Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety can ruin the life of a person by making them feel tired and depressed. Stress can prevent people from interacting with others, reinforcing their false sense of security and thus creating feelings of isolation.

Exercise, medication, and psychotherapy are all part of the treatment of anxiety. Medications can include antidepressants, like SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram) and benzodiazepines like diazepam and lorazepam.

Medications

Anxiety disorders arise as a result of anxiety that lasts for too long or is a hindrance to daily life. Treatment for anxiety disorders typically involves psychotherapy and medication. Although medications can relieve symptoms, they cannot cure anxiety disorders. Therefore, they must be utilized in conjunction with psychotherapy and other lifestyle changes.

Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are often prescribed to alleviate anxiety. Antidepressants help to correct an imbalance of chemical substances in the brain, which causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are sedatives that work fast to stop the body's response to anxiety. They are also addictive, and therefore are not recommended for use over the long-term.

Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs aid in reducing the levels of the cortisol stress hormone in the body. They also block brain receptors that absorb serotonin and allow more of the mood-enhancing chemical. This eases anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. SSRIs have a solid safety record, are widely available and effective for most people. Cons Some patients suffer from side effects like dizziness, drowsiness and dry mouth.

Other psychiatric medications like propranolol can also help with anxiety-related symptoms. These medications are usually used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions However, doctors may prescribe them "off-label" to treat anxiety. They work to reduce the effects of stress hormones, such as noradrenaline and adrenaline, which increase blood pressure and heart rate. They can also trigger adverse effects like orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure when standing up) and bradycardia (slower than normal heart rate) and sedation.

You can ease anxiety by adjusting your diet and working out regularly. Also, relaxing activities like yoga and meditation. There are also mind-body treatments like tai chi and acupuncture that can ease anxiety. Consult your physician about the treatments that could be the best for you.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that is effective in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the idea that feelings, thoughts and physical sensations are all interconnected and that negative patterns can lead you into an endless cycle. CBT teaches how to identify negative patterns of thought and apply strategies to control them. It also teaches you to manage your reactions to anxiety-provoking situations and to develop strategies for coping.

In the first sessions, a therapist will typically conduct an assessment. This could include filling out questionnaires, conducting an interview, or even supplying written material. They will be able to understand your specific disorder, pinpoint distressing symptoms and determine if your current treatments are working. The assessment can also help determine if you can have an emotional connection.

CBT is usually short-term and will last 20 or less sessions. You will meet your therapist once or twice a week during these sessions. Your therapist will instruct you on various self-help techniques, such as how to treat anxiety without drugs to reframe unhelpful thoughts and practice positive outcomes imagery. They will also assist you to develop coping skills including how to relax your body and calm your mind.

Your therapist might also provide you with tools, such as therapy worksheets that help you track the triggers and symptoms. They will help you overcome your anxiety in small steps that are manageable to make it less as daunting. For instance, if you are concerned about social interactions, they may begin with role-playing with your therapist. Then, move on to talking to family members or friends.

Another benefit of CBT is behavioural tests. It helps you challenge your irrational, catastrophic predictions by generating evidence to counter them. If you are afraid that something terrible will occur to you if you leave your home you can conduct an assessment of your behavioural habits by making predictions. For example, "If I go for dinner, I'll be afflicted with food poisoning." Then, you'll be able to verify whether or not your prediction was right.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can be used as a substitute for medication to treat anxiety. It utilizes hypnosis to assist people to change their perceptions of their symptoms, alter their behavior and relax. It can also be used to conquer phobias. It can be used to decrease stress and anxiety, but can also help with pain. The effects of hypnosis last for a long time and can be seen after only one session.

During a hypnosis treatment for depression and anxiety (or when listening to recordings), the therapist will guide you into a trance state which is similar to being in a daydream. In this relaxed state, you can listen to the suggestions of the therapist and respond. They may ask you to imagine an environment that is safe and relaxing, and then tell you to pay attention to the sensory details that gradually become real. This is referred to as "deepening trance". This is when you will start to notice a difference in the symptoms.

Many people notice a difference immediately. They can walk out of the room or close their eyes following an hypnotherapy session and notice a shift. This is normal, and it can also feel mystical. For some people however, it could take a few sessions before they can notice any positive changes. This is normal and it is important to allow the therapy time to work.

Always consult with your doctor prior to starting the hypnotherapy method. They can answer any questions you may have regarding hypnotherapy and also discuss your options. Hypnosis isn't available on the NHS therefore you'll have to arrange a private session with a licensed therapist. These sessions can be costly but they are also more cost-effective than other types of treatment for anxiety.

In certain situations the use of hypnosis is used to treat PTSD. This is a condition that occurs following traumatizing events like a car crash or natural disaster, or war. It can trigger anxiety, depression and other problems. The symptoms of PTSD include recurring memories, nightmares, and an increase in anxiety or hypervigilance. Hypnotherapy can be a successful way to control PTSD and is typically combined with other talking treatments to achieve the best results.

Exercise

Exercise could be the most effective treatment for postpartum anxiety treatment. Exercise can help reduce anxiety symptoms for hours. A regular routine of physical exercise can help to reduce them.

While it is widely acknowledged that regular exercise can provide positive health effects, few studies have specifically examined the effects of exercise on anxiety treatment groups (Ongoing). A new study suggests high intensity exercise is particularly effective in treating anxiety.

Researchers involved in the study led University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson assigned 223 adults who suffer from anxiety to a 12-week program of group exercise that included low- or high-intensity workouts. They also provided them with instructions on how to treat anxiety after surgery to integrate exercises into their lives. The results were clear that those in the high intensity group showed significant improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the lower intensity group.

These findings have implications for the use of exercise programs in general practice. Patients with anxiety tend to be more sedentary than those without the condition. This could be a contributing factor to their mental health issues. Research shows that those who exercise regularly are less likely to develop anxiety disorders or depression than those who are inactive.

It's not surprising that exercise can improve mental health. It stimulates the release of positive hormones, such as serotonin and dopamine. It can improve sleep and increase self-esteem. However, the benefits of exercise is more than that. A number of studies have found that it can be as effective as antidepressants for treating anxiety.

A recent meta-analysis conducted by Jayakody and colleagues revealed eight studies that compared groups who exercised versus those who did not exercise. These studies all reported an improvement in anxiety levels. The researchers limited their analysis to studies involving people who had a medical diagnosis of anxiety disorder. This means meds that treat anxiety more research is needed to determine whether exercise is an option for those with clinically raised anxiety levels.