Treating Anxiety Disorders
Speak to a mental health professional If your anxiety is constant and interferes with your daily activities. Psychologists specialize in psychotherapy and are able to prescribe medications. Psychologists are medical professionals that specialize in mental health treatments.
Counseling, medications and other treatments can ease your symptoms and help you manage your anxiety. There are other ways to manage your anxiety, such as learning techniques for managing stress or joining support groups (in person or online).
Medication
Anxiety disorders can be treated using psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication or a combination of the two. Talk therapy can help people discover better ways to cope with their anxieties and decrease the symptoms. People can also improve their mood by exercising regularly, sleeping enough and applying stress management techniques. The medication can help reduce the severity of anxiety and make other treatments more effective.
People suffering from anxiety disorders are at a higher chance of developing other mental health conditions including depression. Depression and anxiety symptoms frequently overlap, which is why it is important to treat both at the same time. A psychiatrist who is trained to treat mental disorders can diagnose anxiety, and prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms.
The risk of developing an anxiety disorder is increased by certain life experiences and traits that are inherited. Trauma, such as car accidents or war can trigger an anxiety disorder in some people. A chronic illness or the caregiving can cause people to worry excessively. An anxiety disorder can be caused by addiction to drugs including alcohol and illicit drugs.
The most effective treatment option for the majority of anxiety disorders is an antidepressant. Modern antidepressants called SNRIs and SSRIs, like escitalopram (Lexapro) and duloxetine (Cymbalta), have been proven effective in numerous clinical studies. Benzodiazepines, like diazepam (Valium) are sometimes used to quickly ease anxiety. However, they aren't usually prescribed for more than four weeks because they can become addictive and stop working as well after that.
Beta-blockers such as propranolol and atenolol can be used to treat anxiety. They can lower blood pressure and heart rate. Anticonvulsants, such as the drug levothyroxine sodium (Levothyrix), can help control shaking and trembling. The use of low doses of antipsychotics, such as buspirone (BuSpar) are helpful for people who have physical symptoms of anxiety such as a rapid heartbeat or sweating.
Certain sedatives, including clonazepam (Klonopin), are available only by prescription. depressive anxiety disorder who suffer from extreme anxiety may use monoamine oxidase inhibitors like Anxair (moclobemide).
Psychotherapy
While it's normal for children to at times to experience anxiety or fear however, these feelings shouldn't interfere with their lives in the present or cause them to withdraw or become isolated from their family, friends or school. Anxiety disorders can cause severe depression, or other mental health issues that affect the quality of life of a person. These disorders are usually treated with psychotherapy (counseling) and also medication.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most popular psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. It helps you to change the patterns of thinking that cause anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you on relaxation techniques and assist you to discover ways to manage negative emotions. They'll also employ exposure therapy to gradually expose you to situations that trigger anxiety. This is done using systematic desensitization. This involves identifying triggers and ranking them by intensity.
Your therapist will teach you how to challenge your irrational beliefs and preconceptions. They will help you test your beliefs that you aren't happy with by conducting experiments, weighing the pros and cons and determining the realistic probability that something bad could happen.
Psychiatrists may prescribe short-term and long-term medication to treat anxiety disorders. Antidepressants, such as SSRIs and buspirone can assist in reducing anxiety by altering chemicals in the brain that regulate mood. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or lorazepam are effective in encouraging relaxation of muscles and in calming the brain. SNRIs, including venlafaxine, are able to help reduce anxiety by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine levels within the brain.
Psychiatrists can monitor your symptoms, answer any questions and make changes to your treatment plan as required. It may take some time to recover from your disorder depending on its severity. It is possible to test various therapies or therapists until you find the one that works for you. It is essential to stick to your treatment plan to see the results. The longer you put off the decision to seek help, the more severe your symptoms may become.
Interpersonal therapy
Interpersonal therapy is a type of psychotherapy for short durations that focuses primarily on solving interpersonal problems. It is usually completed in 12-16 sessions. It has been proven empirically to help improve anxiety and depression symptoms. It has also been shown to be effective for treating depression comorbid to PTSD. It is also useful in dealing with work-related and social issues for people suffering from PTSD.
The first three sessions are dedicated to collecting information and identifying issues. The therapist may assist you in making a list of your most important relationships. The therapist will help you identify your issues based on the severity of the problem and the potential for improvement. In the middle sessions (4 between 14 and 4), you will collaborate with your therapist to come up with solutions for each of these problematic areas. You will then practice the new strategies in your daily life between sessions.
One of the most significant characteristics of IPT is that it frames the patient's presenting problems as a medical illness rather than an individual flaw or failure. This can relieve patients' self-doubt and guilt. It can also help patients recognize that their ailments are the result of the combination of their current situation and their medical condition.
When choosing a therapist be sure to choose someone who is certified by your state's association for psychology and who is specialized in your condition. Then, research the therapist's background and training. You can also ask other physicians for referrals. Before beginning therapy, make sure you and your therapist can agree on the goals of the sessions. You may, for instance, want to focus on improving your interpersonal skills or overcome fears of intimacy.
Self-help
Anxiety is normal and a reaction to certain stressful events. However, it becomes an issue when it becomes so intense that it disrupts your daily life. A lot of people suffering from anxiety disorders need psychotherapy and medication to recover. Self-help techniques are a great way to reduce anxiety symptoms and help you deal with anxiety symptoms. Relaxation and breathing exercises for instance can reduce your heart rate and help you relax. Try to do these exercises several times per day, paying attention to the way your body feels when you breathe in and out. Recognizing negative thoughts and replacing them with more positive ones can help to reduce anxiety.
Changing your diet and getting regular exercise can help you feel better. You can reduce your intake of nicotine, caffeine and alcohol that can cause or trigger anxiety. Regular exercise releases tension and stimulates the brain to produce serotonin. This chemical is believed to improve mood. Do 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical exercise each week.
Self-help resources for anxiety include self-help groups, support groups books, and online resources. Some of these resources offer exercises that you can complete at home, such as identifying your anxiety triggers and learning to challenge your anxious thinking. Some of these resources also offer face-to-face sessions with therapy professionals or others with similar issues.
Psychological interventions are essential treatments for anxiety disorders. they include cognitive behavioural therapy which helps you change patterns of thinking that lead to anxiety exposure therapy, in which you gradually confront the situations, objects or people that trigger your anxiety; and complementary health techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises, and relaxation. These strategies can be used together with medications.
Certain people require the services of a doctor to rule out any medical issues that can be the cause of their anxiety. Then they can begin treatment. Anxiety disorders are difficult to manage and can affect school, work and social life. They can also lead to depression, which is linked with a higher risk of suicide. People who do not seek treatment for their symptoms are at a greater risk of developing them into a more serious mental health condition.