Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can destroy the quality of life of a person by making them feel stressed exhausted, depressed and depressed. Worry can prevent people from interacting, reinforcing a misguided sense that they are in danger and creating a sense of isolation.
Exercise as well as psychotherapy and medication are all part of the treatment for anxiety. Medications can include antidepressants, such as SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram), and benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or lorazepam.
Medicines
Most people feel anxious at times, but when that feeling lasts for a long time or is a hindrance to daily activities, it is an indication of an anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy and medication are usually employed to treat anxiety disorders. While medications can alleviate the symptoms, they don't solve anxiety disorders. They must be used alongside psychotherapy and lifestyle adjustments.
Medications that are commonly prescribed to treat anxiety include antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Antidepressants help to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are sedatives that work quickly to stop the body's reaction to anxiety. They can also be addictive and are therefore not recommended for use in the long term.
SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) assist in reducing levels of cortisol which is the stress hormone, within the body. They also block the brain's receptors that absorb serotonin which allows more of the mood-enhancing chemical to move around. This reduces anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. Pros: SSRIs are readily available, effective for most people and have a high safety profile. Cons: Some patients experience side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness and dry mouth.
best anxiety treatment like propranolol are also effective in treating anxiety-related symptoms. These medications are typically prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart issues. However, doctors may prescribe them "off label" to treat anxiety. They are used to lessen the effects of stress hormones within the body, like adrenaline and noradrenaline, that raise your heart rate and blood pressure. They can also cause negative effects, such as orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia and sedation.
Making changes to your diet and getting enough exercise can ease anxiety. Meditation and yoga can also aid in easing anxiety. There are also other treatments for the mind such as acupuncture and Tai Chi that can ease anxiety. Talk to your doctor about what options are suitable for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy that is based on scientific research, is effective for treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the idea that feelings, thoughts and physical sensations are interconnected, and that negative patterns can trap you in the cycle of. CBT helps you recognize negative thoughts and patterns and then implement techniques to help you control them. It also helps you manage your reactions to anxiety-provoking situations and develop coping strategies.
In the first session, the therapist will usually conduct an assessment. This may include filling out questionnaires, interviewing you, or supplying written materials. This will help them identify the specific disorder you suffer from and identify the symptoms that are distressing. It will also help determine whether your current treatments are working. The test will also help determine if you can have an emotional connection.
CBT usually lasts 20 sessions or less. In these sessions, you will see your therapist at a minimum every week or two weeks. Your therapist will instruct you on various self-help methods that include how to reframe negative thinking and practice positive outcomes. They will also assist you to develop coping skills including how to relax your body and calm your mind.
Your therapist may also provide you with tools, such as therapy worksheets that aid you in identifying the symptoms and triggers. They will assist you in working through your anxiety in small steps to ensure that the process becomes less daunting. If you are scared of social situations, your therapist might invite you to play with them and then move onto talking to family or friends.
Another benefit of CBT is behavioural experiments. It helps you to challenge your irrational predictions of catastrophe by providing evidence against them. For instance, if you are worried that something catastrophic will happen if you leave the house, you might do an experiment with your behavior by making a prediction prior to going out, for example "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 is used to help people relax, alter their perception of their symptoms and alter their behavior. It can be used to help overcome phobias. It helps to ease stress and anxiety, but can also help with pain. The effects of hypnosis may be long lasting and the benefits can be seen after just one session.
During a hypnosis session (or when listening to a recording) the therapist will guide you into a state of trance that feels a bit like being in a daydream. In this relaxed state you can listen to the suggestions of the therapist and respond. They may ask you to imagine a safe and comfortable space and then instruct you to pay attention to the sensory details that gradually become real. This is called a 'deepening state of trance.' This is the point where the therapy starts to work and you will begin to notice a difference in your symptoms.
Many people notice a shift immediately. After hypnotherapy sessions, they can feel the shift as soon as they leave the room or close their eyes. This is quite normal and can feel magical. For some people however, it might require several sessions before they can notice any positive changes. This is normal, and it's important to give therapy time to get things going.
If you're considering the use of hypnotherapy, it is best to consult with your doctor first. They will be able to discuss your options and answer any questions that you may have about hypnotherapy for anxiety. Hypnosis isn't available on the NHS therefore you'll have to arrange an appointment in private with a trained therapist. The sessions are costly however they are more cost-effective than other types of treatment for anxiety.
Hypnosis can be used to treat PTSD. This condition occurs after traumatizing events like a car crash, natural disaster or war. It can cause anxiety, depression, and other problems. Symptoms of PTSD are intrusive memories of night terrors, an increase in anxiety. Hypnotherapy can be a very effective treatment for PTSD, and it's usually combined with other talking therapies to get the best results.
Exercise
Exercise is a great treatment for anxiety. One vigorous exercise session can relieve anxiety symptoms for hours, and a consistent schedule of exercise can significantly reduce them over time.
Although it is well-documented that regular exercise has health benefits, few studies have specifically examined its effects on anxiety. A new study suggests that intense exercise routines are particularly beneficial for those suffering from anxiety.
Researchers involved in the study led University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson assigned 223 people with anxiety issues to a 12-week program of group exercise that included low- or high-intensity workouts. They also gave them tips on how to incorporate exercises into their life. The results were clear: those who were in the high-intensity group showed significantly more improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the lower intensity group.
These results have implications for the use of exercise plans in general practice. Patients suffering from anxiety tend to be more sedentary than those who are not suffering from the condition. This could contribute to their mental health issues. Physical activity is associated with an increase of 25 percent in the risk of suffering from depression or anxiety disorders than sedentary people.
Exercise can have a positive effect on mental health. It boosts the release of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, serotonin and other. In addition, it helps improve self-esteem and the quality of sleep. But the benefit of physical exercise is greater than that: a number of studies have proven that it is as effective as antidepressants for treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis carried out by Jayakody and co-workers identified eight studies comparing groups who exercised to those that did not exercise. All of these studies reported an improvement in anxiety levels. However, the researchers limited their studies to those that involved participants with an anxiety disorder that was formally diagnosed. It is clear that further research is needed to determine if exercise can be an effective treatment option for those with clinically elevated anxiety levels.