Treating Anxiety
The treatment of anxiety usually involves psychotherapy, which may include psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps people discover the destructive thoughts that cause anxiety and distressing feelings.
Medication can help control anxiety-related physical symptoms like a rapid heartbeat or shaking. Patients must consult with their physician to determine the best dosage and medication for them.
Medicines
Anxiety is a natural response to stress and can keep us from sleeping properly However, there are treatment options that can help. The use of medication can reduce anxiety symptoms and ease your life while taking care of the root cause. Combining medications and therapy can make a bigger impact on your mood and improve your quality of life.
Antidepressants reduce anxiety by increasing the amount of chemicals that help you calm down in your brain. The most popular kind of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which prevent nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing serotonin and increase its availability, helping you feel more relaxed. SSRIs include medications such as Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. Antidepressants, such as serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs) tricyclic antidepressants, as well as others are also used to treat anxiety.
Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are effective in relieving anxiety symptoms. They accomplish this by acting on brain receptors that cause a calming affect. They are effective in treating anxiety, but they can become addictive if used for longer than four weeks. They also don't do well when taken over a period of time.
Other antianxiety medicines like buspirone, quetiapine, and clonidine lower the level of stress hormones in your body. They accomplish this by blocking receptors within the brain. The most frequently reported side effect is drowsiness. Antidepressants and SSRIs can also lead to constipation, diarrhea, nausea and sexual dysfunction in some individuals.
A few other antianxiety medications like phenytoin and mellatonin are sedatives which reduce the activity of certain neurons in the brain, which helps reduce anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to treat anxiety. They help reduce the itching that is caused by allergies, and help you feel more relaxed.
Other types of medication that can be used to lower anxiety include monoamine oxide inhibitors, such as moclobemide and tetracycline. They are typically prescribed when other treatments fail. Other prescription medications that have been shown to reduce anxiety in clinical trials aren't approved for this purpose, however they can be prescribed off-label by some doctors.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders can be relieved by psychotherapy, or through 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. The therapist can also provide assistance and encouragement in addition to addressing the underlying causes of anxiety. The presence of the therapist's physical presence is crucial for those suffering from anxiety. It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and gives them a feeling of safety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for anxiety. This method teaches you how to manage your anxiety and gradually return to the activities that you stayed away from due to anxiety. This involves exposure therapy, in which you slowly encounter the thing or event that triggers your anxiety so you can learn to accept it and overcome your fears.
Psychotherapy can help you gain a better understanding of why you're so worried and how your imagination can magnify dangers that are not actually there. The therapist will also teach you the physiology that triggers the body's "fight-or-flight" response and the reasons it could be triggered by things which are usually harmless.
Therapy is typically conducted in a series of sessions lasting approximately an hour each and patients are often given assignments to complete between sessions. Finding the right therapist may be difficult. It is possible to try a few before you discover a therapist you feel comfortable with.
Self-help methods can be beneficial additions to psychotherapy, for example relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques. You can lessen anxiety by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly, as well as avoiding nicotine and caffeine. Humor is a great stress relieving factor. Try to incorporate more laughter into your daily life. Finally, if you have an extreme anxiety attack 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. The use of medicines is not a substitute for psychotherapy, but can be beneficial in certain instances.
Lifestyle changes
There are a variety of lifestyle changes that, in addition to psychotherapy and medication, could aid those suffering from anxiety disorders. Regular exercise and a healthy diet avoiding tobacco, alcohol and caffeine, getting adequate sleep, and using relaxation techniques can be beneficial.
Regular exercise is a powerful way to reduce stress and improve your mood. It has also been proven that it can help reduce anxiety symptoms and self-reported mood. Making a workout routine that is safe for each person is a challenge, but even small amounts of exercise can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately paced exercise was also found to be effective at treating depression and anxiety disorders. Although the mechanisms are still unknown, it is believed that exercise alters brain chemical by altering the neurotransmitters 5-HT in the dorsal Raphe Nucleus, and decreasing levels of cortisol.
It has been established that acupuncture, massage, and other CAM treatments can be effective in treating anxiety disorders. However, evidence is scarce and often hindered by poor methodology. While some studies have shown promise however, the majority of these therapies do not provide the clinical evidence needed for doctors to recommend them.
The relationship between anxiety and food is not straightforward. In fact, certain foods can actually cause anxiety symptoms. Highly palatable, fatty foods can promote the production in the brain of reactive oxygen species that can cause anxiety-related symptoms. Dietary improvement, specifically the cutting down on nicotine, alcohol and caffeine, has been proven to be effective in reducing anxiety, however more research is needed, including programs for withdrawal from alcohol and other substances, as well as controlled prospective studies.
iampsychiatry.com has been proven that other dietary supplements like omega-3 fish oils can reduce anxiety. Researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids supplements may reduce the production of inflammatory molecules and enhance the effectiveness of antidepressants in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. Other dietary changes can reduce anxiety, such as increasing the quantity and variety of vegetables and fruits, adding more whole grains and avoiding processed food items.
Herbal and dietary supplements
Clinical trials have only been conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of natural supplements that have been utilized in various parts of world for centuries to ease anxiety symptoms. The dietary supplement ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant that comes from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine, has been found to be particularly effective in reducing anxiety and stress. Amino acid precursors l-tryptophan and l-lysine may also reduce anxiety symptoms through influencing neurotransmitters that are involved in the stress response.
Many people suffering from anxiety experience a broad spectrum of symptoms. These symptoms could range from a temporary sensation of anxiety or anxiety before menstrual or surgical procedures and more persistent feelings of anxiety and unease which are often associated with more serious anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as well as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as panic disorder (panic disorder) and social anxiety disorders. Symptoms of anxiety can also be debilitating, and may include headaches, trembling, sweating, muscle tightness, and difficulty sleeping.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy is a proven treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that teaches patients to be aware and react to thoughts and behavior contributing to anxiety in a different manner. This approach, in combination with medication, can help treat anxiety as well as alleviate symptoms related to it such as fatigue and depression.
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish such as herring, mackerel, and salmon, can also reduce anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids that are found in fish like mackerel, salmon and herring, are known to improve heart health and also boost the health of the brain. Flaxseeds are also a great source of omega-3 fats.
It is important to keep in mind that dietary and herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that pharmaceutical drugs are, therefore there is a possibility that some products may be contaminated with other substances or cause side effects that could be dangerous. If you are thinking of using herbs or dietary supplements to control anxiety, consult your doctor before beginning any regimen. They can advise you on possible interactions with other medications you could be taking and offer suggestions for dosages.