Anxiety Disorder Help
If you experience persistent anxiety symptoms, you can seek assistance. Treatment for anxiety disorders typically includes medication and therapy.
You could be prescribed benzodiazepines, or modern antidepressants to combat anxiety. SSRIs (like Lexapro and Prozac) and SNRIs (like duloxetine and venlafaxine) are typical examples. Your therapist will also instruct you on strategies to ease anxiety symptoms, like confronting negative thoughts and exposure therapy.
Medications
Medication is one way to treat anxiety disorders and reduce the need for psychotherapy. However, they're not suitable for everyone and there are other options to consider, too. Exercise, healthy eating, and relaxation techniques can help you manage stress without the necessity of medication. If you're taking medication to manage anxiety, be sure to follow the prescribed dosages and keep your appointments with your therapist.
Antidepressants are frequently prescribed by doctors to people who suffer from anxiety disorders. The drugs can take as long as six weeks to start working. They correct an imbalance in brain chemicals. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the most commonly used antidepressants to treat anxiety. The medications like Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are effective by impacting neurotransmitters involved in mood. Other medications such as SNRIs, for instance Effexor (venlafaxine) and Cymbalta (duloxetine) are also prescribed to treat anxiety and depression.
If SSRIs aren't working doctors might prescribe benzodiazepines for anxiety symptoms. generalized anxiety disorder gad -aminobutyric acids, or GABA, a chemical found in the brain that has an calming effect. Benzodiazepines are typically found in Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium. They can cause dangerous negative side effects, including addiction, which is why they are typically prescribed for short-term use.
Other medications, like propranolol, approved for treating social anxiety disorders works by blocking a chemical called Monoamine Oxidase A. They do not affect the brain in the same manner as benzodiazepines, however they are more effective and do not suffer from the same adverse effects. Benzodiazepines and SNRIs are generally reserved for people suffering from severe anxiety, while SSRIs are effective in a broad range of anxiety disorders.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, may be part of an approach to treat anxiety disorder. There are a variety of psychotherapy, and a trained mental health professional can help find the right one for you. Psychotherapy involves speaking to an therapist and learning techniques and skills to manage anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that can help you to learn how to overcome anxiety-related thoughts and behaviors. CBT helps you identify and stop unhelpful thinking or feeling patterns. It also helps you identify the specific events and people or objects that trigger anxiety and how to cope with them. CBT is a treatment that is recommended for many types of anxiety disorders.
The EMDR technique is a type of psychotherapy that is used to treat anxiety disorders. During this treatment, you will lie down on a couch or a reclined chair while your therapist guides you through different phases of the therapy, which could involve looking at an object with your eyes, listening to music, or reminiscing about a negative incident from your past (for instance, being scared of storms due to someone breaking up with you in a terrible storm). EMDR can help to reduce anxiety symptoms and help overcome negative associations.
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on improving your relationships and social functioning. IPT is not a cure for anxiety, but it can help you overcome issues that can contribute to anxiety.
Exercise
Exercise can be a natural stress-buster and has been shown to ease anxiety. It is also important for physical health and can improve sleep, both of which can be affected by anxiety disorders. It is also a cost-effective treatment that could be able to be done on your own.
The types of exercises that are most effective vary but the majority of studies confirm the effectiveness of everything from tai chi to high-intensity interval training. The key is to find something you like which increases your chances of taking part and build resilience. Exercise can also give you a break from the daily routine and reduce anxiety. This is particularly beneficial for those suffering from Distraction Theory, a psychological theory that suggests that anxious patients tend to withdraw socially and engage in a lot of self-talk and worry.
Although exercise isn't a cure for anxiety however, it can be utilized in combination with other treatments to lessen the severity of symptoms. For instance one can pair exposure therapy with exercise to help control their anxiety about flying or driving. Attention training is another effective method to help people control their brain waves. During a series of sessions with a certified therapist, the patient watches their own brain waves on an electroencephalograph monitor and teaches themselves to achieve a more relaxed state at will.
Exercise isn't a panacea for anxiety however, it can be an effective treatment. Exercise is likely to play an important role in the treatment of anxiety disorders, in particular because a lot of GPs have "exercise on prescription" schemes which provide patients with the opportunity to participate in a training program that is subsidised by the local gym.
Relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques help reduce anxiety and stress by triggering the body's relaxation response which is defined as the reduction in heart rate and blood pressure. These practices include meditation deep breathing, guided imagery and biofeedback-assisted relaxation. These methods are the most efficient for a large number of people if they regularly practice them.
You can learn these techniques from a mental health professional or health care provider. They will also give you the tools to practice them independently. Your health care provider may encourage you to take part in self-help and group therapy groups, which can be beneficial for meeting others with similar problems. Stress can be reduced by keeping in contact with family and friends and exercising regularly, while avoid drinking or using drugs.
Psychotherapy for anxiety disorders consists of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. CBT helps you recognize and challenge the negative thoughts and fears that fuel your anxiety. Then you can replace these thoughts with more rational, calm ones. Exposure therapy involves slowly confronting situations that cause anxiety until you are able to handle them without fear. Usually, you start with the least frightening situations and work up to more difficult ones.
Other psychological treatments for anxiety include mindfulness, hypnosis and support groups. These therapies can be particularly helpful for those who suffer from co-occurring disorders, like depression and addiction to drugs. Other beneficial habits include getting enough sleep and eating healthily. Regular exercise is important because it helps in the burning of stress-related chemicals that are produced during stressful times. And it is important to establish strong relationships with others, as loneliness and isolation can worsen anxiety symptoms.
Healthy eating habits
Anxiety can trigger a variety of physical symptoms and behavior that include abdominal pain, muscle tension and panic-like feelings. It is normal to feel anxious or anxious occasionally, but excessive anxiety can lead to feelings of helplessness and fear that can interfere with your daily life. If you are prone to anxiety, learning coping techniques and following the advice of your doctor can assist you in managing your symptoms.
In addition to medications and therapy, a healthy diet can aid in the reduction of symptoms of anxiety. A diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates can reduce stress and give your body the nutrients it requires to function properly.
Avoid foods high in fat or sugar as they can trigger anxiety symptoms. To stay hydrated, you should drink lots of water and non-caffeinated drinks. Avocados, bananas and dark chocolate are only a few of the food items that can ease anxiety. Leafy green vegetables, like swiss-chard or spinach, pumpkin seeds, beans and nuts, as well a variety of whole grains are all excellent sources of magnesium. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in various fish species like trout, salmon, walnuts, and sardines. They can also help reduce anxiety symptoms.
It is crucial to seek treatment when you are suffering from anxiety disorders as well as eating disorder. A combination of psychiatric drugs and psychotherapy is usually the most effective form of treatment for both disorders. Talk therapy can help you understand how to deal effectively with negative emotions, and replace them with positive ones. Psychiatric medications can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and stop the growth of anxiety that is out of control.