Meagan Whited
Blog entry by Meagan Whited
Treating Anxiety
Psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) are both common ways of treating anxiety. CBT helps people recognize the negative thoughts that can trigger anxious and troublesome feelings.
Medicines can ease physical symptoms of anxiety, including shaking and rapid heartbeat. People must work closely with their doctor to find the right dosage and medication for them.
Medicines
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress and can keep us from sleeping properly But there are treatments that can aid. The use of medication can reduce anxiety symptoms and ease your life while addressing the underlying causes. Combining therapy and medication can have a greater impact on mood and quality of life.
Antidepressants relieve anxiety by increasing the amount of chemicals that help you calm down in your brain. The most commonly used kind of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which prevent nerve cells in the brain from absorbing serotonin, and increase its availability, allowing you to feel calmer. These are medications such as Celexa Lexapro Paxil and Zoloft. Antidepressants, such as serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs) tricyclic antidepressants, as well as others can also be used to treat anxiety.
Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium help quickly relieve anxiety symptoms. They do this by affecting brain receptors, which cause an energizing effect. They are effective in treating anxiety however, they can be addictive if taken for more than four weeks. They also do not work well over time.
Other antianxiety drugs such as buspirone, quetiapine, and clonidine decrease the amount of stress hormones in your body. They accomplish this by blocking receptors in the brain. The most common side effect is sleepiness. People can also suffer from diarrhea, nausea, constipation, and sexual dysfunction while taking antidepressants or SSRIs.
A few other antianxiety medications such as melatonin and phenytoin are sedatives which reduce the activity of certain neurons in the brain, which helps reduce anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to treat anxiety, reducing the itching that is caused by allergies, and allowing you to feel more relaxed.
Monoamine oxidase inhibiters such as tetracycline or moclobemide are also employed to lower anxiety. These are usually prescribed after other treatments have failed. Some doctors are able to prescribe prescription medications off-label, which have shown to decrease anxiety during clinical trials, but are not licensed.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy or talk therapy with mental health professionals can ease anxiety disorders. This could be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor with a specialization in mental illness), psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker. In addition to assisting with the underlying cause of anxiety, the therapist can offer support and encouragement. The therapist's physical presence is crucial for those suffering from anxiety. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which gives them a sense of security.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for anxiety headache treatment. This approach teaches you how to manage anxiety and gradually return to activities you avoided due to anxiety. This involves exposure therapy where you gradually confront the situation or object that causes anxiety, and then overcome your anxieties.
Psychotherapy can help you gain a better understanding of why you're so worried and how your imagination can make you believe that dangers are not real. The therapist will also teach you the physiology behind the body's "fight-or-flight" response, and why it can be triggered by things which are usually harmless.
Therapy is typically conducted in sessions that last approximately an hour each, with patients often receiving assignments to complete between sessions. Finding the right therapist for you can be difficult. It is possible to test several before you find a therapist you feel comfortable with.
Self-help techniques can be useful adjuncts to psychotherapy, including relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques. You can lessen anxiety-related symptoms by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. You can also avoid nicotine and caffeine. Humor is an excellent stress relief. You can try to include more laughter into your everyday life. If you're suffering from an acute anxiety attack that could be threatening your safety or others' safety, ask your doctor for an emergency anxiety medication, which is usually a benzodiazepine. This type of treatment isn't always required, but it can be very beneficial. The use of medicines is not a substitute to psychotherapy, but it can be beneficial in certain instances.
Lifestyle changes
Alongside psychotherapy and medication in addition, there are a variety of lifestyle changes that can significantly help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise and a healthy diet, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, ensuring enough sleep, and employing relaxation techniques can help.
A regular exercise program is a powerful stress reducer and has been proven to improve mood and self-reported anxiety symptoms. Making a workout routine that is safe for every person can be challenging However, even small amounts of exercise can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately graded exercise has also been shown to be effective at treating depression and anxiety disorders. While the mechanisms remain not clear, it is believed that exercise alters brain chemistry through modulating 5-HT Neurotransmitters in 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. Evidence is limited and a poor methodological practices are often the reason for this. While some studies have shown promise however, the majority of these modalities lack the clinical proof required for doctors to recommend them.
The relationship between food and anxiety is a complex one. Certain foods can cause anxiety symptoms to worsen. Highly palatable, fatty foods can stimulate the production in the brain of reactive oxygen species which can worsen or cause anxiety-related symptoms. It has been proven that dietary improvement, especially restriction of alcohol and nicotine can decrease anxiety. However, further research that includes controlled prospective studies and assisted withdrawal programs for substance abuse, are required.
Other dietary supplements like omega-3 fish oil have been shown to be useful in decreasing anxiety. Researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids supplements may reduce the production of inflammatory molecules and increase the effectiveness of antidepressant medications in reducing performance anxiety treatment (https://coyne-sandberg.blogbright.net)-related symptoms. Other changes in diet can ease anxiety, including increasing the quantity and variety of fruits and vegetables as well as incorporating more whole grains and avoiding processed foods.
Herbal and nutritional supplements
Clinical studies have only recently been conducted to determine the safety and effectiveness of natural products that have been used in certain parts of world for centuries to relieve anxiety symptoms. Ashwagandha, a dietary supplement (Withania somnifera) is a plant from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine has been proven to be particularly effective in reducing anxiety depression treatment and stress. The amino acid precursors l-tryptophan as well as 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 experience a wide range symptoms. These symptoms could range from a temporary feeling of nervousness or anxiety prior to menstrual or surgical procedures and more constant feelings of anxiety and unease that are a sign of more severe anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as panic disorder (panic disorder) and social fears. Anxiety can be debilitating, with symptoms that include headaches, trembling and sweating and sleeplessness.
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy is a proven best treatment for generalized anxiety disorder for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT, is a form of psychotherapy which teaches patients how to recognize and react differently to thoughts and actions that cause anxiety. This method, when combined with medication, can help combat anxiety and reduce the symptoms associated with it, such as depression and fatigue.
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may also reduce anxiety symptoms. These fatty acid that are found in fish such as mackerel, salmon and herring, have been known to improve heart health, but may also improve the brain. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids are flaxseeds as well as walnuts, chia and flax seeds.
It is important to keep in mind that herbal and dietary supplements are not monitored by the FDA in the same way as pharmaceutical drugs are, so there is a chance certain products could be infected with other substances or have side effects that could be dangerous. If you are considering taking supplements or herbs to reduce anxiety, speak with your physician before starting any regimen so that they can provide advice on possible interactions with other medications you might be taking and provide recommendations for dosages.