Treating Anxiety
Psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) are common treatments for anxiety. overcoming anxiety helps people discover the destructive thoughts that can cause anxiety and a variety of other feelings.
The use of medication can help reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, like rapid heartbeat and shaking. It is crucial to communicate with your doctor in order to find the most effective dosage and medication.
Medicines
Anxiety is a natural response to stress. It can also prevent us from sleeping well, but there are treatment options that can help. The use of medication can reduce anxiety symptoms and make life easier while addressing the underlying causes. Combining medications and therapy can be even more effective on your mood and enhance your quality of life.
Antidepressants treat the root of anxiety by boosting levels of chemicals in your brain which create a sense calm. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently used antidepressants. They stop nerve cells from reabsorbing serotonin in the brain, and increase its availability. This helps you feel calmer. These include drugs like Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. Antidepressants, such as serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs) tricyclic antidepressants, and others are also used to combat anxiety.
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium work quickly to relieve anxiety symptoms. They accomplish this by acting on brain receptors that cause a calming affect. They are effective in managing anxiety, but they can become addictive if taken for longer than four weeks. They don't work as well over time, so they are generally not prescribed for long-term use.
Other antianxiety drugs like buspirone, quetiapine and clonidine reduce the amount of stress hormone cortisol in your body by blocking receptors in the brain. The most frequently reported adverse result is the feeling of drowsiness. Antidepressants and SSRIs can cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation and sexual dysfunction in certain people.
Other antianxiety medications like phenytoin and melatonin work as sedatives, reducing the activity of specific brain cells, which decreases anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to treat anxiety, by reducing the itchiness caused by allergies and causing you to feel more relaxed.
Other types of medication that can be used to lower anxiety include monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as moclobemide and Tetracycline. These are usually prescribed after other treatments have failed. Other prescription medications that have been found to decrease anxiety in clinical trials aren't specifically approved for this purpose, however they may be prescribed off label by certain doctors.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders are often alleviated through psychotherapy or through talk therapy with a mental health professional. This could be a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker. In addition to helping with the root cause of the anxiety, the therapist can provide support and encouragement. The presence of the therapist can be important for anxiety sufferers; it stimulates the parasympathetic nerve and conveys a sense of security to the patient.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for anxiety. This method teaches you specific techniques to manage your anxieties and gradually return you back to activities that you've avoided because of anxiety. This includes exposure therapy in which you gradually encounter the object or circumstance that triggers anxiety to overcome your anxiety.
Psychotherapy helps you understand the reasons 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 the reasons it's not appropriate to trigger it by things that are usually harmless.
The therapy is usually done in a series sessions lasting an hour each. Patients are often given assignments to complete in between sessions. Finding the right therapist can be a challenge. It is possible to test several before you discover a therapist you are comfortable with.
Self-help techniques can be useful adjuncts to psychotherapy, including meditation, relaxation exercises and breathing techniques. You can reduce anxiety by ensuring you get enough rest, exercising regularly, and avoid caffeine and nicotine. Humor is an excellent stress relieving factor. Try to incorporate more laughter into your daily life. Finally, if you have an acute anxiety disorder that could compromise your safety or the safety of others, consult your physician for emergency anxiolytic treatment, preferably with a benzodiazepine. This treatment is rarely needed however it is extremely effective. The use of medication does not replace psychotherapy but can be helpful in certain instances.
Lifestyle changes
Alongside psychotherapy and medications There are a myriad of lifestyle modifications that can significantly help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, avoidance of tobacco, alcohol and caffeine and getting enough sleep and utilizing relaxation techniques can help.
Regular exercise is a powerful method to lower stress levels and improve your mood. It has been proven that it can help reduce anxiety symptoms and self-reported mood. Developing an exercise regimen that is safe for each person can be challenging however even a small amount of physical activity can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately-graded exercise has also been found to be effective in treating depression and is associated with an increased remission rate of anxiety disorders. While the underlying mechanisms remain unknown but it is believed that exercise alters the brain's chemical chemistry by altering 5-HT neurotransmitters that are found in the dorsal raphe nucleus and decreasing circulating levels of the cortisol stress hormone.
It has been established that acupuncture, massage and other CAM treatments can be effective in treating anxiety disorders. The evidence isn't conclusive and a poor methodology is often to blame. While some studies have shown promise but the majority of these modalities do not have the clinical evidence required for doctors to recommend them.
The relationship between food and anxiety is complex. In reality, certain foods can cause anxiety symptoms to worsen. For instance, highly palatable and fatty foods can trigger the production of reactive oxygen species in the brain that create or exacerbate anxiety symptoms. It has been shown that dietary changes, including cutting down on nicotine and alcohol, can reduce anxiety. However, more research, including controlled prospective studies and assisted substance withdrawal programs, is needed.
Other dietary supplements like omega-3 fish oil have been shown to be of value in reducing anxiety. Researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids supplements can reduce the production of inflammatory chemicals and increase the effectiveness of antidepressant medications in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. Other changes to your diet that can help with anxiety include increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables, including whole grains and avoiding processed foods.
Herbal and nutritional supplements
Clinical trials have only recently been conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of natural supplements that have been utilized in various regions of the world for centuries to ease anxiety symptoms. The dietary supplement ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), an herb that comes from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine is found to be particularly effective in controlling anxiety and stress. Amino acid precursors l-tryptophan and L-lysine are also believed to reduce anxiety symptoms by altering neurotransmitters that play a role in the stress response.
Many people who suffer from anxiety experience a variety of symptoms, ranging from a transient feeling of nervousness or worry that is experienced before menstrual surgery or surgery to the pervasive anxiety and feelings of tension that characterize more serious kinds of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder social phobias and panic disorder. Anxiety can be debilitating, with symptoms like sweating, headaches, and trembling, and difficulty sleeping.
Talk therapy or psychotherapy is a proven treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a form of psychotherapy that teaches patients how to recognize and react differently to thoughts and actions that can trigger anxiety. When used in conjunction with medications this method can help treat anxiety and alleviate symptoms such as fatigue and depression.
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish such as mackerel, salmon and herring are also known to reduce anxiety symptoms. These fats, which can be found in fish such as mackerel, salmon, and herring, are renowned for their heart-health benefits however, they can also enhance brain function. Flaxseeds are also a great source of omega-3 fats.
It is important to remember that herbal and dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way as pharmaceutical drugs are, and therefore there is a possibility that certain products could be infected with other substances or exhibit adverse effects that could be harmful. Consult your physician if you're contemplating using herbal or dietary supplements for anxiety. They can provide you with information on the possible interactions between the herbs and other medications that you are taking, as well as dosage guidelines.