How Anxiety is Treated
Everyone experiences anxiety at times, often in response to stressful life events. If the anxiety becomes overwhelming and interfere with everyday life, it could be a sign that you suffer from an anxiety disorder.
A mental health professional can assess your symptoms and conduct tests to rule out the possibility of other issues. Treatment options include psychotherapy and medication.
Medicines
Everyone is anxious and nervous at times However, if they become persistent or disrupt your daily life to the point where you are unable to function, it's time to speak to your mental health professional regarding medications. If you suffer from anxiety, your clinician will help you find the best medication for you. They'll also discuss other treatments that can be helpful, such as therapy, exercise and stress management strategies.
The medications used to treat anxiety include antidepressants and anxiolytics. Antidepressants work by increasing the activity of certain brain chemicals that affect mood, including serotonin. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating a variety of conditions, including depression and anxiety. Other antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants as well as monoamine oxidase inhibitors are also approved to treat anxiety disorders, and others like benzodiazepines increase the activity of the receptors for the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acids (GABA) which has a calming effect.
There are two types of anxiolytic medications that are standing doses that you take on a regular basis and as-needed medicines that you take when anxiety is a major issue. The former can take a while to start working, but they usually eliminate or significantly reduce the symptoms. As-needed medications are more effective and can be completed in less than 20 minutes. However, they only enhance anxiety as long as the medication is in your system.
While medication is an integral component of your treatment, they don't alleviate anxiety. Your physician will discuss with you about other ways to treat your symptoms such as psychotherapy (talk therapy), exercise and stress management strategies and self-help techniques, such as breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation and biofeedback. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is beneficial for many people suffering from anxiety or phobias. CBT can help you identify the thoughts and emotions that trigger your fears, and help you understand how to control these thoughts and feelings. Other treatments include eye-movement desensitization reprocessing or EMDR. This helps people overcome trauma, anxiety and depression. Some people can benefit from acupuncture. This involves placing needles at specific points on the body to relieve tension and pain.
Counseling
Counseling (or psychotherapy), aims to teach you better ways to think and cope with anxiety. It helps you identify your triggers and discover the underlying causes. Treatments for anxiety that are backed by research, like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), exposure therapy and interpersonal therapy, are effective. These treatments can be combined with a pharmacotherapy program.
Anxiety can be crippling, but it's important to remember that you're not alone. Anxiety is a problem that affects more than 40 million adults in the US. The fear and nervousness that anxiety causes can cause problems in every aspect of your life. There are many mental health professionals who can help. They include psychologists, counselors, and social workers. WithTherapy can match you with a therapist that is specifically matched to meet your needs and preferences.
Many people with anxiety suffer from symptoms like anxiety, dread or difficulty sleeping. These symptoms are usually triggered by certain situations or events. Counselling can help you to recognize triggers and control them to help you feel better.
The use of behavioral and cognitive therapies has been proven to be more effective than medications to manage anxiety and the benefits of therapy can continue for months and even years after treatment is finished. This is because, unlike medications psychotherapy can teach you how to overcome your anxious thoughts and behaviors.
Apart from understanding the triggers of your anxiety, counseling can also provide a safe space for you to discuss your feelings with someone else who is going through the same struggles as you. Talking with a therapist can help you overcome common anxiety symptoms such as worrying, ruminating, experiencing negative or depressing feelings and worry.
In addition to psychological therapy Some people also find relief from herbal remedies and supplements. It is important to keep in mind that these alternatives may not be regulated by FDA in the same way as prescription drugs and may have negative side effects. Before you begin taking herbal remedies or supplements, consult with your doctor. You can join a group of people suffering from anxiety and meet other people who understand your condition.
Strategies for self-help
Anxiety is not just an emotional feeling it can trigger physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating and nausea. While there are some medical conditions that can trigger anxiety, the majority of the time it is caused by lifestyle factors like poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and sleep issues. Self-management techniques can help reduce the symptoms and increase quality of life. These can include relaxation exercises, avoiding caffeine and nicotine, sleeping more and implementing good stress management. Regular exercise is recommended to increase serotonin levels, which counteract anxiety-related symptoms.
Self-help methods are usually more effective in reducing anxiety symptoms than medications. These can include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches patients to identify and alter negative thoughts patterns. Exposure therapy is another treatment that helps people face the objects or situations that can cause anxiety by increasing their exposure. This can be done using imagination or by physically entering the situation that is feared. how to treat anxiety can be utilized in conjunction with or as a part of CBT.
Some people suffering from anxiety find it helpful to keep a journal of their symptoms. This will help you monitor the intensity and frequency of your symptoms, and their impact on your daily activities and relationships. Journals can help a person determine the factors that trigger anxiety. In addition, a person can join a support group in order to meet people who suffer from anxiety and talk about their experiences.
Psychotherapy and other methods of counseling are also effective in reducing anxiety. A psychiatrist, a specialist in mental health, may prescribe medications. A psychologist or another qualified mental health professional can offer psychotherapy, which entails discussing your concerns and developing coping strategies. One of the most popular types of therapy for anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy also known as CBT, which is a form of psychotherapy that has been proven effective in clinical studies.
Psychotherapy
The use of medication to treat anxiety is beneficial however, therapy provides people with the ability to regain physical and emotional control when anxiety takes over. Studies conducted on randomized clinical trials have shown that psychotherapy is more effective than medications in reducing symptoms of anxiety, and its effects endure well beyond the time of treatment.
The main type of psychotherapy that is used to treat anxiety is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). In CBT, patients are taught skills to manage anxiety by identifying negative thoughts that trigger anxiety. They then replace these thoughts with more realistic, calm ones. Patients can also learn different ways to cope that can reduce symptoms, such as mindfulness and relaxation.
Another form of psychotherapy that is helpful for anxiety is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) which teaches individuals to acknowledge and deal with their worries in a healthy way, rather than avoiding them. This kind of therapy encourages patients try new things, and gradually confront their fears until they can manage them without any problems. Other strategies for coping include eye movement desensitization and the reprocessing therapy (EMDR) which makes use of repeated eye movements that back and forth to change negative emotional reactions to memories that are causing anxiety.
Techniques for stress reduction and exercise can be included in psychotherapy for anxiety. Regular physical activity can help maintain blood pressure and heart rate at a normal level, which can in turn help alleviate anxiety symptoms. A balanced diet that has low levels of sugar and limiting the intake of caffeine can also help ease anxiety symptoms.
The most effective psychotherapists for anxiety will be able to communicate with you in a way that allows you to feel comfortable sharing and expressing your feelings. Finding a therapist who is a good fit may require some time. It's not unusual for people to visit many therapists before they find one that is effective. To reap the maximum benefit out of therapy, it is essential to be patient, committed and open with your Therapist.