Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can destroy the life of a person by making them feel tired and depressed. Stress can hinder people from interacting, reinforcing a misguided feeling that they are in danger and creating a sense of loneliness.
Exercise as well as psychotherapy and medication are all a part of the treatment of anxiety. Treatments include antidepressants, such as SSRIs, citalopram and escitalopram (citalopram and escitalopram) and benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam or diazepam.
Medicines
Many people experience anxiety from time to time However, if that feeling goes on for a long time or interferes with day-to-day life it's a sign of an anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy and medication are usually employed to treat anxiety disorders. While medications can alleviate the symptoms, they cannot solve anxiety disorders. They should be used in conjunction in conjunction with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.
The medications that are typically prescribed to treat anxiety include antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Antidepressants help to correct an imbalance of the chemicals in the brain that causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are sedatives that quickly stop the body's reaction to anxiety. They can also be addictive and shouldn't be used for a long time.
SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) help reduce the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body. They also block receptors that soak up serotonin in the brain, permitting more of the mood-enhancing chemical to circulate, and alleviating anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. SSRIs have a great safety record, are widely available and are effective for a majority of people. Cons: Some patients might suffer from side effects such as dry mouth dizziness, dry mouth and drowsiness.
Other psychiatric drugs like propranolol can also be helpful for anxiety-related symptoms. These drugs are usually prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart issues. However, doctors might prescribe them "off label" for anxiety. They help to lessen the effects of stress hormones, such as noradrenaline and adrenaline, which increase blood pressure and heart rate. They can also have negative effects, such as bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension and sedation.
Change your diet and ensuring you get enough exercise, can help ease anxiety. Also, relaxing activities like yoga and meditation. There are also treatments for the mind like acupuncture and tai chi which can help ease anxiety. Talk to your doctor about the options that might be best for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that is effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. It is based on the belief that feelings, thoughts physical sensations, and thoughts are connected and that negative patterns may keep you in a vicious circle. CBT helps you identify the negative patterns of your mind, and implement techniques that will help you control them. It also teaches you to manage your responses to situations that trigger anxiety and to develop coping strategies.
In the first sessions, a therapist will typically conduct an assessment. This may involve completing questionnaires, conducting interviews, or providing written materials. This will allow them to identify the specific disorder you suffer from and pinpoint the distressing symptoms. It will also help determine if your current treatments are effective. They will also utilize the assessment to determine if they are able to develop a therapeutic relationship with you.
CBT usually lasts for 20 sessions or less. During these sessions, will meet with your therapist at least every week or twice a week. Your therapist will teach you various self-help strategies including how to reframe unhelpful thoughts and practice positive outcome visualization. They will also help you develop coping strategies like how to relax your body and relax your mind.
Your therapist can also provide you with various tools, such as therapy worksheets, to aid in tracking your symptoms and triggers. They will help you overcome anxiety in smaller, manageable steps so that it doesn't appear as daunting. If you are afraid of social situations, your therapist might have you role-play with them before moving on to talking to your family or friends.
CBT also includes behavioural experiments. It allows you to question your irrational catastrophe predictions by providing evidence to counter them. For example, if think that something awful will happen if you leave the house, you can conduct an experiment with your behavior by making a prediction before going out, like "If I go out for dinner, I'll get food poisoning." You can then determine if your prediction was correct or false.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is an alternative treatment to medications for anxiety. Hypnosis helps people relax, alter their perception of their symptoms, and alter their behavior. It can be used to overcome fears. It can be used to decrease anxiety and stress, but can also help with pain. The effects of hypnosis are long-lasting and can be observed after just one session.
In a hypnosis session (or while listening to a recorded recording) the therapist guides you into a state of mind that appears to be like a daydream. In this relaxed state, you can hear the therapist's suggestions and respond. They may ask you imagine a safe and comfortable space, and then tell you to pay attention to the sensory details that slowly become real. This is referred to as a "deepening trance". This is the point where the therapy will begin to take effect and you will begin to notice a difference in your symptoms.
Many people find that they notice a change straight away. After hypnotherapy sessions you can feel the shift immediately after they leave the room or open up their eyes. This is very normal and can feel magical. However, for some it may take some sessions before they see any positive changes. This is normal, and it's important to allow time for therapy to get things going.
Always consult with your physician prior to undergoing treatment with hypnotherapy. They can answer any questions you have regarding hypnotherapy, and also discuss your options. You'll need to book an appointment with a specialist in order to utilize the technique of hypnosis. The sessions can be costly but they are usually more effective than other types of treatment for anxiety.
Hypnosis is sometimes used to treat PTSD. This is a condition that is caused by trauma like a car crash, natural disaster or war. It can trigger anxiety, depression and other issues. The symptoms of PTSD include intrusive memories, nightmares and increased anxiety or hypervigilance. Hypnotherapy can be a very effective treatment for PTSD, and it's usually used in conjunction with other forms of therapy to produce the most effective results.
Exercise
Exercise is a great treatment for anxiety. A vigorous workout session can alleviate anxiety-related symptoms for hours, and a consistent schedule of physical activity may drastically reduce anxiety symptoms over time.
While it is widely acknowledged that regular exercise offers health benefits, only a few studies have specifically examined the effects it has on anxiety. A new study suggests that high intensity exercise is particularly effective in treating anxiety.
Researchers in the study, led University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson assigned 223 people with anxiety issues to an intensive 12-week program of group exercise, which included moderate or high-intensity training. They also gave them instructions on how to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. The results were clear. Those in the high-intensity groups had a significant decrease in anxiety levels compared to those who exercised in low intensity.
These results have implications for the use of exercise programs in general practice. Patients suffering from anxiety tend to be more sedentary than people without the condition. treating anxiety disorders could be a contributing factor to their mental health issues. Research has shown that people who exercise regularly are 25 percent less likely to suffer from anxiety disorders or depression than those who are sitting down.
Exercise has a positive impact on mental health. It stimulates the release feel-good hormones such as serotonin, dopamine and others. It can also improve sleep and boost self-esteem. However, the benefits of exercise is greater than that. A number of studies have proven that it is as effective as antidepressants in treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis conducted by Jayakody et al identified eight trials which compared groups who exercised with those who didn't exercise. All of these studies reported an improvement in anxiety levels. The researchers limited their analysis to studies that involved participants who had a medical diagnosis of anxiety disorder. This means that more research is needed to assess whether exercise is a viable option for those with clinically raised anxiety levels.