Treating Anxiety
Treatment of anxiety typically involves psychological counseling, which includes psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT helps people recognize the negative thought patterns that cause anxiety and troubling feelings.
The medication can be used to manage anxiety-related physical symptoms, such as a fast heartbeat or shaking. It is essential to communicate with your doctor in order to find the most effective medication and dosage.
Medicines
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. It can prevent us from sleeping, but there are treatments to help. The use of medication can help reduce anxiety-related symptoms and allow you to live your life without worrying about any underlying causes. A combination of medication and therapy may have an even greater impact on your mood and enhance your quality of life.
Antidepressants can treat the root cause of anxiety by boosting levels of brain chemicals which create a sense calm. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common antidepressants. They prevent nerve cells from absorbing serotonin in the brain, and increase the availability of serotonin. This helps you feel more relaxed. SSRIs are drugs like Celexa Lexapro Paxil and Zoloft. Antidepressants like serotonin-norepinephrine-re inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and others are also available to treat anxiety.
Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium work quickly to relieve anxiety symptoms. They accomplish this by affecting brain receptors which produce the body to relax. They are effective in treating anxiety but can become addictive if taken for longer than four weeks. They do not work as well over time, so they are usually not prescribed for long-term use.
Other antianxiety drugs such as quetiapine, buspirone and clonidine decrease the amount of stress hormones that are present in your body. They accomplish this by blocking receptors within the brain. The most frequently reported adverse result is sleepiness. Antidepressants and SSRIs can cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation and sexual dysfunction in some people.
Other antianxiety drugs such as melatonin or phenytoin act as sedatives by decreasing the activity of certain brain neurons, which reduces anxiety. Antihistamines are also used to treat anxiety. They reduce the itching caused by allergies, and help you feel more relaxed.
Monoamine oxidase inhibiters such as tetracycline or moclobemide are also used to decrease anxiety. These are typically pursued after other treatments have failed. Other prescription medicines that have been proven to reduce anxiety in clinical trials aren't approved for this purpose, however they may be prescribed off-label by some doctors.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy or psychotherapy with mental health professionals can help ease anxiety disorders. This may be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor who specializes in mental illness) psychologist, psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker. In addition to helping with the underlying cause of anxiety, the therapist may provide support and encouragement. The physical presence of the therapist is important for anxiety patients. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which gives them a feeling of security.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for anxiety. anxiety support helps you develop specific techniques to help you manage your anxieties and gradually return you back to things you've stayed away from due to anxiety. This involves exposure therapy, in which you gradually encounter the situation or object that triggers anxiety, in order to learn to accept it and overcome your fears.
Psychotherapy helps you gain a greater understanding of why you are so anxious and how your imagination can magnify dangers that are not real. The counselor will also guide you through the anatomy that triggers the body's "fight-or-flight" response, and why it can be triggered by things which are usually harmless.
The therapy is typically conducted in a series sessions lasting an hour each. Patients are usually given assignments to complete between sessions. Finding the right therapist may be difficult. It is possible to test several before you find someone who you are comfortable with.
Self-help techniques can be useful additions to psychotherapy, for example relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques. You can lower anxiety by getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and avoid caffeine and nicotine. Humor is an excellent stress relieving factor. You can try to include more laughter into your everyday life. If you're suffering from an acute anxiety attack that threatens your safety or the safety of others' safety, ask your physician for an emergency anxiolytic, and preferably an benzodiazepine. This treatment isn't often required, but it could be very beneficial. They are not an alternative to psychotherapy, however they can help in some cases.
Lifestyle changes
There are many lifestyle changes that, along with medication and psychotherapy, can aid those suffering from anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a nutritious diet, abstaining from smoking, alcohol and caffeine as well as getting enough rest and practicing relaxation techniques can be beneficial.
Regular exercise is an effective way to reduce stress and improve your mood. It has also been proven that it can help reduce anxiety symptoms and self-reported mood. It can be challenging to find a fitness program that is appropriate for you, however even small amounts of exercise can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately-graded exercise has also been found to be effective in treating depression. It has also been associated with an increased the rate of remission for anxiety disorders. Although the mechanisms are still unclear, it's believed that exercise alters brain chemical by modulating 5-HT Neurotransmitters in dorsal raphe nucleus and reducing levels of cortisol.
It has been demonstrated that acupuncture, massage, and other CAM treatments can be effective in treating anxiety disorders. There is no evidence to support this, and poor methodological practices are often the reason for this. While some studies show promise, the majority of these treatments do not have the clinical evidence required for doctors to recommend them.
The relationship between anxiety and food is a complex one. In fact, certain foods can trigger anxiety symptoms. The highly palatable, fatty food can promote the production in the brain of reactive oxygen species which can aggravate or trigger anxiety-related symptoms. Dietary improvement, specifically the restriction of alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, has been proven to be helpful in reducing anxiety, but more research is needed, including assisted substance withdrawal programs and controlled prospective studies.
Other supplements to your diet, such as omega-3 fish oil have been found to be useful in helping to reduce anxiety. The reason is unclear however, researchers believe that the omega-3 fatty acids could reduce production of inflammatory cytokines, and increase the effectiveness of antidepressants in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. Other changes to your diet that can be beneficial to anxiety sufferers include increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables, including whole grains and avoiding processed foods.
Herbal and dietary supplements
Clinical studies have only recently been conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of natural supplements that have been used in some parts of world for centuries to relieve anxiety symptoms. The dietary supplement ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb 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 reduce anxiety symptoms as well through their influence on neurotransmitters that are involved in the stress response.
Many people who experience anxiety report a wide range of symptoms, ranging from the intermittent feeling of anxiety or worry that is experienced prior to surgery or menstruation to the omnipresent feelings of unease and tension that are characteristic of more serious kinds of anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and social phobias. The symptoms of anxiety can be debilitating, and may include trembling, headaches, sweating, muscle tightness, and trouble sleeping.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy is a successful treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that teaches patients to be aware and respond to the thoughts and behaviors contributing to anxiety in a different manner. This approach, in combination with medication, can help treat anxiety as well as reduce the symptoms associated with it, such as depression and fatigue.
Omega-3 fatty acids, that are found in fish like salmon, mackerel and herring, can also reduce anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids found in fish such as mackerel, salmon, and herring, are known to improve heart health as well as improve the brain. Flaxseeds are also a good source of omega-3 fats.
It is important to keep in mind that herbal and dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that pharmaceutical drugs are, so there is a chance certain products could be contaminated with other substances or have negative side effects that could be harmful. Consult your physician if you're considering using dietary or herbal supplements to treat anxiety. They can offer suggestions on possible interactions between the herbal supplements and other medications you are taking and dosage recommendations.