Treating Anxiety Disorders
If anxiety is affecting your daily activities and persists, talk to a mental health specialist. Psychologists specialize in psychotherapy and can prescribe medication. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in treatments for mental health.
You can manage your anxiety through the use of medications, counseling, and other treatments. You can also find ways to cope, like learning strategies for managing stress or joining support groups (in person and online).
Medication
Anxiety disorders can be treated with psychotherapy (talk therapy) or medication or a combination of the two. Talk therapy helps people cope better with their anxieties and lessen the symptoms. People can also improve their mood by exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and using techniques to manage stress. Medications help reduce the severity of anxiety and can aid in the effectiveness of other treatments.
Patients suffering from anxiety disorders are more at risk of developing mental health problems, such as depression. The symptoms of depression and anxiety often coexist, so it's important to treat them both at the same time. A psychiatrist who is trained to treat mental disorders can diagnose anxiety, and prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms.
The risk of developing an anxiety disorder is increased by certain life experiences as well as inherited traits. Trauma, such as car accidents or war, may trigger an anxiety disorder in a few people. A chronic illness or caregiving can cause people to worry overly. An anxiety disorder can also be caused by substance abuse including alcohol and illicit substances.
Antidepressants are the first choice of treatment for most anxiety disorders. Numerous clinical studies have proven that modern antidepressants, also known as SSRIs or SNRIs such as duloxetine and escitalopram (Cymbalta) and escitalopram and (Lexapro) are efficient. Benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium), are also often used to help ease anxiety. They are not usually prescribed for more than 4 weeks due to the possibility of becoming addictive and stop working as well.
Other types of medication that are commonly used to treat anxiety include beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Toprol XL), which can reduce blood pressure and heart rate. what causes anxiety disorders , like the levothyroxine sodium (Levothyrix) can help to control trembling and shaking. Buspirone (BuSpar) in low doses can help those suffering from physical symptoms of anxiety such as sweating or a rapid pulse.
Certain sedatives, like clonazepam (Klonopin) are available only by prescription. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, like moclobemide (Anxair) are used in certain people who suffer from severe anxiety.
Psychotherapy
It's normal for children to experience some anxiety or anxiety at times, these feelings shouldn't interfere with their everyday lives or cause them to withdraw from school, friends and family. Anxiety disorders can cause severe depression, or other mental health issues that interfere with the quality of life. These issues are usually treated through psychotherapy (counseling) as well as medications.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most popular psychotherapy used for anxiety disorders. It helps you to change the patterns of thinking that can trigger anxiety. Your therapist will guide you through relaxation techniques and help you discover ways to manage negative feelings. They'll also use exposure therapy to gradually expose you to situations that trigger your anxiety. This is accomplished through systematic desensitization. It involves creating a list of triggers and ranking them by intensity.
Your therapist will also teach you how to rethink your irrational predictions and unhelpful thoughts. They will help you test your negative beliefs through experiments, weighing the pros and cons, and determining realistic odds that something bad might occur.
Psychiatrists may prescribe long-term or short-term medication for anxiety disorders. Antidepressants like SSRIs and buspirone can assist with anxiety by altering brain's chemicals that regulate mood. Benzodiazepines like lorazepam and diazepam, can help in promoting muscle relaxation and calming the mind. SNRIs such as venlafaxine can help with anxiety as they boost serotonin levels and norepinephrine levels within the brain.
Psychiatrists will monitor your symptoms, address any questions and make adjustments to your treatment plan if required. Based on the severity of your condition it could take a while to heal. You may have to try different therapists and a variety of treatments before you can find one that is effective for you. It is crucial to stick to your treatment plan until you get the results. The longer you wait to seek help the more severe your symptoms may become.
Therapy for interpersonal relationships
Interpersonal therapy is a form of short-term psychotherapy that focuses primarily on solving interpersonal problems. It usually requires 12-16 sessions to be completed. It is empirically supported and can help improve depression and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, it has been shown to be effective in treating comorbid depression and PTSD. It is also useful in addressing work-related and social difficulties in people with PTSD.
The initial three sessions are devoted to collecting information and identifying issues. The therapist might assist you in making the list of your most important relationships. The therapist will help you prioritize your problems by the severity of the issue and the possibility of improvement. In the middle sessions (4-14) you and your therapy therapist will collaborate to identify solutions to these areas of concern. You will then apply the new strategies to your everyday life in between sessions.
One of the most important characteristics of IPT is that it frames the patient's presenting issues as a medical condition rather than an individual flaw or failure. This can ease patients' feelings of guilt and self-criticism. It also helps them recognize that their symptoms are the result of a combination of their current conditions and their medical illness.
When selecting a therapist, ensure you choose a therapist that is certified by your state psychological association and has a specialization in your particular condition. You should also research the background of the therapist as well as their education. You can even ask for recommendations from other doctors. Before starting therapy, ensure that you and your therapist agree on the goals of the sessions. For example, you might want to focus on improving your interpersonal skills or overcome your fear of intimacy.
Self-help
Anxiety is a normal response to some stressful situations, but it can become an illness when it becomes so intense that it causes problems with your daily life. A lot of people suffering from anxiety disorders require psychotherapy or medication to heal. Self-help techniques are an excellent way to reduce anxiety symptoms and help you cope with them. For example breathing exercises and relaxation can reduce the heart rate and calm you down. Try to do these exercises several times per day, paying attention to how your body feels as you breathe in and out. Recognizing negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones can help to reduce anxiety.
Changing your diet and getting regular exercise can help you feel better. You can cut down on your consumption of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, which can aggravate or trigger anxiety. Regular exercise releases tension and stimulates the brain to produce serotonin. This chemical is believed to boost mood. Make sure you do at minimum 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week.
There are many ways to find self-help solutions for anxiety, such as support groups, self-help books and online resources. Some of these resources offer exercises that you can complete at home, like identifying your anxiety triggers and learning how to overcome your anxious thoughts. Some also involve face-to-face meetings with therapists and other people who have the same issues.
Psychological interventions are essential treatments for anxiety disorders, and they include cognitive behavioural therapy, which assists you in changing the patterns of thinking that cause anxiety; exposure therapy, where you gradually face the situations and people or objects that trigger your anxiety; and complementary health practices, such as breathing exercises, meditation, and a sense of relaxation. These techniques can be paired with medication.
Some people should see an expert to rule out any medical issues which could be the source of their anxiety. They can then start treatment. Anxiety disorders are chronic and can hinder school, social and work life. They can also lead to depression, which is a high risk of suicide. People who do not seek treatment for their symptoms are at a higher chance of becoming a more severe mental health problem.