Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can destroy a person's life by making people feel depressed and exhausted. Stress can hinder people from interacting, reinforcing a misguided belief that they are in danger and creating isolation.
Treatment for anxiety involves psychotherapy, medications, and exercise. Treatments include antidepressants, such as SSRIs, citalopram and Escitalopram (citalopram and escitalopram) and benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam or diazepam.
Medicines
Anxiety disorders are a result of anxiety that is too long or causes disruption to daily activities. Psychotherapy and medications are typically employed to treat anxiety disorders. While medications can ease the symptoms, they do not solve anxiety disorders. Therefore, they should be utilized in conjunction with psychotherapy and other lifestyle changes.
Medications that are commonly prescribed for anxiety include antidepressants as well as benzodiazepines. Antidepressants help to correct a chemical imbalance within the brain which causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are sedatives that quickly stop the body's response to anxiety. They are also addictive, and are therefore not recommended for long-term.
SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) aid in reducing the levels of cortisol which is the stress hormone, within the body. They also block receptors that soak up serotonin in the brain, allowing more of the mood-enhancing chemical to circulate and ease anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. SSRIs have a good safety record, are widely available and are effective for most people. Cons: Some patients might have side effects, such as dry mouth, dizziness and drowsiness.
Propranolol and various other psychiatric medications can also help with anxiety-related symptoms. These drugs are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions, but doctors sometimes prescribe them "off-label" to treat anxiety. They are used to lessen the effect of stress hormones in the body, like adrenaline and noradrenaline, that increase your blood pressure and heart rate. They also can cause negative effects, such as bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension and sedation.
You can lessen anxiety by adjusting your diet and exercising enough. Also, relaxing activities like yoga and meditation. In addition there are many mind-body therapies that can help ease anxiety such as the acupuncture method and tai chi. Talk to your doctor about the treatments that could be the best for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a psychotherapy based on scientific evidence that is effective in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the idea that feelings, thoughts physical sensations, and thoughts are connected and that negative patterns could keep you in a vicious cycle. CBT helps you identify negative patterns of thought and apply techniques to help you control them. It also teaches how to regulate your responses to situations that trigger anxiety and develop coping strategies.
In the initial session, a therapist usually performs an assessment. This could include filling out questionnaires or conducting an interview or providing written material. iampsychiatry.com will help them identify the specific disorder you suffer from and pinpoint distressing symptoms. It will also determine whether your current treatment options are effective. They will also use the test to determine whether they can build an emotional connection with you.
CBT is typically short-term and can last for 20 or fewer sessions. Your therapist will visit you once or twice a week during these sessions. Your therapist will guide you through various self-help techniques that include how to reframe negative thinking and practice positive outcome images. They will also help you learn coping skills like how to relax your body and relax your mind.
Your therapist could also provide you with tools, like therapy worksheets that help you track the symptoms and triggers. They can help you conquer anxiety in smaller steps that are manageable to make it less as daunting. If you are afraid of social situations, your therapist might allow you to role-play them and then move onto talking to family or friends.
CBT also includes behavioural experiments. It allows you to challenge your irrational catastrophic predictions by providing evidence against them. If you are afraid that something bad will occur to you if leave your home, you can do a behavioural test by making an assumption. For example, "If I go for dinner, I'll be afflicted with food poisoning." Then, you'll be able to record whether or not the prediction was accurate.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy can be a viable alternative for anxiety that is not a medication. It uses hypnosis to help people alter their perceptions of their symptoms, alter their behaviors, and relax. It can be used to help overcome phobias. It is often employed to decrease stress and anxiety, but it can also help in reducing pain. The effects of hypnosis may last for a long time and the benefits can be felt from just one session.
In a hypnosis session (or while listening to a recorded audio) the therapist guides you into a state of mind that appears to be like a daydream. In this state of relaxation, you can hear and respond to suggestions given by the therapist. They may ask you to imagine an environment that is safe and relaxing and then ask you to pay attention to the sensory details that slowly become real. This is known as a 'deepening trance'. This is the point where you begin to notice a difference in the symptoms.
Many people notice a change immediately. They can walk out of the room or open their eyes after a hypnotherapy session and they can already feel an improvement. This is normal and it can also feel mystical. For some people however, it might take several sessions before they see any positive changes. This is normal, and it's important to allow therapy time to be effective.
If you are thinking about the use of hypnotherapy, it is best to talk to your doctor first. They will be able to discuss your options and answer any questions that you may have about the use of hypnotherapy to treat anxiety. You will need to book an appointment with a specialist for hypnotherapy if you are interested in using the hypnotic method. These sessions can be expensive but they are usually more effective than other types of treatment for anxiety.
In some cases the use of hypnosis is used to treat PTSD. This is a condition that occurs following traumatizing events like a car crash, natural disaster, or war. It can cause depression, anxiety and other issues. The symptoms of PTSD include recurring memories, nightmares, and an increase in anxiety or hypervigilance. Hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for PTSD, and it's usually used in conjunction with other forms of therapy to achieve the best results.
Exercise
Anxiety can be a significant hurdle for many people who want to live active lives However, the good news is that exercise can provide some of the most effective non-pharmacological treatments for anxiety. A single vigorous exercise session can alleviate anxiety symptoms for hours and a consistent schedule of physical exercise could drastically reduce anxiety symptoms over time.
While it is widely acknowledged that regular exercise offers health benefits, only a few studies have specifically examined its effects on anxiety. A new study suggests that high intensity exercise is particularly effective in treating anxiety.
Researchers involved in the study under the direction of University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson assigned 223 people with anxiety issues to 12 weeks of group exercise that comprised moderate or high-intensity training. They also gave them tips on how to incorporate fitness into their lives. The results were evident. Those in the high-intensity groups showed a significant improvement in their anxiety levels compared to those who exercised in low intensity.
These results have implications for the use of exercise schemes in general practice. Patients suffering from anxiety tend to be more sedentary compared to those who do not suffer from the condition, and the absence of physical activity may cause psychiatric issues for them. Research shows that those who exercise regularly are less likely to develop anxiety disorders or depression than those who are inactive.
It's not a surprise that exercise can improve mental health. It stimulates the release of positive hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Additionally, it can help boost self-esteem and improve sleep quality. But the benefits of exercise is more than that. A variety of studies have proven that it can be as effective as antidepressants in treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis by Jayakody et al identified eight studies that compared groups that exercised with those who didn't exercise. The studies all showed an improvement in anxiety levels. Researchers restricted their studies to studies that involved participants who had a medical diagnosis of anxiety disorder. This means that more research is needed to determine whether exercise is a viable option for those who have elevated levels of anxiety.