How Anxiety is Treated
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time usually in response to stressful life events. When these feelings become overwhelming and cause problems in your daily life it could be a sign that you suffer from anxiety disorders.
A mental health professional can evaluate your symptoms and run tests to rule out other conditions. The use of medication and psychotherapy is available as treatments options.
Medicines
Everyone feels nervous or worried sometimes, but if these feelings are persistent and disrupt your daily life that you can't function effectively it could be the right the right time to speak with your mental health specialist about medication. Your clinician will help you determine the best medication for your anxiety and discuss other options for treatment, such as exercise, psychotherapy and techniques for managing stress.
Treatments for anxiety include antidepressants and anxiolytics. Antidepressants improve the activity of certain brain chemicals that affect mood, including serotonin. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating a variety of conditions, including depression and anxiety. Other antidepressants like monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants are also approved for treating anxiety disorders. Other benzodiazepines enhance the activity of receptors for the neurotransmitter GABA, which has the effect of calming.
There are two types of anxiolytic medications: standing doses, which you take on a regular basis or as-needed, and medications you use when your anxiety is a major issue. The former may take a while to start working, but they usually reduce or eliminate your symptoms. As-needed medications can work more quickly, usually within 20 minutes, but they will improve your anxiety only for as long as they are in your system.
While medications are a crucial part of your treatment, they aren't able to solve anxiety. Your doctor will inform you about other ways to treat your symptoms like psychotherapy (talk therapy), exercise and stress management techniques and self-help techniques, like breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and biofeedback. Many people suffering from anxiety and phobias benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT, which can teach you to recognize the thoughts that trigger your fears and control them. Other treatments include eye-movement desensitization, reprocessing or EMDR. This can help people overcome trauma, anxiety and depression. Some people can benefit from the practice of acupuncture. This involves placing needles at specific points on the body to relieve tension and pain.
Counseling
Counseling (or psychotherapy), aims to teach you new strategies to think and deal with anxiety. It also assists you in identifying your triggers and discover the underlying causes. Research-backed treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, and exposure therapy are effective in treating anxiety. These treatments can be incorporated with a pharmacotherapy regimen.
Anxiety can be debilitating, but it's important to be aware that you're not the only one. Anxiety affects more than 40 million adults in the US, and the fear and nervousness can cause problems throughout your life. There are many mental health professionals who can help. They include psychologists, counselors and social workers. The WithTherapy platform allows you to connect with a therapist that's uniquely suitable to your preferences and needs.
Many people who suffer from anxiety suffer from symptoms like dread, restlessness, or trouble sleeping. Often, these feelings are triggered by particular situations or events. Counseling can help you learn to recognize triggers and how to manage them so you can feel better.
Cognitive and behavioral treatments have been proven to be more effective than medications for anxiety management and the results of therapy can last for months, or even years after treatment ends. This is because, unlike medications psychotherapy helps you learn how to conquer your anxiety thoughts and behaviors.
Counseling can help you identify your anxiety triggers and also provide a safe environment to discuss your feelings with someone on the same journey. Worrying, having negative or defeating thoughts, and worrying are all common symptoms of anxiety that can be helped by discussing your concerns with an therapist.
Some people seek relief using herbal remedies and supplements in addition to psychotherapy. It's important to remember that these options aren't regulated by the FDA in the same way as prescription drugs and may have harmful side effects. If you decide to try supplements or herbs ensure that you consult with your physician first. You can also join a support group for people with anxiety to meet others who can relate to your experiences.
Self-help strategies
Anxiety is not just an emotional feeling it can trigger physical symptoms like sweating, heart palpitations and nausea. Although there are a few medical conditions that can trigger anxiety, most times it is caused by lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, lack of exercise and sleep problems. Self-management techniques can help manage these symptoms and improve quality of life. These can include relaxation exercises including avoiding nicotine and caffeine as well as a better sleep schedule and effective stress management. Regular exercise is recommended to boost serotonin levels, which counteract anxiety symptoms.
Self-help strategies are usually more effective than medication in managing anxiety-related symptoms. These can include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps patients identify and alter negative thoughts patterns. Another option is exposure therapy, which aids patients confront the things or situations that trigger anxiety by gradually increasing their contact with them. This can be accomplished by imagining the scenario or by actually experiencing it. Exposure therapy can be utilized alone or as part of CBT.
Certain people suffering from anxiety find that keeping a journal of symptoms is helpful. This can help you track the severity and frequency of symptoms, and their impact on your daily activities and relationships. Journals can help a person identify what triggers their anxiety. In addition, a person can join a support group to meet people with anxiety and discuss their experiences.
Other treatments for anxiety include psychotherapy as well as other forms of counseling. A psychiatrist is a physician specializing in mental health. They may prescribe medication. A psychologist or another qualified mental health professional can offer psychotherapy, which entails discussing your concerns and devising strategies for coping. The most common form of treatment for anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT which is a type of psychotherapy which has been proven to be effective in clinical trials.
Psychotherapy
The use of medications to treat anxiety can be beneficial however therapy gives people the chance to regain emotional and physical control when anxiety takes over. Clinical trials conducted in randomised fashion show that psychotherapy is more effective than medications in reducing anxiety symptoms, and its effects last beyond treatment sessions.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the main method of psychotherapy used to combat anxiety. In CBT, patients acquire skills to manage their anxiety by identifying and studying negative thoughts that trigger their anxiety. They replace these thoughts with positive and realistic ones. Patients also learn to use various strategies to lessen their symptoms, such as practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
Another type of psychotherapy that can be beneficial for anxiety is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) which teaches individuals to acknowledge and address their anxieties in a healthy way, instead of absconding from them. This kind of therapy encourages patients to experiment with new things, and gradually confront their fears, until they are able to handle them without issues. Other coping strategies include eye movement desensitization and the reprocessing therapy (EMDR), which uses the repetition of eye movements to change negative emotional reactions to memories that have been causing anxiety.
Psychotherapy for anxiety can also incorporate other methods, such as stress-reduction activities and exercise. Regular physical activity helps maintain heart rate and blood pressure at a healthy level and can help to reduce anxiety symptoms. Eating a balanced diet containing low levels of sugar and limiting caffeine can also help ease anxiety symptoms.
The best psychotherapists are able to communicate with you in a way that you feel comfortable discussing your feelings and opening up. However, finding a good therapist could take some time, and it's typical to have clients meet with several therapists before settling on the right fit. Getting natural remedies to treat anxiety out of therapy requires patience, commitment, and a clear communication with your therapy therapist.