Why Treating Anxiety Might Be Your Next Big Obsession
Treating Anxiety
Psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) are the most common treatments for anxiety. CBT helps people identify the harmful thought patterns that lead to anxious and troublesome feelings.
The use of medication can help reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, including shaking and rapid heartbeat. People must work closely with their health care provider to determine the appropriate medication and dosage for them.
Medications
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress, and it can prevent us from sleeping, but there are solutions that can help. Medication can help reduce anxiety symptoms and ease your life while taking care of the root cause. Combining medications and therapy could be even more effective on your mood and improve your overall quality of life.
Antidepressants relieve anxiety by increasing the levels of chemicals that calm you down in your brain. The most commonly used kind of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which block neurons in the brain from reabsorbing serotonin and boost the amount available, making it easier to feel calmer. SSRIs are drugs like Celexa Lexapro Paxil and Zoloft. Other antidepressants which could be used to treat anxiety are serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants.
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium work quickly to relieve anxiety symptoms. They accomplish this by affecting brain receptors that cause a calming affect. They are effective in treating anxiety but can become addictive if they are used for more than four weeks. They do not work as well over time, so they are usually not prescribed for long-term use.
Other antianxiety medicines like quetiapine, buspirone, and clonidine reduce the amount of stress hormone cortisol that is present in your body by blocking receptors in the brain. The most frequent side effect is sleepiness. Antidepressants and SSRIs can also lead to nausea, diarrhea, constipation and sexual dysfunction in certain people.
There are other antianxiety drugs like phenytoin and mellatonin are sedatives that decrease the activity of specific neurons in the brain, which help reduce anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to treat anxiety. They help reduce the itching caused by allergies, and help you feel more relaxed.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as tetracycline or moclobemide are also employed to lower anxiety. They are usually sought after other treatments have failed. Certain doctors may prescribe off-label prescription medications that have been proven to reduce anxiety during clinical studies, but aren't licensed.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy or talk therapy with mental health professionals can help relieve anxiety disorders. This can be a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a licensed clinical social worker. In addition to assisting with the root of the anxiety, the therapist will provide assistance and support. The physical presence of the therapist is essential for patients suffering from anxiety. It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous systems and gives them a sense of safety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is typically the best choice for treating anxiety. This method helps you develop specific techniques to manage your anxiety and gradually return you back to activities that you've avoided because of anxiety. This involves exposure therapy where you gradually come across the situation or object that causes anxiety, and then overcome your anxieties.
Psychotherapy can help you gain a better understanding of the reasons you feel anxious and how your imagination can create a false sense of danger that is not real. The counselor will also guide you through the physiology that triggers 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 sessions lasting one hour each. Patients are often provided with assignments to complete between sessions. Finding the right therapist may be difficult. You may need to try a few before you find a therapist you are comfortable with.
Self-help techniques can be useful adjuncts to psychotherapy, including meditation, relaxation exercises and breathing techniques. You can lessen anxiety by getting enough rest, exercising regularly, and abstaining from caffeine and nicotine. Humor is an excellent stress relief. Try to include more laughter into your life. In the event that you experience an extreme anxiety attack that threatens your safety or that of others, seek out your doctor for emergency anxiolytic treatment, usually with a benzodiazepine. This treatment is not often required, but it can be very beneficial. The use of medicines is not a substitute to psychotherapy but can be helpful in certain situations.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to psychotherapy and medications in addition, there are a variety of lifestyle changes that could significantly help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, getting enough sleep, and utilizing relaxation techniques can all be beneficial.
A regular exercise program can be a great stress reliever and has been proven to improve mood and self-reported anxiety symptoms. Developing an exercise regimen that is safe for every person can be challenging however even small amounts of physical activity can be beneficial.
Regular, moderate graded exercise has also been found to be effective in treating depression and has been associated with a higher rates of remission from anxiety disorders. While the mechanisms remain unknown, it is believed that exercise alters brain chemical by modulating 5-HT Neurotransmitters in dorsal Raphe Nucleus and decreasing levels of cortisol.
It has been established that acupuncture, massage, and other CAM therapies can be beneficial in treating anxiety disorders. However, the evidence is not conclusive and often hindered by poor research methodology. While certain studies show promising results, the majority of these modalities don't have the clinical evidence required for doctors to recommend them as a treatment option.
In addition, the relationship between food and anxiety is complex. In fact, certain foods may actually exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Foods that are highly palatable and fatty can stimulate the production in the brain of reactive oxygen species which can worsen or cause anxiety-related symptoms. Dietary improvement, specifically the reduction of nicotine, alcohol and caffeine, has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety, although further research is needed, including assisted substance withdrawal programs and controlled prospective studies.
It has been demonstrated that other supplements in the diet, such as omega-3 fish oils can reduce anxiety. Researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids supplements can reduce the production of inflammatory molecules and increase the effectiveness of antidepressants in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. medication to treat anxiety can reduce anxiety, for example, increasing the quantity and variety of vegetables and fruits, adding more whole grains and avoiding all processed food items.
Herbal and dietary supplements
Clinical studies have only recently been conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of natural substances that have been used in some regions of the the world for centuries to alleviate anxiety symptoms. The dietary supplement ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant from the Ayurvedic tradition of Indian medicine is found to be particularly effective in managing anxiety and stress. Amino acid precursors l-tryptophan and L-lysine can also help reduce anxiety symptoms by influencing neurotransmitters that play a role in the stress response.
Many people suffering from anxiety experience a broad variety of symptoms. These symptoms may range from a brief feeling such as nervousness or anxiety before surgery or menstruation, to the more persistent feeling of anxiety and unease that are often associated with more severe anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (panic disorder) and social fears. Anxiety can be debilitating, with symptoms that include sweating, headaches, trembling and sleeplessness.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy is a successful treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a form of psychotherapy that teaches patients how to recognize and react differently to the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. This method, when combined with medication, can help combat anxiety and reduce the symptoms associated with it, such as fatigue and depression.
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish such as herring, mackerel, and salmon can also help reduce anxiety symptoms. These fatty acids, which can be found in fish like salmon, mackerel, and herring, are identified to improve the health of the heart as well as improve the brain. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseeds as well as walnuts, chia and flax seeds.
It is important to note that herbal and dietary supplements are not monitored by the FDA in the same way that pharmaceutical drugs are, so there is a chance that some products may be contaminated with other substances or have negative side effects that could be dangerous. If you are considering using dietary supplements or herbs to reduce anxiety, talk to your doctor before starting any regimen. They can advise you about possible interactions with other medications you could be taking and offer suggestions for dosages.