and decreasing circulating levels of the cortisol, a stress hormone.
It has been demonstrated that acupuncture, massage and other CAM therapies can be beneficial in treating anxiety disorders. However, evidence is limited and often hampered by poor methodology. While some studies show promise, the majority of these therapies lack the clinical proof required for doctors to recommend them.
The relationship between food and anxiety is not straightforward. Certain foods can exacerbate 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 symptoms. It has been shown that dietary changes, including restriction of alcohol and nicotine can help reduce anxiety. However, further research that includes controlled prospective studies and substance withdrawal programs, is required.
It has been demonstrated that other supplements to the diet such as omega-3 fish oils can reduce anxiety. Researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids supplements may decrease the production of inflammatory chemicals and enhance the effectiveness of antidepressant medications in reducing anxiety symptoms. Other changes in diet can help with
anxiety symptoms treatment, including increasing the amount and variety of vegetables and fruits, adding more whole grains and avoiding all processed foods.
Herbal and dietary supplements
While herbal remedies and diet supplements have been extensively used for centuries in certain regions of the world for relieving anxiety symptoms, the effectiveness and safety of these natural remedies is only recently tested in rigorous clinical trials. Ashwagandha, a dietary supplement (Withania somnifera), an herb from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine is found to be particularly effective in controlling anxiety and stress. The amino acid precursors l-tryptophan as well as L-lysine can also help reduce anxiety symptoms through influencing neurotransmitters that play a role in the stress response.