Treating Anxiety Disorders
Talk to a mental specialist If your anxiety is constant and is affecting your daily routine. Psychologists specialize in psychotherapy and may prescribe medications. Psychologists are medical doctors that specialize in treating mental health issues.
Counseling, medication and other treatments can ease your symptoms and help you manage your anxiety. You can also find ways to manage stress, such as learning stress management techniques or joining support groups (in person and online).
Medication
Anxiety disorders can be treated with psychotherapy (talk-therapy) or medication or a combination. Talk therapy can help people deal better with their anxiety and lessen the symptoms. Exercise, sleep and stress management techniques can also aid in improving mood. The medication can help reduce the intensity of anxiety and make the other treatments more effective.
People with an anxiety disorder are at risk of developing other mental health issues, such as depression. Symptoms of depression often overlap with those of anxiety, so it is important to treat both at the same time. A specialist in treating mental illnesses (a psychiatrist) can diagnose anxiety and prescribe medications to treat the symptoms.
The risk of developing anxiety disorders is increased by specific life experiences and inherited traits. Traumas, like an accident or war, can cause anxiety disorders in certain people. Chronic illness or caring for can also cause people to worry overly. An anxiety disorder may be caused by addiction to drugs especially alcohol and illegal drugs.
Antidepressants are a primary option for treatment for the majority of anxiety disorders. Numerous clinical studies have proven that modern antidepressants, also known as SNRIs or SSRIs, such as duloxetine and escitalopram, (Cymbalta) and escitalopram and (Lexapro) are efficient. Benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium), are also often used to help ease anxiety. However, they shouldn't be prescribed for more than 4 weeks because they can be addicting and do not work as effectively after that.
Beta-blockers like propranolol and atenolol are used to treat anxiety. They lower blood pressure and heart rates. Anticonvulsants like levothyroxine (Levothyrix) can assist in reducing the shaking. A low dose of antipsychotic medication like buspirone (BuSpar) are helpful for people who have physical symptoms of anxiety, like a fast heartbeat or sweating.
Certain sedatives, like clonazepam (Klonopin) are only available through prescription. Certain people who suffer from severe anxiety take monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as Anxair (moclobemide).
Psychotherapy
It's normal for children to experience some anxiety or anxiety at times, their emotions shouldn't affect their daily life or cause them to withdraw from the school, their friends and family. Anxiety disorders can cause severe depression, or other mental health issues that could hinder a person's overall health. People with these conditions often need psychotherapy (counseling) and medications to manage their symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common psychotherapy used for anxiety disorders. It helps you alter patterns of thinking and beliefs that contribute to your anxiety. Your therapist will help you learn relaxation techniques and discover ways to deal with when you experience negative emotions. They'll also use exposure therapy to gradually expose you to situations that can trigger your anxiety. This is accomplished by making a list of your triggers and then putting them in order of intensity, then gradually exposing you to them using a technique called systematic desensitization.
Your therapist will show you how to challenge your irrational thoughts and predictions. They'll help you learn how to test your beliefs about yourself by performing tests, weighing the pros and cons of avoiding or worrying and determining the real chances that something bad will occur.
Psychiatrists may prescribe long-term or short-term medication to treat anxiety disorders. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and buspirone may help with anxiety by altering chemicals in the brain that regulate mood. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or lorazepam can help in promoting relaxation of the muscles and in calming the brain. SNRIs, like venlafaxine, are able to help reduce anxiety by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine levels inside the brain.
Psychiatrists will monitor your symptoms, address any questions and make adjustments to your treatment plan as required. It could take some time to heal from your disorder depending on its severity. You may need to try several therapists and a variety of different methods before you discover one that works for you. To see results, it's important to adhere to your treatment plan. The longer you wait to seek help, the more severe your symptoms might become.
Therapy for interpersonal relationships
Interpersonal therapy is a kind of psychotherapy for short durations that is focused on solving interpersonal problems. It is usually completed in 12-16 sessions. It has been proven empirically to improve depression and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, it has been shown to be effective in the treatment of comorbid depression and PTSD. It also helps in addressing social and work-related issues in people suffering from PTSD.
The first sessions (1-3) focus on gathering information and identifying problematic areas. The therapist may assist you in making an inventory of your most important relationships. The therapist will help you prioritize these problems based on your needs and the possibility of improvement. In the middle sessions (4-14) you and your therapist will work together to discover solutions to these issues. You will then apply the new strategies in your everyday life between sessions.
One of the most important characteristics of IPT is that it frames the patient's issues as a medical condition rather than a character flaw or personal failing. This can ease patients' feelings of guilt and self-criticism. It can also help patients recognize that their symptoms are a result of both their current circumstances and medical conditions.
When choosing a therapist, ensure you choose a therapist that is certified by your state's association for psychology and has a specialization in your particular condition. Then, research the background of the therapist as well as their education. You can also ask other physicians for recommendations. Before beginning therapy, make sure you and your therapist are both in agreement on the goals of the sessions. For example, you might prefer to work on improving your interpersonal skills or overcome your fear of intimacy.
Self-help
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations, but it can become a disorder when it is so intense that it is a problem with your daily life. A lot of people suffering from anxiety disorders require psychotherapy or medication to recover. But some self-help methods can ease symptoms and make them easier to live with. Relaxation and breathing exercises, for example can slow your heart rate and calm you. Try to do these exercises several times a week, paying attention to how your body feels when you breathe in and out. Identifying negative thoughts and replacing them with more positive ones can help reduce anxiety.
Changing your diet and getting regular exercise can help you feel better. severe anxiety disorder can cut down on your consumption of nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol, which can aggravate or cause anxiety. Regular exercise releases tension and stimulates the brain to produce serotonin. This chemical is believed to improve mood. Try to do at minimum 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week.
Self-help tools for anxiety include self-help groups, support groups books, and online resources. Some of these resources provide activities that you can do at home, like identifying your anxiety triggers and learning to overcome your anxious thoughts. Some also involve face-to-face meetings with therapists and others who have the same issues.
Psychological interventions are the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders. they include cognitive behavioural therapy which helps you alter the patterns of thinking that lead to anxiety; exposure therapy, in which you gradually face the situations such as people, objects, or objects that trigger your anxiety; and other complementary health methods, such as breathing exercises, meditation, and a sense of relaxation. These strategies can be combined with medication.
Some people need to see a doctor to determine if they have any medical issues which could be the source of their anxiety. Then, they can start treatment. Anxiety disorders are chronic and can hinder social, work and school life. They can also cause depression, which is a high suicide risk. People who do not seek treatment for their issues have an increased chance of becoming a more severe mental health issue.