Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat anxiety depression treatment

Everyone is worried and anxious at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a difficult managing their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as do medication like beta blockers (used to lower blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.

Self-help strategies can also help ease symptoms. For instance, exercise can reduce stress and relaxes the body.

Medication

If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help your anxiety medications could be a good alternative. Anxiety medications can help reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medications used for anxiety. They function by enhancing levels of certain neurotransmitters which affect mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are often the first medications prescribed. The SNRIs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine), Elavil or Pamelor can also be effective in treating anxiety.

The benzodiazepines can also be used to combat anxiety. They're quick-acting and are extremely beneficial in the short term however they are also addictive and should only be used when other treatments don't work. The most common benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).

There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety however only licensed health professionals can prescribe them. These include psychiatrists and psychologists as also primary care physicians, some OBGYNs, and a few psychiatric nurses. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medications, but they must receive special training to do so.

Certain people utilize complementary therapies, such as exercise, to ease anxiety. You can also find ways to relax and reduce stress, including deep breathing and mindfulness meditation. Biofeedback can be another beneficial technique, in which a therapist monitors your brain-wave patterns on an electroencephalograph and teaches you how to control them at will.

Additionally natural supplements like 5-HTP and melatonin may help to ease anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements to treat anxiety or any other health condition. Supplements can be taken in conjunction with a comprehensive therapy program that includes psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic techniques for anxiety disorders that has been extensively studied and backed by evidence-based research. It targets the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that lead to anxiety. Although different CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders they all share common goals and strategies for treatment.

CBT starts by identifying dysfunctional thoughts that cause anxiety. During sessions, the patients learn to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. The therapist can also help patients identify and alter avoidance behaviors. The therapist will request patients to keep journals or "thought records" outside of sessions and to practice the behavioural strategies they've learned in everyday life.

In the end, the aim is to train patients to become their own therapists through helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them to dismiss unfounded fears, ease their anxiety as well as other negative emotions, and improve their resilience.

CBT techniques include the identification and correction of mental distortions that affect the patient which include overgeneralizing or catastrophizing, as well as minimizing positive events. Therapists also aid the patient in developing strategies for dealing with anxiety-provoking situations. These techniques can be employed to treat any type of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".

The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. It involves exposure to the object or situation that causes them anxiety. This may be done through visualizing the object or scenario, or by confronting it in actual life. For example, a patient suffering from PTSD who is scared of a certain area could be urged to visit the spot where they were abused. Or, a person suffering from social anxiety disorder who is scared of public speaking could be encouraged to speak in front of an audience.

Some studies have shown that combining strategies of pharmacotherapy and CBT can improve outcomes. However, these results aren't conclusive, and further research is required. Combining medications with CBT is generally more effective than one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines and CBT have been shown to be particularly efficacious in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.

Therapy for exposure

Exposure therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating anxiety. It helps you confront the things that you are afraid of in a comfortable setting with an expert. It may seem difficult, but the process can help you recognize that your fears aren't justifiable and you can be able to accept the triggers. It can also boost your confidence to face your challenges in life.

There are a variety of forms of exposure therapy, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy, and systematic desensitization. If you're scared to speak in public, your therapist could encourage you to practice with a friend or imagine yourself giving the speech. You can then gradually confront the scenario with your therapist’s assistance. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety and panic during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure if needed.

In the course of a session your therapist will show you how to calm and manage your feelings before giving you a brief overview of the triggers that cause you fear. This can include meditation, a rhythmic breathing and guided imagery. They can also teach strategies to avoid engaging the behavior that triggers anticipatory Anxiety treatment (www.fistons.be), such avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually done in a series of weekly sessions. Some people need more than two sessions to overcome the anxiety.

The first step is to determine what triggers your anxiety. For example, flying on a flight or being around strangers. Your therapist can help you choose the best exposure therapy method that fits your personal style and needs. This could include using an orderly system to determine the sequence in which exposures are performed or practicing relaxation techniques prior the start of.

In vivo therapy involves facing the situation or thing that you are scared of. This might be as simple as walking across a bridge or touching your arm. This approach can be used to treat certain phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.

It can be challenging to squeeze in sessions for vivo exposure therapy. Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist who specializes in this form of cognitive therapy. You can locate an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or the mental health network. It's also a good idea to look up reviews and ask family members or friends for suggestions.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies include a range of treatments for health that are not traditionally considered part of Western medicine. They can ease anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging a healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines, meditation, yoga music therapy, massage. They can also help alleviate depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body.

A recent study revealed that mindfulness-based meditation programs were associated with moderate improvement in anxiety symptoms. This method employs various methods of meditation to increase mindfulness or the ability of staying in the present moment and getting rid of negative thoughts and emotions. This type of meditation can be performed by almost everyone, and doesn't require special equipment or any special training. People with physical limitations might not be able to participate in meditation that requires moving.

Other therapies that can be used to relieve anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques teach you to manage anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles, calming breaths and visual imagery. They can be used at home or in a therapy setting. These techniques are often employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, including exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Regular exercise and eating well-balanced meals are two more ways to lessen anxiety. Regular exercise can lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, which are hormones that can cause anxiety. A healthy diet can increase your energy levels and can help reduce anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is a highly effective treatment for anxiety. It helps you recognize and challenge negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you how to assess your fears and determine the likelihood that they'll happen. You can use strategies like looking at your fears in relation to past experiences, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of an event, and determining if it's realistic to be worried about a possibility that might occur.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that can be employed to treat anxiety. It is based on a study of the deficiencies and excesses in your energy, called Qi, which is located in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridians can cause anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM techniques.