Treating Anxiety Disorders
Speak to a mental health professional in case your anxiety persists and interferes with your daily activities. Psychologists specialize in psychotherapy and might be competent to prescribe medications, whereas psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of mental illness.
Medications, counseling and other treatments can ease your symptoms and help manage your anxiety. There are other ways to cope, like learning strategies for managing stress or joining support groups (in person or online).
Medication
Anxiety disorders are treated by psychotherapy (talk-therapy), medication, or a combination. Talk therapy can help people deal better with their anxieties and lessen the symptoms. People can also improve their mood by exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and practicing stress management techniques. The medications can reduce the intensity of anxiety and make other treatments more effective.
Patients suffering from anxiety disorders are at a higher chance of developing other mental health issues, including depression. The symptoms of depression and anxiety frequently overlap, which is why it's crucial to treat simultaneously. A doctor who specializes in treating mental illness (a psychiatrist) can diagnose anxiety and prescribe medication to ease the symptoms.
A person's chance of developing an anxiety disorder is increased by specific life experiences and traits that are inherited. Traumas, like car accidents or war, can trigger anxiety disorders in some people. Anxiety disorders can be caused by chronic illness or caring for others. Abuse of alcohol, specifically alcohol and illicit drugs, can also contribute to development of an anxiety disorder.
The first treatment choice for the majority of
Anxiety anxiety Disorders disorders is an antidepressant. Modern antidepressants, referred to as SSRIs and SNRIs, such as escitalopram (Lexapro) and duloxetine (Cymbalta), have been proven effective in numerous clinical studies. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), are also sometimes used to quickly ease anxiety. However, they're not usually prescribed for more than four weeks at a time as they can be addicting and do not work as well after that.
Other forms of medication that are 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 levothyroxine sodium (Levothyrix) can reduce shaking and trembling. The use of low doses of antipsychotics, such as buspirone (BuSpar) can be helpful for people who have physical symptoms of anxiety such as a rapid heartbeat or sweating.
Some sedatives, such as clonazepam (Klonopin), are only available on prescription. Monoamine Oxase Inhibitors, such as moclobemide (Anxair), are used in some people with severe anxiety.
Psychotherapy
While it's normal for children to feel some anxiety or
anxiety disorders definition at times, their experiences shouldn't hinder their everyday lives or cause them to withdraw from school, friends or family. Anxiety disorders can lead to extreme depression or other mental health problems that affect the quality of life of a person. People with these conditions often require psychotherapy (counseling) and medications to treat their symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. It helps you alter the patterns of thinking and beliefs that contribute to your anxiety. Your therapist will guide you through relaxation techniques and help you find ways to cope with negative emotions. They'll also employ exposure therapy to gradually expose you to situations that cause anxiety. This is done through systematic desensitization, which involves creating a list of triggers and
anxiety Anxiety Disorders ranking them by intensity.
Your therapist will also teach you how to confront your irrational predictions and unhelpful thoughts. They'll help you learn how to test your beliefs about yourself by performing experiments, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of worrying or avoiding, and determining the realistic chances that something bad will happen.
Psychiatrists may prescribe short-term and long-term medication to treat anxiety disorders. Antidepressants, such as SSRIs and buspirone can assist with anxiety by altering brain's chemicals that regulate mood. Benzodiazepines such as diazepam and lorazepam are useful in promoting relaxation of the muscles and
anxiety Anxiety Disorders relaxing the brain. SNRIs, such as venlafaxine, are able to help reduce anxiety by boosting serotonin and norepinephrine levels within the brain.
Psychiatrists can monitor your symptoms, address any questions and make adjustments to your treatment plan if necessary. Based on the severity of your condition it could take a while for you to recover. It is possible to test several therapists and a variety of different methods before you discover one that works for you. It is essential to stick to the treatment plan you have chosen to get the results. The longer you put off seeking help the more severe your symptoms might become.
Interpersonal therapy
Interpersonal therapy is a kind of psychotherapy for short durations that is focused on solving interpersonal issues. It typically takes 12-16 sessions to be completed. It has been empirically proven to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. It has also been proven to be effective
best med for social anxiety disorder treating comorbid depression with PTSD. It can also be used to tackle
best social anxiety disorder medication and occupational difficulties for those suffering from PTSD.
The initial sessions (1-3) concentrate on gathering information and identifying problematic areas. For example, the counselor might assist you in creating an inventory of your key relationships. The therapist can help you identify your issues according to the severity of the problem and its potential for improvement. In the middle sessions (4-14), you and your counselor will work together to discover solutions to these issues. Then, you will apply the new strategies to your everyday life in between sessions.
The most important aspect of IPT is that it frames a patient's problems as a medical condition, not as a character flaw. This can help relieve the patients' feelings of self-reflection and guilt. It also helps patients understand that their symptoms are a combination of their current conditions and medical conditions.
Choose a therapist that is licensed and specializes in the issue you are dealing with. Then, research the background of the therapist as well as their education. You can ask other doctors for referrals. Make sure that you and your therapist are on same page regarding the goals of the sessions before starting therapy. For instance, you might be looking to improve your interpersonal skills or conquering your fears of intimacy.
Self-help
Anxiety is a normal response to stressful situations, but it can become a disorder when it is so intense that it causes problems with your daily routine. People with anxiety disorders usually need medication and psychotherapy to heal. Self-help methods are a great method to lessen the symptoms of anxiety and help you deal with them. Breathing exercises and relaxation, for example can reduce your heart rate and calm you. Try these exercises a few times per week, and pay attention to how your body feels as you breathe in and out. Identifying negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones can also reduce anxiety.
Changing your diet and getting regular exercise can help you feel better. You could be able reduce your intake of the intake of nicotine, caffeine and alcohol which can cause or worsen anxiety. Regular exercise releases tension and encourages your brain to produce serotonin which is an enhancing chemical for mood. Do 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week.
