All The Details Of Treating Anxiety Dos And Don'ts
Treating Anxiety
Treatment of anxiety typically involves psychological counseling, which includes psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT helps people recognize the harmful thought patterns that can trigger anxious and troublesome feelings.
Medications help control the physical symptoms of anxiety, including shaking and rapid heartbeat. People must work closely with their physician to find the right dosage and medication for them.
Medicines
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. It can prevent us from sleeping, but there are treatments that can aid. Medication can reduce anxiety-related symptoms and allow you to live your life, while addressing the root of the problem. Combining medications and therapy could make a bigger impact on your mood and enhance your quality of life.
Antidepressants address the root cause of anxiety by increasing levels of chemicals in your brain that help create a feeling of calm. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently used antidepressants. They prevent nerve cells from absorbing serotonin from the brain and increase its availability. This helps you feel calmer. SSRIs include medications such as Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, and Zoloft. Other antidepressants that can be used to treat anxiety include serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants.
anxiety treatment herbal , such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium work quickly to relieve anxiety symptoms. They accomplish this by affecting brain receptors that cause a calming affect. They are effective in treating anxiety but can become addictive if they are used for more than 4 weeks. They also do not work as well over time, and therefore are not recommended for long-term use.
Other antianxiety medicines like quetiapine, buspirone and clonidine lower the level of stress hormone in your body. They accomplish this by blocking receptors within the brain. The most frequently reported adverse result is the feeling of drowsiness. Antidepressants and SSRIs can cause constipation, diarrhea, nausea and sexual dysfunction in certain people.
Other antianxiety medicines like melatonin or phenytoin act as sedatives by decreasing the activity of certain brain cells, which decreases anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to combat anxiety. They can reduce the itching that is caused by allergies, and make you feel more comfortable.
Other types of medications that are used to decrease anxiety are monoamine oxidase inhibitors, like moclobemide and tetracycline. These are typically pursued after other treatments have failed. Some doctors can prescribe prescription medications off-label, which have been shown to decrease anxiety during clinical studies, but aren't licensed.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy or psychotherapy with mental health professionals can help ease anxiety disorders. This could be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker. The therapist can also provide encouragement and support, in addition to addressing the root factors that cause anxiety. The physical presence of the therapist is also important for people suffering from anxiety because it stimulates the parasympathetic nerve and provides a sense of security to the patient.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for anxiety. This method helps you develop specific skills to directly manage your anxiety and gradually allow you to return to activities you've avoided because of anxiety. This includes exposure therapy in which you gradually come across the situation or object that causes anxiety and overcome your anxieties.
Psychotherapy can help you understand why you feel anxious, and how your imagination may exaggerate dangers that do not exist. The therapist will also teach you the anatomy that triggers the body's "fight-or-flight" response, and why it can be triggered by situations that are generally harmless.
The therapy is typically conducted in a series sessions lasting about an hour each. Patients are often provided with assignments to complete between sessions. Finding the right therapist for you can be a challenge. You may have to try several before you discover a therapist you feel comfortable with.
Self-help methods, such as breathing exercises, relaxation and meditation can be an effective adjunct to psychotherapy. You can decrease anxiety-related symptoms by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. You can also avoid caffeine and nicotine. It is also possible to incorporate more laughter into your daily life since laughter can be a great stress-reducing agent. Finally, if you have an acute anxiety episode that is threatening your safety or the safety of others, seek out your doctor for an emergency treatment, which is usually a benzodiazepine. This type of treatment isn't always required, but it could be extremely beneficial. Medications are not an alternative to psychotherapy, however, they can be helpful in some cases.
Lifestyle changes
There are many lifestyle modifications that, along with psychotherapy and medication, can help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, avoidance of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, getting enough sleep, and utilizing relaxation techniques can help.
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 can be challenging However, even small amounts of physical activity can be beneficial.
Regular, moderately paced exercise was also found to be effective at treating depression and anxiety disorders. Although the mechanism behind it is unknown, it is believed that exercise influences the brain's chemical chemistry by altering 5-HT neurotransmitters in the dorsal raphe nucleus and decreasing the levels of the cortisol, a stress hormone.
It has been demonstrated that acupuncture, massage, and other CAM treatments can be effective in treating anxiety disorders. However, the evidence is not conclusive and often hindered by poor research methodology. While some studies have shown promise however, the majority of these therapies do not provide the clinical evidence needed for doctors to recommend them.
The relationship between food and anxiety is a complex one. In reality, certain foods can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Highly palatable, fatty foods can promote the production in the brain of reactive oxygen species that can cause anxiety-related symptoms. Dietary improvements, including the restriction of alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, has been shown to help reduce anxiety, but more research is required, including assisted substance withdrawal programs and controlled future studies.
Other dietary supplements such as omega-3 fish oil have been found to be useful in helping to reduce anxiety. The reason for this isn't clear however, researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce production of inflammatory cytokines, and increase the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. Other changes in diet can ease anxiety, including increasing the quantity and variety of fruits and vegetables and incorporating more whole grains and avoiding processed foods.
Herbal and dietary supplements
While herbal remedies and dietary supplements have been used for centuries in some parts of the world to relieve anxiety-related symptoms, the effectiveness and safety of these natural remedies is only recently subjected to rigorous clinical tests. The dietary supplement ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), an herb from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine has been proven to be particularly effective in controlling anxiety and stress. The amino acid precursors l-tryptophan and l -lysine also reduce anxiety symptoms through their effects on neurotransmitters that are involved in the stress response.
Many people who experience anxiety experience a range of symptoms, from the temporary feeling of nervousness or worry that occurs before menstrual surgery or surgery to the constant feelings of unease and tension that characterize more serious types of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder social phobias and panic disorder. Anxiety can be debilitating, with symptoms like sweating, headaches, trembling and sleeplessness.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy is a successful treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT is a type of psychotherapy that teaches people how to recognize and react differently to thoughts and actions that cause anxiety. When combined with medication this method can aid in treating anxiety and relieve symptoms such as depression and fatigue.
A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may aid in reducing anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids, which are found in fish such as mackerel, salmon and herring, are well-known for their benefits to heart health, however, they also have the potential to improve brain functioning. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseeds, walnuts, and chia seeds.
It is important to keep in mind that herbal and dietary supplements aren't regulated by the FDA in the same way that pharmaceutical drugs are, therefore there is a possibility that certain products could be contaminated with other substances or cause negative side effects that could be dangerous. If you are thinking of taking supplements or herbs to control anxiety, consult your doctor before beginning any regimen so that they can advise you on possible interactions with other medications you may be taking, and offer recommendations for dosages.