What's The Good And Bad About Treating Anxiety

Treating Anxiety

Treatment of anxiety typically involves psychological counseling, which can include psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT helps people identify the negative thoughts patterns that can cause anxiety and a variety of other feelings.

Medication can help control physical symptoms of anxiety such as rapid heartbeat or shaking. Patients must consult with their physician to determine the best medication and dosage for them.

Medicines

Anxiety is a natural response to stress and can keep us from sleeping properly But there are treatments that can aid. Medication can reduce anxiety-related symptoms and make it easier to live your life, while addressing the root causes. A combination of medication and therapy could be even more effective on your mood and enhance your quality of life.

Antidepressants treat anxiety by increasing levels of chemicals that help you calm down in your brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly used antidepressants. They prevent nerve cells from absorbing serotonin in the brain and increase the availability of serotonin. This makes you feel calmer. These are medications such as Celexa Lexapro Paxil and Zoloft. Other types of antidepressants that can be used to treat anxiety include serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants.

Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are effective in relieving anxiety symptoms. They accomplish this by affecting brain receptors which produce an energizing effect. They are effective in managing anxiety, but they can become addictive if they are used for more than 4 weeks and are not as effective over time, and therefore are generally not prescribed for long-term use.

Other antianxiety medications such as quetiapine, buspirone, and clonidine decrease the amount of stress hormone cortisol in your body by blocking receptors within the brain. The most common side effects are drowsiness and dry mouth. People can also be afflicted by diarrhea, nausea constipation, nausea and sexual dysfunction when taking antidepressants or SSRIs.

There are other antianxiety drugs like phenytoin and melatonin are sedatives that decrease the activity of certain neurons in the brain, which helps reduce anxiety. Antihistamines are also used to treat anxiety. They reduce the itching that is caused by allergies, and help you feel more comfortable.

Monoamine oxide inhibitors such as tetracycline or moclobemide, can also be used to decrease anxiety. These are usually used after other treatments fail. Some doctors are able to prescribe prescription medications off-label, which have been proven to reduce anxiety during clinical trials, but they are not licensed.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy or talk therapy with mental health professionals can help relieve anxiety disorders. This could be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor who specializes in mental illness) or psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker. In addition to addressing the root cause of anxiety, the therapist will offer support and encouragement. The presence of the therapist's physical presence is essential for patients suffering from anxiety. It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and gives them a sense of security.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is usually the best option for treating anxiety. This approach teaches you how to manage your anxiety and gradually return to activities you avoided due to anxiety. This includes exposure therapy, in which you slowly encounter the thing or event that causes anxiety, so that you learn to tolerate it and overcome your fears.

Psychotherapy helps you understand why you feel anxious, and how your imagination can exaggerate dangers that do not exist. The psychotherapist will also explain to you the physiological basis of the body's "fight-or-flight" response and the reasons it could be triggered by things that are usually harmless.

The therapy is typically conducted in a series of sessions lasting one hour each. Patients are usually given assignments to complete between sessions. Finding the right therapist may be a challenge. You may have to try several before you find a therapist you are comfortable with.

Self-help techniques can be useful as an adjunct to psychotherapy, such as meditation, relaxation exercises and breathing techniques. You can lower anxiety by ensuring you get enough rest, exercising regularly, and abstaining from caffeine and nicotine. You can also incorporate more laughter into your life as it is a powerful stress-reducing agent. If you're suffering from an acute anxiety attack that could be threatening your safety or that of others' safety, talk to your physician for an emergency anxiolytic, and preferably a benzodiazepine. This type of treatment isn't always needed, but can be extremely beneficial. The use of medicines is not a substitute to psychotherapy, but it can be beneficial in certain cases.

Lifestyle changes

There are many lifestyle modifications that, along with psychotherapy and medication, could help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, abstaining from smoking, alcohol and caffeine as well as getting enough rest and implementing relaxation techniques can be helpful.

Regular exercise is a powerful way to reduce stress and improve your mood. It has also been proven that it can improve anxiety symptoms and self-reported mood. It can be challenging to find an exercise program that is right for you, however even a small amount of exercise can be beneficial.

Regular, moderately-graded exercise was also shown to be effective in treating depression and anxiety disorders. While the underlying mechanisms remain unclear but it is believed that exercise influences brain chemistry by modulating 5-HT neurotransmitters within the dorsal raphe nucleus, and decreasing circulating levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

The use of acupuncture, massage therapy and other CAM treatments has been found to be effective in treating anxiety disorders. However, evidence is limited and often hindered by poor methodology. While some studies show promise but the majority of these therapies do not provide the clinical evidence needed for doctors to recommend them.

The relationship between food and anxiety is complex. In fact, certain foods can actually cause anxiety symptoms. Highly palatable, fatty foods can increase the production in the brain of reactive oxygen species which can aggravate or trigger anxiety-related symptoms. It has been demonstrated that diet changes, particularly restriction of alcohol and nicotine can help reduce anxiety. However, further research that includes controlled prospective studies and substance withdrawal programs, is needed.

Other dietary supplements like omega-3 fish oil have been found to be useful in decreasing anxiety. The reason for this isn't clear however, research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids could reduce production of inflammatory cytokines, and increase the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs in reducing anxiety symptoms.  IamPsychiatry  can help with anxiety, such as increasing the quantity and variety of vegetables and fruits as well as incorporating more whole grains and avoiding all processed foods.

Herbal and dietary supplements

Clinical trials have only been conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of natural supplements that have been used in certain parts of world for centuries to relieve anxiety symptoms. Ashwagandha, a plant that comes from Indian medicine's Ayurvedic tradition, is particularly effective at controlling anxiety and stress. Amino acid precursors such as l-tryptophan and L-lysine are also believed to reduce anxiety symptoms through influencing neurotransmitters involved in the stress response.

People who suffer from anxiety experience a variety of symptoms, ranging from a transient feeling of nervousness or worry that is experienced prior to surgery or menstruation to the constant anxiety and feelings of tension that are characteristic of more serious kinds of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder panic disorder and social phobias. Anxiety can be debilitating with symptoms such as sweating, headaches, trembling, and difficulty sleeping.

Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy is a highly effective treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that helps patients to recognize and respond to thoughts and behaviors that trigger anxiety in a different way. This method, when combined with medication, can assist combat anxiety and reduce the symptoms associated with it, such as depression and fatigue.

A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids can aid in reducing anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids found in fish like mackerel, salmon and herring, have been known to improve heart health, but may also improve the brain. Flaxseeds can also be a great source of omega-3 fats.

It is important to keep in mind that dietary and herbal supplements aren't regulated by the FDA in the same way as pharmaceutical drugs are, and therefore there is a chance certain products could be infected with other substances or cause side effects that could be dangerous. If you are considering taking supplements or herbs to reduce anxiety, speak with your physician before starting any treatment plan so that they can advise you on possible interactions with other medications you might be taking and provide recommendations for dosages.