Treating Anxiety

Psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) are the most common ways of treating anxiety. CBT helps people discover the destructive thoughts that can cause anxiety and a variety of other feelings.

The use of medication can help reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, like shaking and rapid heartbeat. Patients must consult with their doctor to determine the appropriate dosage and medication for them.

Medicines

Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. It can also prevent us from sleeping However, there are solutions that can help. The use of medication can reduce anxiety symptoms and make life easier while taking care of the root cause. A combination of medication and therapy can have an even greater impact on your mood and enhance your quality of life.

Antidepressants treat anxiety by increasing levels of chemicals that calm you down in your brain. The most commonly used type of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which block nerve cells in the brain from absorbing serotonin, and increase its availability, helping you feel more calm. SSRIs include medications such as Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, and Zoloft. Antidepressants, such as serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants and others are also available to combat anxiety.

Benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are used quickly to ease anxiety symptoms by activating brain receptors and causing a calming effect. They are effective at treating anxiety but can become addictive if used for longer than 4 weeks and don't work as well over time, so they are usually not prescribed for long-term use.

Other antianxiety medicines like buspirone, quetiapine, and clonidine reduce the amount of stress hormone in your body. They do this by blocking receptors inside the brain. The most common adverse effects include drowsiness and dry mouth. Some people can also be afflicted by diarrhea, nausea constipation, nausea and sexual dysfunction when taking antidepressants or SSRIs.

There are other antianxiety drugs like phenytoin and melatonin are sedatives that reduce the activity of specific neurons in the brain, which can help reduce anxiety. Antihistamines can also be used to treat anxiety, by reducing the itching caused by allergies and making you feel more relaxed.

Other types of medication that can be used to lower anxiety are monoamine oxidase inhibitors, like moclobemide and tetracycline. These are usually used when other treatments fail. Other prescription medications that have been proven to decrease anxiety in clinical trials aren't approved for this purpose, however they can be prescribed off-label by certain doctors.

Psychotherapy

Anxiety disorders can sometimes be alleviated through psychotherapy or through talk therapy with an expert in mental health. This may be a psychiatrist (a medical doctor who specializes in mental illness anxiety disorder treatment) psychologist, psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker. The therapist may also offer support and encouragement, in addition to addressing the underlying factors that cause anxiety. The presence of the therapist can be important for anxiety sufferers; it stimulates the parasympathetic nerve and conveys a sense of security to the patient.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for anxiety. This approach teaches you specific techniques to help you manage your anxieties and gradually return you to things you've stayed away from because of anxiety. This involves exposure therapy, in which you gradually encounter the thing or event that triggers your anxiety so that you learn to tolerate it and overcome your fears.

Psychotherapy helps you understand the reasons you are anxious and how your imagination can exaggerate dangers that do not exist. The therapist also educates you on the anatomy of the body's natural treatment for anxiety and panic attacks "flight-or-fight" response and why it's not appropriate to trigger it by things that are typically harmless.

The therapy is usually done in a series of sessions that last about an hour each. Patients are usually given tasks to complete between sessions. It can take a while to find the right therapy for you, and you may need to test several before finding someone you feel comfortable with.

Self-help techniques can be useful additions to psychotherapy, for example meditation, relaxation exercises, and breathing techniques. You can reduce anxiety by ensuring you get enough rest, exercising regularly, and abstaining from caffeine and nicotine. Humor is an excellent stress reliever. You can try to incorporate more laughter into your daily life. In the event that you experience an acute anxiety disorder that threatens your safety or the safety of others, see your physician for emergency anxiolytic treatment, which is usually a benzodiazepine. This treatment isn't often required, but it can be very helpful. The use of medicines what is the best treatment for anxiety and depression not a substitute for psychotherapy but can be helpful in certain cases.

Lifestyle changes

Alongside psychotherapy and medications in addition, there are a variety of lifestyle changes that can significantly help people with anxiety disorders. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine, getting enough sleep, and employing relaxation techniques can be helpful.

Regular exercise is a great method to reduce stress and improve your mood. It has been proven that it can improve anxiety symptoms and self-reported mood. Making a workout routine that is safe for every person can be challenging however even a small amount of exercise can be beneficial.

Regular, moderately paced exercise was also shown to be effective in treating depression and anxiety disorders. While the mechanisms remain unclear, it's believed that exercise alters brain chemical by controlling 5-HT neurotransmitters in the dorsal Raphe Nucleus and decreasing levels of cortisol.

The use of acupuncture, massage therapy, and other CAM treatments has been found to be beneficial in treating anxiety disorders. There is no evidence to support this and the poor methods are often at fault. While certain studies show promise, most of these therapies don't have the level of clinical proof required for doctors to recommend them as an alternative.

In addition, the relationship between food and anxiety is complex. In fact, certain foods can cause anxiety symptoms to worsen. For instance the highly palatable and fat-rich foods can trigger the production of reactive oxygen species in the brain, which can create or exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Dietary improvements, including the restriction of alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, has been demonstrated to be helpful in reducing anxiety, however more research is needed, including programs to help with withdrawal from substances and controlled prospective studies.

It has been demonstrated that other dietary supplements such as omega-3 fish oils can reduce anxiety. Researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acid supplements can reduce the production of inflammatory molecules and improve the effectiveness of antidepressant medications in reducing anxiety-related symptoms. Other changes in diet can ease anxiety, for example, increasing the amount and variety of fruits and vegetables and incorporating more whole grains and avoiding all processed foods.

Herbal and dietary supplements

Although herbal remedies and dietary supplements have been utilized for centuries in various regions of the world to relieve anxiety symptoms, the effectiveness and safety of these natural remedies is only recently tested in rigorous clinical trials. Ashwagandha, an herb that comes from Indian medicine's Ayurvedic tradition, is particularly effective in reducing anxiety and stress. The amino acid precursors l-tryptophan as well as L-lysine are also believed to reduce anxiety symptoms by altering neurotransmitters that are involved in the stress response.

Many people who suffer from anxiety experience a variety of symptoms, ranging from a transient feeling of nervousness or worry that is experienced prior to surgery or menstruation to the pervasive tension and unease that are characteristic of more serious types of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder social phobias and panic disorder. The symptoms of anxiety can be debilitating and include trembling, headaches, sweating, muscle tightness and difficulties sleeping.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a form of psychotherapy that teaches people how treat anxiety without medication (go source) to recognize and respond differently to the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. When used in conjunction with medications this method can help treat anxiety and relieve symptoms such as depression and fatigue.

A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may aid in reducing anxiety symptoms. These fatty acid found in fish like mackerel, salmon, and herring, have been recognized to improve heart health, but may also improve the brain. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids are flaxseeds, walnuts, and chia seeds.

It is important to remember that herbal and dietary products are not regulated by the FDA the same way as pharmaceutical drugs. This means that there is the possibility that certain products may be contaminated or produce harmful side effects. Consult your physician if you're considering using dietary or herbal supplements to treat anxiety. They can offer suggestions on possible interactions between the herbs and other medications you might be taking, as well as dosage guidelines.