Treating Anxiety Disorders
Talk to a mental specialist If your anxiety is constant and interferes with your daily activities. Psychologists are experts in psychotherapy and can prescribe medications. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in treatments for mental health.
Counseling, medications and other treatments can help ease your symptoms and help manage your anxiety. You can also learn stress management techniques and join support groups (both in person and online).
Medication
Anxiety disorders are treated through psychotherapy (talk-therapy), medication, or a combination of both. Therapy for anxiety can help people cope better with their anxieties and reduce symptoms. People can also improve their mood by regularly exercising, sleeping enough and practicing stress management techniques. The medications can reduce the severity of anxiety and make other treatments more effective.
Patients suffering from anxiety disorders are at greater chance of developing other mental health conditions including depression. Depression and anxiety symptoms frequently overlap, which is why it's crucial to treat simultaneously. A doctor who specializes in treating mental illnesses (a psychiatrist) can diagnose anxiety and prescribe medication to treat the symptoms.
Certain life experiences and inherited characteristics increase a person's likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder. Traumas, like car accidents or war, can trigger anxiety disorders in some people. Anxiety disorders can be triggered by chronic illnesses or caring for others. anxiety disorders types can also be caused by drug abuse, particularly alcohol and illegal substances.
Antidepressants are the most popular option for treatment for the majority of anxiety disorders. Modern antidepressants, referred to as SNRIs and SSRIs such as escitalopram (Lexapro) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) have been proven efficient in a variety of clinical studies. Diazepam, also known as Valium is also used to relieve anxiety swiftly. They aren't usually prescribed for more than four weeks due to the possibility of becoming addictive and stop working as well.
Beta-blockers such as propranolol and atenolol can be used in order to treat anxiety. They lower blood pressure and heart rate. Anticonvulsants like levothyroxine (Levothyrix) can assist in reducing the tremors. A low dose of antipsychotic medication, such as buspirone (BuSpar) can be helpful if people have physical symptoms of anxiety like a fast heartbeat or sweating.
Some sedatives, such as clonazepam (Klonopin) are only available on prescription. Monoamine Oxase Inhibitors, such as moclobemide (Anxair) are prescribed for people suffering from extreme anxiety.
Psychotherapy
It's normal for children to feel some anxiety or fear at times, their feelings shouldn't interfere with their lives or cause them to withdraw from the school, their friends and family. Anxiety disorders can lead to extreme depression or other mental health problems that can affect one's quality of life. People with these conditions often need psychotherapy (counseling) as well as medication to treat their symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most frequently used psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. It helps you to change the patterns of thinking that can trigger anxiety. Your therapist will guide you learn relaxation techniques and find ways to manage when you experience negative emotions. Exposure therapy is also used to gradually expose you situations that can trigger anxiety. This is accomplished through systematic desensitization, which involves creating a list of triggers and then grading them according to their intensity.
Your therapist will teach you how to confront irrational thoughts and predictions. They'll teach you how to test your beliefs about yourself by performing experiments, weighing the pros and cons of avoiding or worrying about and determining the most realistic likelihood that something bad could occur.
Psychiatrists can prescribe shorter-term or long-term treatments for anxiety disorders. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and buspirone can assist with anxiety by altering the chemicals in the brain which regulate mood. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and lorazepam can be beneficial in promoting relaxation and calming the mind. Venlafaxine, a SNRI, can help with anxiety because they boost serotonin levels and norepinephrine levels in the brain.
Psychiatrists will monitor your symptoms and can answer any questions. They also make necessary changes to your treatment plan. Based on the severity of your condition it could take some time for you to get better. You may have to try several therapists and a variety of methods before you discover one that is effective for you. It's important to stick with your treatment plan to get results. The longer you put off the decision to seek help, the more severe your symptoms could get.
Interpersonal therapy
Interpersonal therapy is a brief-term kind of psychotherapy that focuses on resolving interpersonal issues. It typically takes 12-16 sessions to complete. It is empirically supported and may help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. It has also been proven to be effective in treating comorbid depression with PTSD. It can also be used to address problems with occupational and social interactions for people with PTSD.
The first three sessions are devoted to collecting information and identifying issues. The therapist can assist you in creating an inventory of your most important relationships. The therapist will help you to prioritize these issues in accordance with your needs and the possibility of improvement. In the middle sessions (4 between 14 and 4) you will work with your therapist to develop solutions for each of these areas of concern. Then, you will apply the new strategies to your everyday life in between sessions.
The most important aspect of IPT is that it frames the patient's problems as a medical issue, not as a flaw in character. This can help ease patients' feelings of self-reflection and guilt. It also helps patients recognize that their ailments are the result of an amalgamation of their current conditions and medical conditions.
When choosing a therapist, ensure you choose a therapist who is licensed by your state's psychological association and who is specialized in your condition. Then, research the therapist's background and training. You can also ask other doctors for recommendations. Before starting therapy, make sure that you and your therapist agree on the goals of the sessions. You may, for instance you'd like to focus on improving your relationship skills or overcoming intimacy fears.
Self-help
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations, but it can become a disorder when it is so intense that it causes problems with your life. Many people with anxiety disorders need psychotherapy and medication to recover. However, a few self-help strategies can ease symptoms and make them easier to deal with. For instance breathing exercises and relaxation can reduce your heart rate and calm your mind. Try doing these exercises at least once a week, paying attention to how your body feels when you breathe in and out. Recognizing negative thoughts and replacing them with more positive ones can also reduce anxiety.
Changing your diet and getting regular exercise can help you feel better. You might be able to cut back on the intake of nicotine, caffeine and alcohol which can trigger or worsen anxiety. Exercising regularly reduces tension and stimulates your brain to produce serotonin, an enhancing chemical for mood. Do 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week.
Self-help resources for anxiety include self-help groups, support groups books, and online resources. Some of these resources offer exercises that you can complete at home, such as identifying your anxiety triggers and learning to challenge your anxious thinking. Some of them also include face-to-face sessions with therapists and others who are suffering from the same problems.
Psychological interventions are a must-have treatment for anxiety disorders, and they include cognitive behavioural therapy which helps you change patterns of thinking that lead to anxiety; exposure therapy, where you gradually face the situations such as people, objects, or objects that trigger your anxiety; and other complementary health methods, such as meditation, breathing exercises, and a sense of relaxation. These strategies can be incorporated with medications.
Certain people require the services of an expert to determine if they have any medical issues that could be the cause of their anxiety. Then they can begin treatment. Anxiety disorders can be very difficult to manage and can affect school, work and social life. They can also trigger depression, which is associated with a higher risk of suicide. People who don't seek treatment for their symptoms have a higher chance of developing into a more severe mental health issue.