Treatment Of Anxiety Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety can affect the quality of life of an individual because it makes them feel overwhelmed exhausted, depressed, and stressed. Worry can prevent people from socializing, creating a false belief that they are in danger, and creating isolation.

Treatment for anxiety includes psychotherapy, medication, and exercise. The medications can include antidepressants like SSRIs (citalopram, Escitalopram) and benzodiazepines like diazepam and lorazepam.

Medications

Anxiety disorders are a result of anxiety that lasts for too long or is a hindrance to daily life. Psychotherapy and medications are typically used to treat anxiety disorders. Although medications can relieve symptoms, they do not cure anxiety disorders. They should be used in conjunction alongside psychotherapy and lifestyle adjustments.

Antidepressants as well as other benzodiazepines can be frequently prescribed to treat anxiety. Antidepressants address a chemical imbalance within the brain, which can cause anxiety. Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are sedatives that quickly stop the body's reaction to anxiety. They can also be addictive and shouldn't be used for a long time.

SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) aid in reducing the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body. They also block receptors that soak up serotonin in the brain, allowing more of the mood enhancing chemical to circulate and ease the anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. SSRIs have a solid safety record, are accessible and effective for the majority of people. Cons Some patients have side effects, such as dizziness, drowsiness and dry mouth.

Propranolol and various other psychiatric medications can also help with anxiety-related symptoms. These drugs are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart ailments, but doctors sometimes prescribe them "off-label" for anxiety. They help to lessen the effects of stress hormones, like adrenaline and noradrenaline that increase blood pressure and heart rate. They can also trigger adverse effects like orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure when standing up), bradycardia (slower than the normal heart rate) and sedation.

Change your diet and ensuring you get enough exercise can help ease anxiety. Meditation and yoga can also help ease anxiety. Additionally there are treatments for the mind and body that can help ease anxiety such as Tai chi and acupuncture. Speak to your doctor about the options that might be most suitable for you.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy that is based on scientific research that is effective in treating anxiety disorders. It works on the principle that thoughts, feelings and physical sensations are interconnected and that negative patterns can lead you into an endless cycle. CBT teaches how to identify negative thoughts and patterns and then implement strategies to control them. It also teaches you how to regulate your reactions to anxiety-producing scenarios and develop coping mechanisms.

In the initial sessions the therapist will usually conduct an assessment. This could involve completing questionnaires or conducting an interview or supplying written materials. This will allow them to identify the specific disorder you suffer from and identify the symptoms that are distressing. It will also determine whether your current treatment options are effective. They will also use the assessment to determine if they are able to establish a therapeutic relationship with you.

CBT usually lasts for 20 sessions or less. Your therapist will visit you at least once a week during these sessions. Your therapist will teach various self-help techniques that include how to change your perspective on unhelpful thinking and practice positive outcome images. They will also teach you coping strategies such as how to relax your mind and relax your body.

Your therapist could also provide you with different tools, like therapy worksheets that will assist you in identifying your triggers and symptoms. They will help you work through your anxiety in small steps, so that the process is less intimidating. If you're afraid of social situations, your therapist could allow you to role-play them before moving on to talking to your family or friends.

Another aspect of CBT is behavioural experiments. It allows you to challenge your irrational catastrophic predictions by developing helpful evidence to counter them. If you're afraid that something terrible will occur to you if leave your home you can conduct a behavioural test by making predictions. For example, "If I go for dinner, I'll contract food poisoning." Then you can verify whether or not your prediction was correct.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can be used as an alternative to medication to treat anxiety. Hypnosis is used to help people relax, change their perception of their symptoms, and alter their behavior. It can also be used to overcome phobias. It can be used to decrease stress and anxiety however, it can also assist with pain. The effects of hypnosis last for a long time and can be seen after just one session.

In a hypnosis session (or while listening to a recorded audio) the therapist will guide you into a state of mind that is like a dream. In this state of trance you will be able to hear and respond to suggestions given by the therapist. They may ask you to imagine a secure and comfortable place and after that they will instruct you to pay attention to the sensory details that gradually become more real. This is referred to as a "deepening state of trance.' Here is where you will start to notice a difference in the symptoms.

Many people notice a difference immediately. After hypnotherapy you can feel the shift as soon as they leave the room or open up their eyes. This is normal, and sometimes it can feel like magic. For some however, it might take a few sessions before they notice any positive changes. This is normal and it is crucial to allow time for the therapy to get it working.

Always consult your doctor prior to starting treatment with hypnotherapy. They will be able to discuss your options and answer any questions you might have regarding the benefits of hypnotherapy for anxiety. You'll need to schedule an appointment in private if you want to use the technique of hypnosis. These sessions can be costly however they are more cost-effective than other forms treatment for anxiety.


Hypnosis is sometimes used to treat PTSD. This is a condition that is triggered by a traumatizing event like a car accident, natural disaster or war. It can trigger anxiety, depression and other issues. The signs of PTSD are arousing memory of night terrors, increased anxiety. Hypnotherapy can be a very effective treatment for PTSD and is usually combined with other talking therapy to achieve the best results.

Exercise

Exercise is a great treatment for anxiety. A single vigorous exercise session can relieve anxiety symptoms for hours and a regular schedule of exercise can dramatically reduce them over time.

While it is well-documented that regular exercise has health benefits, very few studies have looked specifically at the effects it has on anxiety. A new study suggests high intensity exercise is particularly effective in treating anxiety.

The researchers involved in the study, led by University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson The study assigned 223 people suffering from anxiety to a 12-week group exercise program that included either high or low intensity workouts. They also gave them instructions on how to incorporate fitness into their routines. The results were evident: those in the high intensity group showed significantly greater improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the lower intensity group.

anxiety disorder treatments at home have implications on the use of exercise programs in general practice. Patients suffering from anxiety tend to be more sedentary than those who do not suffer from the condition and the absence of physical activity could contribute to their psychiatric problems. Research shows that those who are physically active are less likely to suffer from depression or an anxiety disorder than those who are inactive.

It's not surprising that exercising has a positive effect on mental health. It stimulates the release of positive hormones like serotonin as well as dopamine. It can improve sleep and increase self-esteem. However, the benefits of exercise are even greater studies have proven that it's more effective than antidepressants in treating anxiety.

A recent meta-analysis by Jayakody et al identified eight studies that compared groups that exercised with those who didn't exercise. All of these studies reported a reduction in anxiety. The researchers restricted their analyses to studies that involved participants who had a medical diagnosis of anxiety disorder. This means that more research is needed to determine whether exercise is a viable option for those with clinically raised anxiety levels.