Everything You Need To Know About Treating Anxiety Dos And Don'ts
Treating Anxiety
Psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) are both common methods of treating anxiety. CBT helps people identify the negative thought patterns that can trigger anxious and troubling feelings.
The use of medication can help manage physical symptoms of anxiety like a rapid heartbeat or shaking. Patients must consult with their doctor to determine the appropriate medication and dosage for them.
Medicines
Anxiety is the natural reaction to stress. It can hinder us from sleeping, however there are solutions that can aid. The use of medication can help reduce anxiety-related symptoms and help you live your life without worrying about the root causes. Combining therapy and medication can have a bigger impact on your mood and the quality of life.
Antidepressants reduce anxiety by increasing levels of chemicals that calm you down in your brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly used antidepressants. They prevent nerve cells from reabsorbing serotonin in the brain, and increase its availability. This helps you feel more relaxed. treat anxiety include medications such as Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. Antidepressants like serotonin-norepinephrine-re inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and others are also used to combat anxiety.
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are effective in relieving anxiety symptoms. They accomplish this by acting on brain receptors that cause the body to relax. They are effective in treating anxiety however, they can be addictive if they are used for more than four weeks. They also do not perform well over the course of.
Other antianxiety medicines like quetiapine, buspirone and clonidine lower the level of the stress hormone cortisol within your body by blocking receptors in the brain. The most frequently reported side result is drowsiness. Antidepressants and SSRIs can also lead to constipation, nausea, diarrhea and sexual dysfunction in some individuals.
Other antianxiety medicines like phenytoin and mellatonin are sedatives which reduce the activity of specific neurons in the brain, which helps reduce anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to combat anxiety. They reduce the itching that is caused by allergies and make you feel more relaxed.
Monoamine oxidase inhibiters such as tetracycline or moclobemide, are also employed to lower anxiety. They are usually sought after other treatments have failed. Other prescription medications that have been shown to reduce anxiety in clinical trials aren't approved for this purpose, however they can be prescribed off-label by a few doctors.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy or psychotherapy with mental health professionals can help ease anxiety disorders. This may be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor with a specialization in mental illness) or psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker. In addition to addressing the underlying cause of anxiety, the therapist may provide assistance and support. The presence of the therapist's physical presence is important for anxiety patients. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which gives them a feeling of safety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is usually the best choice for treating anxiety. This method teaches you how to manage anxiety and gradually return to activities you avoided because of anxiety. This involves exposure therapy where you gradually come across the object or circumstance that triggers anxiety to overcome your anxieties.
Psychotherapy gives you a better understanding of the reason you're so worried and how your imagination can create a false sense of danger that is not real. The counselor will also guide you through the anatomy of the body's "fight-or-flight" response and how it can be triggered by things that are generally harmless.
The therapy is usually done in a series of sessions that last about an hour each. Patients are often provided with assignments to complete between sessions. It may take some time to find the right therapy for you, and you might need to test several before settling on one you feel comfortable with.
Self-help techniques can be helpful additions to psychotherapy, for example meditation, relaxation exercises and breathing techniques. You can lower anxiety by ensuring you get enough rest, exercising regularly, and abstaining from caffeine and nicotine. Humor is a fantastic stress relieving factor. Try to incorporate more laughter into your everyday life. If you're experiencing an acute anxiety attack that threatens your safety or the safety of others' safety, ask your physician for an urgent anxiolytic, preferably a benzodiazepine. This treatment isn't often needed, but can be very beneficial. The use of medication is not a substitute for psychotherapy, however, they can be helpful in some cases.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to psychotherapy and medications in addition, there are a variety of lifestyle changes that could significantly help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco or alcohol as well as getting enough rest and utilizing relaxation techniques can be helpful.
Regular exercise is a powerful stress reducer and has been shown to improve mood and self-reported anxiety symptoms. Finding an exercise routine that is safe for each person is a challenge however even small amounts of physical activity can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately paced exercise has also been shown to be effective in treating depression and anxiety disorders. Although the mechanisms are still unclear, it's believed that exercise alters brain chemistry through altering the neurotransmitters 5-HT in the dorsal Raphe Nucleus, and decreasing levels of cortisol.
It has been proven that acupuncture, massage and other CAM therapies can be beneficial in treating anxiety disorders. However, evidence is limited and is often hampered by poor research methodology. While certain studies show promising results, the majority of these therapies do not have the level of clinical proof needed for doctors to recommend them as a treatment option.
Furthermore, the connection between food and anxiety isn't simple. In reality, certain foods can actually increase anxiety symptoms. Foods that are highly palatable and fatty can stimulate the production in the brain of reactive oxygen species that can worsen or cause anxiety-related symptoms. Dietary improvement, specifically the restriction of alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, has been demonstrated to help reduce anxiety, but more research is required, including programs for withdrawal from alcohol and other substances, as well as controlled prospective studies.
Other supplements to your diet, such as omega-3 fish oil have been proven to be of value in decreasing anxiety. The reason is unclear, but researchers believe that the omega-3 fatty acids may reduce production of inflammatory cytokines and enhance the effectiveness of antidepressants in reducing anxiety symptoms. Other changes in diet that could be beneficial to anxiety sufferers include increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables, including whole grains and avoiding processed food.
Herbal and nutritional supplements
While herbal remedies and dietary supplements have been extensively used for centuries in certain parts of the world to alleviate anxiety symptoms, the efficacy and safety of these natural products has only recently been subjected to rigorous clinical tests. The dietary supplement ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine, has been found to be particularly effective in reducing anxiety and stress. Amino acid precursors such as l-tryptophan and L-lysine are also believed to reduce anxiety symptoms through influencing neurotransmitters that are involved in the stress response.
Many people who suffer from anxiety report a wide range of symptoms, from the intermittent feeling of anxiety or worry that is experienced prior to surgery or menstruation to the pervasive tension and unease that characterize more serious types of anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder social phobias and panic disorder. The symptoms of anxiety can be debilitating and include trembling, headaches, sweating, muscle tightness and difficulty sleeping.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy is a successful treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT is a form of psychotherapy that teaches patients how to recognize and react differently to thoughts and actions that contribute to anxiety. When combined with medication CBT can aid in treating anxiety and reduce associated symptoms like depression and fatigue.
A diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids may also help reduce anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids that are found in fish like mackerel, salmon, and herring, have been known to improve heart health, but may also improve the brain. Flaxseeds are also a good source of omega-3 fats.
It is important to remember that dietary and herbal supplements are not monitored by the FDA in the same way as pharmaceutical drugs are, so there is a possibility that certain products could be contaminated with other substances or exhibit side effects that could be dangerous. Talk to your doctor if you are considering using herbal or dietary supplements for anxiety. They can provide you with suggestions on possible interactions between the herbs and other medications that you may be taking, as well as dosage guidelines.