potsilica5 – https://www.iampsychiatry.com/anxiety-treatment

Treatment of Anxiety DisordersAnxiety can destroy a person’s life by making people feel depressed and exhausted. Stress can hinder people from interacting, reinforcing a misguided belief that they are in danger, and creating a sense of loneliness.Exercise psychotherapy, medication, and exercise are all a part of the treatment of anxiety. Treatments include antidepressants, such as SSRIs, citalopram and Escitalopram (citalopram and escitalopram) and benzodiazepines like lorazepam and diazepam.MedicinesPeople are generally anxious from time to time however, when the feeling persists for a long time or becomes a problem in daily life, it is the sign of an anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy and medication are usually used to treat anxiety disorders. Although medication can help alleviate symptoms, they are not able to treat anxiety disorders. Therefore, they should be utilized in conjunction with psychotherapy and other lifestyle adjustments.The most commonly prescribed medications to treat anxiety include antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Antidepressants help to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are sedatives that work quickly to stop the body’s response to anxiety. They are also addictive, and therefore not recommended for use over the long term.SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) help reduce the levels of cortisol which is 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 alleviating anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. SSRIs have a good safety record, are widely available and effective for most people. Cons Some patients experience side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness and dry mouth.Other psychiatric medications, such as propranolol, can also help with anxiety symptoms. These drugs are usually prescribed to treat high blood-pressure and heart conditions. However, doctors may prescribe them “off label” for anxiety. They work to reduce the effects of stress hormones in your body, including noradrenaline and adrenaline, which increase your heart rate and blood pressure. They can also trigger side effects such as orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure when standing up) and bradycardia (slower than normal heart rate) and sedation.Change your diet and ensuring you get enough exercise, can ease anxiety. Relaxing activities like meditation and yoga can help ease anxiety. There are also mind-body treatments such as acupuncture and Tai Chi that can ease anxiety. Speak to your doctor about the treatments that could be the best for you.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).Cognitive behavioral therapy, a psychotherapy founded on scientific research and proven to be effective in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the idea that emotions, thoughts and physical sensations have a connection and that negative patterns can cause you to be caught in a vicious circle. CBT helps you recognize your negative thought patterns, and implement techniques to control them. It also helps you regulate your responses to anxiety-producing situations and to develop strategies for coping.In the initial session, a therapist will typically conduct an assessment. This may include filling out questionnaires, conducting interviews, or supplying written materials. It will help them understand your specific disorder, pinpoint the symptoms that are troubling you, and determine whether your current treatments are working. The test will also be used to determine if you can have an therapeutic relationship.CBT is usually short-term and can last for 20 or less sessions. In these sessions, you will meet with your therapist at least once every week or twice a week. Your therapist will instruct you on various self-help methods that include how you can reframe unhelpful thinking and practice positive outcome images. They will also help you learn coping skills like how to relax your body and calm your mind.Your therapist can also provide you with different tools, such as therapy worksheets to help you track your symptoms and triggers. They can help you manage your anxiety in small steps that are manageable so that it doesn’t appear as daunting. For anxiety disorder treatments at home , if are worried about social interactions, they may begin by having you role play with your therapist. Then, move on to talking to friends or family members.Another aspect of CBT is behavioural tests. It can help you question your irrational catastrophic predictions by developing helpful evidence to counter them. For example, if you fear that something terrible will happen if you leave the home, you could conduct an experiment with your behavior by predicting a scenario prior to going out, like “If I go out for dinner, I’ll get food poisoning.” You can then record whether your prediction was correct or false.HypnotherapyHypnotherapy is an alternative treatment to medications for anxiety. It utilizes hypnosis to assist people to change their perceptions of their symptoms, alter their behavior and relax. It can also be utilized to overcome fears. It helps to ease anxiety and stress, but can also help with pain. The effects of hypnosis last for a long time and can be felt after only one session.In a hypnosis session (or while listening to a recorded recording) the therapist guides you into a state that appears to be like a daydream. In this relaxed state, you can listen to the suggestions of the therapist and then respond. They might ask you to imagine a safe and comfortable space, and then tell you to pay attention to the sensory details that gradually become real. This is known as a ‘deepening trance’. This is when the therapy will begin to take effect and you will start to see a difference in your symptoms.Many people notice a change immediately. They may leave the room or close their eyes after a hypnotherapy session and they can already feel an improvement. This is quite normal and can be awe-inspiring. However, for some people, it can take some sessions before they can see any positive changes. This is normal, and it’s important to give therapy time to be effective.If you’re considering hypnotherapy, you should always talk to your doctor first. They can answer any questions you have regarding hypnotherapy, and help you decide on your options. Hypnosis is not offered on the NHS therefore you’ll need to book an appointment in private with a licensed therapist. These sessions can be expensive but are generally more cost efficient than other forms of treatment for anxiety.Hypnosis can be used to treat PTSD. This condition occurs after an event that was traumatic, such as a car crash or natural disaster, or war. It can cause depression, anxiety and other issues. The symptoms of PTSD include recurring memories, nightmares, and an increase in anxiety or hypervigilance. Hypnotherapy is a successful treatment for PTSD and is usually used in conjunction with other forms of therapy to achieve the best results.ExerciseAnxiety can be a significant obstacle for those who are looking to live active lifestyles, but the good news is that exercising could be one of the best non-pharmacological treatments for the condition. One vigorous exercise session can ease anxiety-related symptoms for hours, and a consistent schedule of exercise can dramatically reduce them over time.Although it is well documented that regular exercise provides benefits for health, only a few studies have examined the effects of exercise on anxiety. A new study suggests high intensity exercise is particularly effective in treating anxiety.The researchers involved in the study, headed by University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson The study assigned 223 people suffering from anxiety to a 12-week group fitness program that included low or high intensity workouts. They also provided them with instructions on how to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. The results were clear: those in the high intensity group showed significantly greater improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the low-intensity group.These results have implications for the use of exercise programs in general practice. Patients suffering from anxiety tend to be more sedentary compared to those without the condition, and an absence of physical activity could contribute to their psychiatric disorders. Physical activity is associated with an increase of 25 percent in the chance of developing depression or anxiety disorders than sedentary people.It’s not surprising that exercising has a positive effect on mental health. It triggers the release of hormones that make you feel good like serotonin and dopamine. It can improve sleep and increase self-esteem. However, the benefits of physical exercise is more than that: a number of studies have found that it is as effective as antidepressants in treating anxiety.A recent meta-analysis by Jayakody and colleagues revealed eight studies that compared groups who exercised with those who did not. These studies all reported an improvement in anxiety levels. The researchers limited their analysis to studies involving people who had a medical diagnosis of anxiety disorder. It is evident that more research is required to determine if exercise is an effective solution for those with clinically elevated anxiety levels.