Treating Anxiety Disorders
If your anxiety interferes with daily activities and persists seek out a mental health specialist. Psychologists specialize in psychotherapy and are able to prescribe medication. Psychologists are medical doctors who specialize in treatments for mental health.
Counseling, medications and other treatments can ease your symptoms and help manage your anxiety. You can also learn stress management techniques and join support groups (both in person and online).
Medication
Anxiety disorders can be treated through psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication or a combination of the two. Talk therapy can help people discover more effective ways to manage their anxieties and decrease the symptoms. People can also improve their mood by exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and applying stress management techniques. The medication can help reduce the severity of anxiety and make other treatments more effective.
Patients suffering from anxiety disorders are at risk of other mental health conditions, including depression. Depression symptoms often overlap with symptoms of anxiety, so it is important to treat both at the same time. A doctor with expertise in treating mental illness (a psychiatrist) can diagnose anxiety and prescribe medication to help relieve the symptoms.
Certain life experiences and inherited characteristics increase the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder. Traumas, such as a war or car accident, can cause anxiety disorders in certain people. A chronic illness or caregiving can cause people to worry overly. Drug abuse, especially alcohol and illegal drugs can also contribute to the development of anxiety disorders.
The first option for treating most anxiety disorders is an antidepressant. Modern antidepressants known as SNRIs and SSRIs, like escitalopram (Lexapro) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) have been proven to be effective in numerous clinical studies. Diazepam, also known as Valium, can also be used to reduce anxiety swiftly. However, they shouldn't be prescribed for more than four weeks at a time because they can be addictive and don't work in the same way after.
Beta-blockers, such as propranolol or atenolol can be used to treat anxiety. They lower blood pressure and heart rates. 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 if people have physical symptoms of anxiety like a fast heartbeat or sweating.
Some sedatives such as Clonazepam (Klonopin), can only be purchased through a prescription. Certain people who suffer from severe anxiety take monoamine oxidase inhibits, such as Anxair (moclobemide).
Psychotherapy
It's normal for children to feel some anxiety or fear at times, their emotions shouldn't affect their lives or cause them to avoid school, friends or family. Anxiety disorders can cause severe depression or other mental health problems that interfere with one's quality of life. These conditions are often managed with psychotherapy (counseling), as well as medications.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most commonly used psychotherapy for anxiety disorders . It helps you to change the patterns of thinking that trigger anxiety. Your therapist will help you learn relaxation techniques and discover ways to deal with when you feel negative emotions. They'll also employ exposure therapy to gradually expose you to situations that trigger anxiety. This is done using systematic desensitization. It involves creating a list of triggers and ranking them by intensity.
Your therapist will also show you how to rethink your unfounded predictions and harmful thoughts. They will assist you in testing your beliefs with experiments, weighing up the pros and cons and determining realistic odds that something bad will occur.
Psychiatrists may prescribe short-term or long-term medications to treat anxiety disorders. Antidepressants, including buspirone and SSRIs are able to help with various forms of anxiety by altering chemical pathways in the brain that regulate mood. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or lorazepam can help in promoting relaxation of muscles and calming the brain. SNRIs like venlafaxine may aid in reducing anxiety since they increase serotonin levels and norepinephrine in the brain.
Psychiatrists monitor your symptoms and answer any questions. They will also make the necessary changes to your treatment plan. Based on the severity of your condition it could take some time for you to recover. You may have to try several therapies or therapists before you discover the one that works best for you. To see the results you want, it is important to stick to your treatment plan. The longer you put off seeking help, the more severe your symptoms could become.
Therapy for interpersonal relationships
Interpersonal therapy is a brief-term kind of psychotherapy that focuses on solving interpersonal issues. It usually lasts 12-16 sessions. It has been scientifically proven to help improve anxiety and depression symptoms. Additionally it has been demonstrated to be effective in treating depression that is comorbid and PTSD. It also helps in addressing work-related and social difficulties in people with PTSD.
The initial sessions (1-3) focus on gathering information and identifying trouble areas. For instance, a therapy therapist may help you develop an inventory of your key relationships. The therapist will assist you to identify your issues by the severity of the problem and the potential for improvement. In the middle sessions (4 - 14), you will work with your therapist to come up with solutions for each of these areas. Then, you will apply the new strategies in your daily life between sessions.
The most significant feature of IPT is that it frames the patient's problems as a medical condition, not as a character flaw. This can help ease patients feeling of self-reflection and guilt. It also helps patients realize that their symptoms are a combination of their current conditions and medical illness.
When selecting a therapist, make sure you select a therapist who is certified by your state's association for psychology and specializes in your condition. Research the therapist's training and background. You can ask other doctors for referrals. Before beginning therapy, make sure that you and your therapist are both in agreement on the goals of the sessions. For instance, you may want to focus on improving your interpersonal skills or conquering your fears of intimacy.
Self-help
Anxiety is normal in response to certain stressful events. However, it becomes a problem when it becomes so intense that it interferes your daily life. Many people with anxiety disorders need psychotherapy and medication to heal. Self-help techniques are a great method to ease anxiety symptoms and help you cope with them. Breathing exercises and relaxation, for example can reduce your heart rate and help you relax. Try to do these exercises at least once a week, paying attention to how your body feels when you breathe in and out. Recognizing negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones can reduce anxiety.
Changing your diet and getting regular exercise can help you feel better. You could be able reduce your intake of caffeine, nicotine and alcohol which can cause or increase anxiety. Regular exercise relieves tension and stimulates the brain to produce serotonin. This chemical is thought to improve mood. You should do 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical exercise each week.
There are many ways to find self-help solutions for anxiety, such as support groups, self-help books and online resources. Some of these resources provide exercises that you can complete at home, like identifying your anxiety triggers and learning to challenge your anxious thinking. Some of these resources provide face-to-face sessions to t
