Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can destroy the quality of life of an individual by making them feel overwhelmed, depressed, and tired. Stress can hinder people from interacting, reinforcing a misguided sense that they are in danger and creating a sense of isolation.
Exercise psychotherapy, medication, and exercise are all part of the treatment for anxiety. The medications include antidepressants like SSRIs, citalopram and escitalopram (citalopram and escitalopram) and benzodiazepines like lorazepam and diazepam.
Medicines
Most people feel anxious at times However, if that feeling lasts for too long or interferes with day-to-day life it could be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Treatment of anxiety disorders usually involves psychotherapy and medication. While medications can alleviate symptoms, they cannot solve anxiety disorders. They should be used in conjunction alongside psychotherapy and lifestyle adjustments.
Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed to alleviate anxiety. Antidepressants help to correct a chemical imbalance within the brain which causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are sedatives that are effective in stopping the body's reaction to anxiety. They are also addictive and should not be used long-term.
SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) assist in reducing levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the body. They also block brain receptors that absorb serotonin and allow more of the mood-enhancing chemical. This helps reduce anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. Pros: SSRIs are readily available and are effective for the majority of people and have a good safety profile. Cons: Some patients might suffer from side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness and drowsiness.
Propranolol, along with other psychiatric medicines can also alleviate anxiety symptoms. These drugs are usually prescribed to treat high blood-pressure and heart-related conditions. However, doctors might prescribe them "off label" to treat anxiety. They are used to lessen the effect of stress hormones in the body, like adrenaline and noradrenaline, that raise your heart rate and blood pressure. They can also cause adverse effects such as bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension, and sedation.
Change your diet and ensuring you get enough exercise can alleviate anxiety. Relaxing activities, such as meditation and yoga. There are also mind-body treatments such as acupuncture and Tai Chi that can ease anxiety. Talk to your doctor about what options are suitable for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a scientifically-based psychotherapy that is effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. It is based on the notion that feelings, thoughts and physical sensations are interconnected, and that negative patterns can trap you in the cycle of. CBT helps you recognize negative thoughts and patterns and then implement techniques to help you control them. It also teaches how to manage your reactions to anxiety-producing scenarios and to develop coping strategies.
In the initial session, a therapist usually performs an assessment. This may include completing questionnaires, conducting an interview, or providing written material. This will help 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 working. They will also use the assessment to determine if they can build an emotional connection with you.
CBT is usually short-term, and can last for 20 or fewer sessions. During these sessions, you will see your therapist at least once every week or twice a week. Your therapist will guide you through various self-help techniques that include how to change your perspective on unhelpful thinking and practice positive outcomes. They will also help you develop coping skills including how to relax your body and relax your mind.
Your therapist may also provide you with a variety of tools, such as therapy worksheets, to aid in tracking your symptoms and triggers. They can help you conquer your anxiety in small steps that are manageable and so that it doesn't appear like a daunting task. If you're afraid of social situations, your therapist might invite you to play with them, and then move on to talking to family or friends.
Another benefit of CBT are behavioural experiments. It helps you challenge your irrational catastrophic predictions by providing evidence against them. For example, if fear that something terrible will occur if you leave the home, you could conduct an experiment in your behavioural style by predicting a scenario prior to going out, for example "If I go out for dinner, I will get food poisoning." You can then determine if your prediction was true or false.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is an alternative treatment to medication for anxiety. It utilizes hypnosis to assist people to change their perceptions about their symptoms, modify their behavior and relax. It can also be utilized to overcome fears. It can be used to decrease anxiety and stress, but can also help with pain. The effects of hypnosis can last for a long time and can be felt after just one session.
In a hypnosis session (or while listening to a recorded recording) the therapist will guide you into a state that is like a dream. In this state of relaxation you will be able to hear and respond to suggestions made 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 as they slowly become more real. This is called a 'deepening state of trance.' Here is where you will begin to notice a difference in the symptoms.
Many people notice a difference immediately. After hypnotherapy sessions you can feel the shift immediately after they leave the room or open up their eyes. This is very normal and sometimes it can feel magical. For some however, it could take several sessions before they see any positive changes. This is normal and it's crucial to allow the therapy time to work.
You should always consult your doctor before undergoing treatment with hypnotherapy. They will be able to discuss your options and answer any questions you might have about the benefits of hypnotherapy for anxiety. Hypnosis is not offered on the NHS so you will need to book a private session with a licensed therapist. The sessions can be costly but are generally more cost effective than other forms of treatment for anxiety.
In some cases, hypnosis can be used to treat PTSD. This is a condition that is caused by trauma such as a car accident or natural disaster, or even war and it causes depression, anxiety and other problems. The symptoms of PTSD include recurring memories, nightmares and increased anxiety or hypervigilance. Hypnotherapy is a great method to manage PTSD and it is usually combined with other talking treatments to achieve the optimal results.
Exercise
Exercise is a great treatment for anxiety. Exercise can reduce anxiety symptoms for several hours. A regular schedule of physical exercise can help to reduce them.
Although iampsychiatry.com is well documented that regular exercise has health benefits, very few studies have examined its effects on anxiety. However, a new study suggests that high intensity exercises are particularly effective for anxiety disorders.
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 involved either high or low intensity exercises. They also gave them instructions on how to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. The results were evident. The participants in the high-intensity groups showed significant improvements in their anxiety levels when compared to those in low-intensity.
These findings have implications on the use of exercise programmes in general practice. Patients with anxiety tend to be more sedentary than people who are not suffering from the condition. This could be a contributing factor to their mental health problems. Physical activity is linked to a 25 percent lower risk of suffering from depression or anxiety disorders than people who are sedentary.
It's not a surprise that exercise can improve mental health: it stimulates the release of hormones that make you feel good, such as serotonin and dopamine. It can also improve sleep and boost self-esteem. But the benefit of exercise is greater than that. A variety of studies have shown that it can be as effective as antidepressants in treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis carried out by Jayakody and co-workers identified eight trials comparing groups that exercised versus those who did not exercise. All of these studies found a reduction in anxiety. However, the researchers restricted their analyses to trials that involved participants with an anxiety disorder that was formally diagnosed. This means that further research is required to determine if exercise is an option for people with clinically raised anxiety levels.