Treating Anxiety
Psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) are common ways of treating anxiety. CBT helps people identify the harmful thought patterns that cause anxiety and troublesome feelings.
social anxiety treatment of medication can help reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, including shaking and heartbeats that are rapid. It is essential to work closely with your health care provider in order to find the most effective dosage and medication.
Medicines
Anxiety is the natural reaction to stress. It can hinder us from sleeping, however there are treatments that can help. The use of medication can reduce anxiety symptoms and make life easier by dealing with the root causes. A combination of medication and therapy could be even more effective on your mood and increase your quality of life.
Antidepressants reduce anxiety by increasing the levels of chemicals that help you calm down in your brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently used antidepressants. They stop nerve cells from absorbing serotonin in the brain, and increase its availability. This helps you feel calmer. SSRIs include medications such as Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, and Zoloft. Antidepressants like serotonin-norepinephrine-re inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, as well as others can also be used to combat anxiety.
Benzodiazepines, like Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are used quickly to ease anxiety symptoms by acting on brain receptors and causing the body to relax. They are effective in managing anxiety, but they can become addictive if they are used for more than 4 weeks. They also don't work as well over time, and therefore are generally not prescribed for long-term use.
Other antianxiety medicines like buspirone, quetiapine and clonidine decrease the amount of stress hormones that are present in your body. They do this by blocking receptors within the brain. The most frequently reported side result is drowsiness. Antidepressants and SSRIs can also lead to nausea, diarrhea, constipation and sexual dysfunction in some people.
Other antianxiety drugs such as phenytoin and melatonin work as sedatives and reduce the activity of certain brain neurons, which reduces anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to treat anxiety, reducing the itching that is caused by allergies and causing you to feel more relaxed.
Other types of medication that are used to decrease anxiety include monoamine oxide inhibitors, like moclobemide and tetracycline. These are typically pursued after other treatments have failed. Certain doctors may prescribe prescription medications off-label that have shown to decrease anxiety during clinical trials, but are not licensed.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders can be relieved by psychotherapy, or talk therapy with an expert in mental health. This may be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor who is specialized in mental illness) or psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker. In addition to helping with the underlying cause of the anxiety, the therapist will offer support and encouragement. The physical presence of the therapist is important for anxiety sufferers; it activates the parasympathetic nerve and gives a sense safety to the patient.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is typically the best choice for treating anxiety. This method helps you develop specific techniques to help you manage your worries and gradually return you back to things you've stayed away from because of anxiety. This involves exposure therapy, in which you gradually confront the thing or event that triggers your anxiety in order to be able to manage it and overcome your fears.
Psychotherapy helps you understand the reasons you are anxious and how your imagination may overestimate dangers that don't exist. The therapist will also teach you on the physiology behind the body's natural "flight-or-fight" response and why it is inappropriately triggered by things that are generally harmless.
Therapy is usually conducted in sessions that last approximately an hour each and patients are often given assignments to complete between sessions. It can take time to find the ideal therapist for you, and you may have to try a few before settling on one you feel at ease with.
Self-help techniques, like breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, and meditation, can be a helpful addition to psychotherapy. You can reduce anxiety by getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and avoiding smoking and caffeine. Humor is an excellent stress relieving factor. You can try to include more laughter into your daily life. If you're experiencing an acute anxiety attack that threatens your safety or others' safety, consult your doctor for an emergency anxiolytic, preferably a benzodiazepine. This treatment is rarely needed, but it is extremely effective. They are not a substitute for psychotherapy, however, they can be helpful in some cases.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to psychotherapy and medications There are a myriad of lifestyle changes that can significantly help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, getting enough sleep, and employing relaxation techniques can be helpful.
Regular exercise is a powerful way to reduce stress and improve your mood. It has also been shown that it can reduce anxiety symptoms and self-reported mood. Finding an exercise routine that is safe for every person can be challenging however even small amounts of physical activity can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately graded exercise has also been proven to be effective in treating depression. It has also been associated with a higher rates of remission from anxiety disorders. Although the mechanisms are still unclear, it's believed that exercise alters brain chemistry through altering the neurotransmitters 5-HT in the dorsal Raphe Nucleus and decreasing levels of cortisol.
The use of acupuncture, massage therapy, and other CAM treatments has been proven to have some benefit in treating anxiety disorders. The evidence isn't conclusive and the poor methods are often at fault. While some studies show promise but the majority of these therapies do not have the clinical evidence required for doctors to recommend them.
Furthermore, the connection between food and anxiety isn't simple. In fact, some foods can actually cause anxiety symptoms. For instance, highly palatable and fatty foods promote the production of reactive oxygen species in the brain that cause or worsen anxiety symptoms. It has been proven that dietary improvement, especially the restriction of nicotine and alcohol can help reduce anxiety. However, further research, including controlled prospective studies and assisted withdrawal programs from substances, is required.
It has been demonstrated that other dietary supplements like omega-3 fish oils, may reduce anxiety. The reason for this is not clear, but researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines and enhance the effectiveness of antidepressants in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. Other changes in diet can reduce anxiety, for example, increasing the quantity and variety of vegetables and fruits and incorporating more whole grains, and avoiding all processed food items.
Herbal and nutritional supplements
Clinical studies have only recently been conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of natural supplements that have been utilized in various regions of the the world for centuries to alleviate anxiety symptoms. Ashwagandha, an herb from Indian medicine's Ayurvedic tradition, is 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 suffer from anxiety suffer from a wide spectrum of symptoms. The symptoms may range from a brief sensation of anxiety or anxiety before surgery or menstruation and more persistent feeling of anxiety and unease which are associated with more serious anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as well as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (panic disorder) and social phobias. The symptoms of anxiety can be debilitating, and may include headaches, trembling, sweating, muscle tightness, and difficulty sleeping.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy is a successful treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT is a type of psychotherapy that teaches patients how to recognize and respond differently to the thoughts and behaviors that can trigger anxiety. This approach, when used in conjunction with medication, can help treat anxiety as well as alleviate symptoms related to it such as fatigue and depression.
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also help reduce anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids, which can be found in fish like mackerel, salmon, and herring, are identified to improve the health of the heart as well as improve the brain. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseeds, walnuts, and chia seeds.
It is important to keep in mind that dietary and herbal products are not subject to the supervision of the FDA in the same manner as pharmaceutical drugs. This means that there is the possibility that some products could be contaminated or have negative side effects. If you're considering using dietary supplements or herbs to manage anxiety, consult your doctor before beginning any regimen so that they can advise you on possible interactions with other medications you may be taking and provide recommendations for dosages.