Anxiety Disorder Help
If you are experiencing persistent anxiety symptoms, you should seek assistance. Treatment for anxiety disorders typically includes therapy and medication.
You may be prescribed benzodiazepines or modern antidepressants, to treat anxiety. SSRIs, such as Lexapro and Prozac, and SNRIs, such as duloxetine or Venlafaxine are a few examples. Your therapist could also instruct you on techniques to reduce anxiety symptoms, such as confronting negative thoughts or exposure therapy.
Medications
Medication is one option to treat anxiety disorders and reduce the need for psychotherapy. They're not suitable for everyone, and there are many other options. For example, getting plenty of exercise and focusing on healthy eating and using relaxation techniques are methods to manage stress that do not require medication. If you're taking medication to control anxiety, be sure to follow the prescribed dosages and attend your therapy appointments.
Doctors often prescribe antidepressants for those suffering from anxiety disorders. They can take as long as six weeks to start working. They can correct an imbalance in brain chemical production. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the most commonly used antidepressants to treat anxiety. The neurotransmitters that affect mood are affected by medications like Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro. Other medications, like SNRIs, like Effexor (venlafaxine) and Cymbalta (duloxetine) are also prescribed for both depression and anxiety.
If SSRIs aren't working doctors might prescribe benzodiazepines to treat anxiety symptoms. These tranquilizers work by targeting GABA (gamma-aminobutyric Acid), a chemical that calms the brain. Common benzodiazepines include Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam). They can have serious side effects, including addiction, and are typically prescribed for short-term use.
Other medications, such as propranolol, which is approved for the treatment of social anxiety, work by inhibiting a chemical called Monoamine Oxidase A. They do not affect the brain in the same way as benzodiazepines but can be more efficient. Benzodiazepines and SNRIs are generally reserved for those suffering from severe anxiety, while SSRIs can be used in a variety of anxiety disorders.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, may be part of a treatment plan for anxiety disorders. A trained mental health professional can help you choose the right kind of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy focuses on speaking with a therapist about your concerns and working together to build skills and techniques to manage anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that can help you to learn how to confront anxious thoughts and behaviors. CBT helps you recognize and stop unhelpful thinking or feeling patterns. It helps you identify specific situations such as objects, people, or objects that cause anxiety and learn how to manage. CBT is recommended for a variety of types anxiety disorders.
It is a form of psychotherapy which can be used to treat anxiety disorders. During this treatment you will lay on a couch or reclined chair, as the therapist guides through the different phases of therapy. This may include following an object with your eyes or listening to music and reliving a negative memory from your past. EMDR can help you reduce anxiety symptoms and overcome negative associations.
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a kind of psychotherapy that is focused on improving your relationships and social functioning. IPT is not a cure for anxiety, but it can assist you in addressing issues that could be causing anxiety.
Exercise
Exercise is a natural stress reliever and has been shown to ease anxiety. Exercise is crucial for your physical health and it can also improve your sleep. Both of these may be affected by anxiety disorders. It's also a low-cost treatment and may be possible to do on your own.
The types of exercise that work best vary but the majority of studies show the efficacy of everything from tai-chi to high-intensity interval training. The most important thing is to find something you like and enjoy, as it increases your chances of participating and building resilience. Exercise can be an excellent opportunity to get away from the monotony of life and reduce anxious rumination. This is particularly beneficial for those who suffer from Distraction Theory, a psychological theory that claims that anxious patients tend to avoid social interaction and engage in excessive self-talk and worry.
While exercise cannot completely eliminate anxiety, it can be used in conjunction with other treatments to decrease the severity of symptoms. Exercise and exposure therapy can be used to help patients overcome their fear of flying or driving. Attention training is another powerful technique that helps a person 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.
The evidence on the efficacy of exercise as a stand-alone treatment for anxiety is limited however it is an attractive option for treatment of this incredibly common mental illness. Exercise is likely to play a role in the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially since many GPs offer "exercise on prescription" schemes that provide patients with an exercise program that is subsidised at the local gym.
Relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques can reduce anxiety and stress through the body's relaxation response that is described as a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. These practices include meditation deep breathing, guided imagery, and biofeedback-assisted relaxation. These techniques are the most effective for most people if they practice them regularly.
A health professional or mental health professional can show you these techniques and give you the tools to apply these techniques on your own. Your health care team may recommend joining self-help groups or group therapy. These are great places to connect with others with similar struggles. Maintaining contact with friends and family regularly exercising and staying clear of alcohol and other drugs can be helpful in decreasing stress.
Psychotherapy for anxiety disorders includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. CBT helps you to identify and challenge irrational fears and negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Then, you learn to replace them with more rational and calm thoughts. Exposure therapy is a process of gradually confronting situations that cause anxiety until you are able to manage the situation without fear. Usually, you start with the least frightening situations and then move on to more difficult ones.
Other psychological treatments include mindfulness, support groups, and hypnosis. These treatments are particularly beneficial for those who suffer from co-occurring issues, such as depression and addiction to drugs. Other helpful habits can be getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet. Regular exercise is essential because it helps burn up stress chemicals produced during stressful times. It is also important to build strong bonds with other people, because loneliness and isolation can exacerbate your anxiety symptoms.
Healthy eating habits
Anxiety can trigger a range of physical symptoms and behavior, including abdominal pain, muscle tension and feelings of panic. While it's normal to be worried and anxious at times, excessive anxiety can cause an overwhelming feeling of helplessness and fear that can hinder your daily activities. If you're prone to anxiety, learning coping techniques and following the guidance of your doctor can help you manage your symptoms.
A nutritious diet, in addition to therapy and medication, can help improve your anxiety symptoms. A diet that is high in vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help to reduce your stress levels and provide the nutrients your body requires to function properly.
Avoid foods high in fat or sugar as they can trigger anxiety symptoms. You should also drink plenty of water and other non-caffeinated drinks to keep well-hydrated. Avocados, bananas, and dark chocolate are just a few of the food items that can ease anxiety. Foods that are naturally high in magnesium, like leafy green vegetables (spinach and Swiss chard) and pumpkin seeds as well as legumes, nuts and whole grains are also beneficial options. Omega-3 fatty acid, which is found in fish like salmon, trout and sardines as well as walnuts, may aid in relieving anxiety symptoms.
It is essential to seek treatment when you are suffering from both anxiety disorders and eating disorders. treating anxiety disorders for both disorders is typically best accomplished by combining psychiatric medication and mental health therapy. Talk therapy can help you understand how to deal effectively with negative emotions, and then replace them with positive ones. Psychiatric medications can help reduce anxiety symptoms and prevent their excessive growth.