How Anxiety is Treated
Everyone feels anxious from time to time usually in response to stressful life events. However, when these anxiety levels become too much and disrupt daily life, it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
Mental health professionals can assess your symptoms and run tests to rule out other conditions. Treatment options include psychotherapy and medication.
Medicines
Everyone is anxious or nervous at times However, if these feelings are persistent and interfere with your day-to-day life that you can't function effectively it could be the right the right time to speak to your mental health professional regarding medication. If you have anxiety, your doctor will assist you in finding the best medication for you. They will also discuss other treatments that may be helpful, such as therapy, exercise and stress management techniques.
Medications used to treat anxiety include anxiolytics and antidepressants. Antidepressants enhance the activity of certain chemicals in your brain, like serotonin, that affect mood. 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. A variety of other antidepressants, like tricyclic antidepressants as well as monoamine oxidase inhibitors are also approved for anxiety disorders, and others, such as benzodiazepines, enhance the activity of receptors for the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acids (GABA) that produces an calming effect.
There are two types of anxiolytic drugs: standing doses, which you take on a regular basis, and as-needed medications that you use when your anxiety is a problem. The first one can take a bit of time to kick in, but they usually eliminate or reduce your symptoms. The most needed medications can work faster, in about 20 minutes, but they can improve your anxiety only for as long as they are within your system.
While medications are a crucial component of your treatment, they can't solve anxiety. Your clinician will talk with you about other options to treat your symptoms, including psychotherapy (talk therapy) as well as exercise and stress management strategies, and self-help strategies, like breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation, as well as biofeedback. Many people who suffer from anxiety and phobias benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, which can teach you to identify the thoughts that trigger your fears and help you manage them. Other treatments include eye-movement desensitization, processing or EMDR. This can help individuals overcome anxiety, trauma and depression. Some people are benefited by Acupuncture, which is the practice of placing needles in certain areas of the body to relieve pain and tension.
Counseling
The purpose of counseling (or psychotherapy) is to help you learn healthier ways of thinking and coping with anxiety. It also helps you identify your triggers and discover the underlying causes. The research-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy, and exposure therapy are effective for treating anxiety. These therapies can also be incorporated into a pharmacotherapy treatment plan.
It's important to know that you're not alone when anxiety is impacting your life. Anxiety affects nearly 40 million adults in the US and the stress and anxiety can create problems throughout your life. There are many mental health professionals that can help. These include psychologists, counselors, and social workers. WithTherapy can match you with a therapist that is specifically matched to meet your requirements and preferences.
Many people with anxiety experience symptoms such as fear, anxiety, or trouble sleeping. The majority of times, these feelings are triggered by specific events or situations. Counseling can help you identify and control these triggers so that you feel better.
Cognitive and behavioral treatments have been shown to be more effective than medications to manage anxiety and the results of therapy can last for months and even years after treatment ends. This is because unlike medications, psychotherapy teaches you skills to manage your anxiety through thoughts and behaviors.
Apart from learning to recognize the triggers of your anxiety, therapy can provide a safe space for you to talk about your emotions with someone who is going through the same struggles as you. A therapist's help can help you with common anxiety symptoms such as thinking about, having negative or depressing thoughts and worry.
Some people find relief through herbal remedies and supplements in addition to psychological therapy. However, it's important to note that these options aren't regulated by FDA in the same way prescription medications are, and could have dangerous side effects. If you decide to try supplements or herbs be sure to speak with your doctor first. You can join a support group for people with anxiety to meet other people who can relate to your experience.
Strategies for self-help
Anxiety goes beyond a feeling and can cause physical symptoms like sweating, heart palpitations, and nausea. There are medical conditions that could cause anxiety but the majority of the time it's due to lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition or exercise routine, as well as sleep issues. Self-management techniques can help to manage these symptoms and improve the quality of life. They can include relaxation exercises, avoiding caffeine and nicotine, sleeping more and implementing effective stress management. Regular exercise is recommended to boost serotonin levels, which can help to reduce anxiety symptoms.
Self-help strategies are usually more effective than medications for managing anxiety symptoms. They include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches patients how to recognize and modify negative thoughts patterns. Another treatment is exposure therapy, which assists individuals confront things or people that trigger anxiety by gradually increasing their interaction with them. This can be achieved by imagining the scenario or even going there. Exposure therapy can be used either on its own or as part of CBT.
Some people who suffer from anxiety have found that keeping a log of their symptoms can be helpful. treatment for anxiety attacks I Am Psychiatry will help you monitor the intensity and frequency of your symptoms, as well as their impact on your daily activities and relationships. A journal can help a person identify the factors that trigger anxiety. One can also join a support groups to meet others who suffer from anxiety and share their experiences.
Other treatments for anxiety include psychotherapy and other forms of counseling. A psychiatrist, a specialist in mental health, can prescribe medications. A psychologist or any other qualified mental health professional can offer psychotherapy, which entails talking about your concerns and devising coping strategies. One of the most popular types of therapy for anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, which is a form of psychotherapy that has proven to be to be effective in clinical studies.
Psychotherapy
Medicines can treat anxiety, but therapy can do what medication cannot help people: it gives them the ability to take control of their bodies and emotions when worry overtakes them. Randomized clinical trials show that psychotherapy is more effective than medication in reducing anxiety symptoms and its effects endure well beyond treatment sessions.
The most popular form of psychotherapy for anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps patients develop skills to manage their anxiety by identifying and looking at negative thoughts that contribute to their anxiety. They replace these thoughts with more positive, realistic ones. Patients can also learn a variety of coping techniques that will reduce symptoms, including mindfulness and relaxation.
Another form of psychotherapy that could be beneficial for anxiety is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) which teaches people to recognize and address their anxieties in a healthy manner rather than absconding from them. This kind of therapy encourages patients to experiment with new things, and gradually confront their fears, until they can manage them without difficulty. Other coping strategies include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) which employs back-and-forth repetitive eye movements to alter negative emotional reactions to the memories that are causing anxiety.
Exercise and stress-reduction techniques can be included in psychotherapy for anxiety. Regular exercise helps keep heart rate and blood pressure at a normal level, which can reduce anxiety symptoms. A balanced diet that has low levels of sugar and limiting consumption of caffeine can also ease anxiety symptoms.
The best psychotherapists are able to communicate with you in a way that you feel comfortable talking about your feelings and sharing your thoughts. However, finding a good therapist could take some time, and it's not uncommon to have clients meet with several therapists before settling on the right match. To reap the most benefit out of therapy, you have to be patient, dedicated and open with your therapy therapist.
