Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can destroy a person's quality of life by making them feel overwhelmed exhausted, depressed, and stressed. Worry can prevent people from engaging, causing a false belief that they are in danger and creating isolation.
Exercise psychotherapy, medication, and exercise are all part of the treatment of anxiety. Medications can include antidepressants, such as SSRIs (citalopram, Escitalopram) and benzodiazepines like diazepam and lorazepam.
Medications
Many people experience anxiety from time to time, but when that feeling persists for too long or is a hindrance to daily activities, it could be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy and medication are usually used to treat anxiety disorders. While medications can ease the symptoms, they cannot solve anxiety disorders. They should be used in conjunction alongside psychotherapy and lifestyle adjustments.
Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are often prescribed to alleviate anxiety. Antidepressants help to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines, like Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are sedatives that work fast to stop the body's reaction to anxiety. anxiety treatment herbal are also addictive and are therefore not recommended for long term.
SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) aid in reducing the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, within the body. They also block brain receptors that absorb serotonin, allowing for more of the mood-enhancing chemical to circulate. This reduces 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, effective for most people, and have a favorable safety profile. Cons: Some patients have side effects, such as dizziness, drowsiness and dry mouth.
Propranolol, along with other psychiatric medicines can also alleviate anxiety-related symptoms. These medications are typically prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions. However, doctors can prescribe them "off label" for anxiety. They work to reduce the effects of stress hormones, such as noradrenaline and adrenaline which can increase blood pressure and heart rate. They can also trigger negative side effects, such as orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure when standing up) and bradycardia (slower than normal heart rate) and sedation.
Changing your diet and getting enough exercise, can reduce anxiety. Meditation and yoga can also aid in relieving anxiety. Additionally, there are mind-body treatments that can be beneficial for anxiety such as the acupuncture method and tai chi. Consult your physician about the options that might be best for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy based on scientific evidence that is effective in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the notion that thoughts, feelings and physical sensations are interconnected, and that negative patterns can trap you in a vicious cycle. CBT teaches how to identify negative patterns of thought and apply strategies to manage them. It also teaches how to control your responses to situations that trigger anxiety and to develop coping strategies.
In the first session, a therapist usually performs an assessment. This could involve completing questionnaires, conducting an interview, or supplying written materials. They will be able to understand your specific illness, identify the symptoms that are troubling you and determine if the current treatments are working. The assessment will also determine if you're able to establish a an therapeutic relationship.
CBT is usually short-term and will last for 20 or fewer sessions. In these sessions, you will see your therapist at least once every week or twice a week. Your therapist will instruct you on various self-help techniques that include how to change your perspective on unhelpful thinking and practice positive outcome images. They will also teach you strategies for coping such as how to calm your mind and relax your body.
Your therapist could also offer you a variety of tools, such as therapy worksheets that will aid in tracking your triggers and symptoms. They can help you manage your anxiety in small steps that are manageable to make it less as daunting. If you're afraid of social situations, your therapist might allow you to role-play them before moving on to talking to your family or friends.
CBT also includes behavioural experiments. It allows you to challenge your irrational and catastrophic predictions by developing helpful evidence against them. If you're worried that something bad could occur to you if you leave your home you can conduct a behavioural test by making an assumption. For example, "If I go for dinner, I'll be afflicted with food poisoning." Then you can record whether or not the prediction was accurate.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy can be utilized as a substitute for medication for anxiety. It uses hypnosis to help people change their perceptions about their symptoms, change their behaviors, and relax. It can also be used to conquer phobias. It is often employed to decrease stress and anxiety, but it can also assist in decreasing pain. The effects of hypnosis can last for a long time and the benefits can be observed from just one session.
During a hypnosis treatment (or when listening to a recording) the therapist will lead you into a state of trance that feels a bit like being in a dream. In this state of relaxation, you can hear the therapist's suggestions and respond. They may ask you imagine a relaxing and safe place and then instruct you to pay close attention to the sensory details that slowly become real. This is referred to as a "deepening state of trance.' This is when the therapy starts to take effect and you will begin to notice a difference in your symptoms.
Many people notice a shift immediately. They can walk out of the room or even open their eyes following a hypnotherapy session and they are already feeling a shift. This is quite normal and can feel magical. For some, however, it can take several sessions before they notice any positive changes. This is normal and it is crucial to allow the therapy time to be effective.
Always consult with your doctor prior to starting hypnotherapy. They can discuss your options and answer any questions that you might have about the benefits of hypnotherapy for anxiety. Hypnosis isn't available on the NHS therefore you'll need to book an appointment in private with a licensed therapist. These sessions can be costly however they are more cost-effective than other forms treatment for anxiety.
In certain situations the use of hypnosis is 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 problems. The symptoms of PTSD are arousing memory of night terrors, an increase in anxiety. Hypnotherapy can be a very effective treatment for PTSD and is usually used in conjunction with other forms of therapy to produce the most effective results.
Exercise
Exercise could be the most effective treatment for anxiety. One vigorous exercise session can relieve anxiety symptoms for hours, and a regular schedule of physical exercise could dramatically reduce them over time.
While it is well-documented that regular exercise provides positive health effects, few studies have examined its effects on anxiety. A new study suggests high intensity exercise is particularly effective in treating anxiety.
The researchers in the study, supervised by University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson, assigned 223 adults with anxiety to a 12-week group exercise program that included low or high intensity workouts. They also gave them instructions on how to incorporate fitness into their routines. The results were clear that those who were in the high-intensity group showed significantly greater improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the lower intensity group.
These findings are relevant to the use of exercise programs in general practice. Patients with anxiety are more sedentary than people who do not suffer from the condition. This may contribute to their mental health issues. Research has shown that people who are physically active are less likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder than those who are sitting down.
It's not a surprise that exercise can improve mental health. It triggers the release of positive hormones, such as serotonin and dopamine. It can improve sleep and increase self-esteem. But the benefits of exercise are much greater than that: studies have shown that it is more effective than antidepressants in treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis by Jayakody and colleagues identified eight trials comparing groups that exercised to those that did not. The studies all showed an improvement in anxiety levels. The researchers restricted their analyses to trials involving participants with a formal diagnosis of anxiety disorder. It is evident that further research is needed to determine whether exercise is an effective solution for those who have elevated levels of anxiety.