Treating Anxiety Disorders
Talk to a mental specialist If your anxiety is constant and interferes with your daily activities. Psychologists specialize in psychotherapy and can prescribe medications. Psychologists are medical professionals who specialize in treatments for mental health.
Counseling, medications and other treatments can help ease your symptoms and help you manage your anxiety. You can also find ways to manage your anxiety, such as learning techniques for managing stress or joining support groups (in person or online).
Medication
Anxiety disorders can be treated using psychotherapy (talk therapy) or medication or a combination of the two. Talk therapy helps people find better ways to cope with their worries and reduce the symptoms. People can also improve their mood by exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and applying stress management techniques. Medications help reduce the severity of anxiety and can aid in the effectiveness of other treatments.
People with an anxiety disorder are at risk of developing other mental health issues, such as depression. Depression symptoms often overlap with symptoms of anxiety, therefore it is crucial to treat both at the same time. A doctor who specializes in treating mental disorders (a psychiatrist) can diagnose anxiety and prescribe medication to ease the symptoms.
The risk of developing an anxiety disorder is enhanced by certain life experiences and traits that are inherited. Traumas, like car accidents or war can cause anxiety disorders in certain people. Anxiety disorders can be caused by chronic illnesses or care for others. An anxiety disorder may be caused by addiction to drugs especially alcohol and illegal drugs.
Antidepressants are a primary choice of treatment for most anxiety disorders. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that the most recent antidepressants, known as SNRIs or SSRIs like duloxetine and escitalopram (Cymbalta) and escitalopram as well as (Lexapro) are efficient. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), are also sometimes used to quickly ease anxiety. However, they shouldn't be prescribed for longer than 4 weeks at a time as they can become addictive and stop working as well after that.
Other types of medication that are commonly used to treat anxiety are beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Toprol XL), which can lower blood pressure and heart rate. Anticonvulsants, like the drug levothyroxine sodium (Levothyrix), can help control trembling and shaking. The use of low doses of antipsychotics like buspirone (BuSpar) are helpful for people who have physical signs of anxiety, such as a rapid heartbeat or sweating.
Certain sedatives, including clonazepam (Klonopin), are available only by prescription. Certain people suffering from extreme anxiety may use monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as Anxair (moclobemide).
Psychotherapy
Although it's normal for children to experience some anxiety or anxiety at times, these experiences shouldn't hinder their daily life or cause them to withdraw from school, friends or family. Anxiety disorders can lead to severe depression, or other mental health issues that could affect a person's life quality. 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 change habits of thought and beliefs that contribute to your anxiety. Your therapist will guide you discover relaxation techniques and ways to cope when you experience negative emotions. Exposure therapy can also be used to gradually expose you to situations that can trigger anxiety. This is accomplished by creating an inventory of your triggers and ranking them according to their intensity and gradually exposing you to them using a technique known as systematic desensitization.
Your therapist will also teach you how to confront your unfounded predictions and harmful thoughts. They'll show you how to test your negative beliefs by performing experiments, weighing up the pros and cons of worrying or avoiding and determining the real probabilities that something bad might occur.
Psychiatrists can prescribe either shorter-term or long-term treatments for anxiety disorders. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and buspirone can help with anxiety by altering the chemicals in the brain which regulate mood. Benzodiazepines like diazepam and lorazepam can help in promoting relaxation of the muscles and calming the brain. SNRIs, such as venlafaxine, can help with anxiety by increasing serotonin levels and norepinephrine levels inside the brain.
Psychiatrists will be able to monitor your symptoms, answer any questions and make changes to your treatment plan when needed. It could take some time to recover from your disorder according to the severity. You may need to try different therapists and a variety of treatments before you find one that works for you. It's important to stick with the treatment plan you have chosen to see the results. The longer you wait to seek assistance, the more severe your symptoms could become.
Interpersonal therapy
Interpersonal therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is short-term and is focused on solving interpersonal issues. It is usually completed in 12-16 sessions. It is scientifically proven and can improve anxiety and depression symptoms. Additionally it has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of depression that is comorbid with PTSD. It can also be helpful in dealing with work-related and social difficulties in people with PTSD.
The first three sessions are dedicated to gathering information and identifying problems. For instance, a counselor might assist you in creating an inventory of your primary relationships. The therapist will then help you prioritize these problems based on your requirements and the possibility of improvement. In the middle sessions (4 - 14), you will collaborate with your therapist to develop solutions for each of these problematic areas. You will then practice the new strategies in your everyday life in between sessions.
The most significant feature of IPT is that it frames the patient's problems as a medical issue, not as a flaw in character. This can help relieve the patients' feelings of guilt and self-criticism. It also helps patients realize that their symptoms are a combination of their current conditions and medical illness.
Choose a therapist that is licensed and has a specialization in the condition you're dealing with. Check out the therapist's qualifications and experience. You can also ask other physicians for referrals. Make sure you and your therapist are on the same page about the goals of the sessions prior to beginning therapy. For instance, you may prefer to work on improving your relationship skills or overcoming your fear of intimacy.
Self-help
Anxiety is a normal response to stressful events, but it turns into an illness when it becomes so intense that it interferes with your daily life. People with anxiety disorders often need medication and psychotherapy to get well. But some self-help methods can help reduce symptoms and make them easier to live with. For instance, breathing exercises and relaxation can reduce your heart rate and help calm you down. Try these exercises a few times per week, paying attention to how your body feels when you breathe in and out. Identifying negative thought patterns and replacing them by positive ones can ease anxiety.
Changing your diet and getting regular exercise can help you feel better. You can lower your intake of nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol that can cause or trigger anxiety. Regular exercise relieves tension and stimulates the brain to produce serotonin. This chemical is thought to boost mood. Try to do at minimum 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week.
There are a variety of ways to find self-help solutions for anxiety, including support groups, self-help books and online resources. Some of these resources provide a range of activities that can be done at home, like identifying the triggers for anxiety and figuring out how to challenge your anxious thoughts. Some of these resources include face-to-face sessions with therapists or others who have the same issue.
Psychological interventions for anxiety disorders are crucial. They include cognitive behavioral therapy, which assists in alter the patterns of thought that lead to anxiety, exposure therapy, where you gradually confront the situations such as people, objects, or other individuals that cause anxiety, and other complementary methods of health such as relaxation, breathing exercises meditation, as well as breathing exercises. These strategies can be combined with medications.
Some people need to see an expert to rule out any medical issues which could be the source of their anxiety. Then, they can begin treatment. Anxiety disorders can be debilitating and can cause problems with work, school and social life. They can also trigger depression, which is linked with a high risk of suicide. People who do not seek treatment for their symptoms are at a greater risk of developing them into a more serious mental health condition.