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Descrizione:
Why Treat Anxiety Will Be Your Next Big Obsession
Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety
Everyone is worried and anxious at times, but people with anxiety have a hard time controlling their reactions. Psychotherapy can help, as can medications like beta blockers (used to lower blood pressure) and benzodiazepines.
Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. Exercise, for instance, helps to reduce stress and relax your body.
Medication
If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy do not help anxiety, medication might be a viable alternative. Anxiety medications help to suppress fear signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants, the most common medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are often the first drugs prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine, duloxetine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil (imipramine), or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety.
Sometimes, benzodiazepines can be used to treat anxiety. They're fast-acting and very helpful in the short term however they are also addictive and should only be used when other treatments don't work. Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.
There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety, however only licensed health professionals can prescribe these medications. They can be psychologists, psychiatrists doctors of primary care and some OB-GYNs. They must also receive special training in order to prescribe medications.
Certain people utilize complementary therapies, such as exercise, to reduce anxiety. They can also discover ways to relax and reduce stress such as mindfulness meditation and deep breathing. Biofeedback can be another beneficial technique, in which a therapist monitors your brain-wave patterns on an electroencephalograph and teaches you how to control them at will.
Finally natural supplements like 5-HTP and melatonin may aid in easing anxiety. But, it is essential to consult your physician prior to taking any supplements to treat anxiety or for any other reason. Supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates psychotherapy and lifestyle changes will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most studied and empirically validated psychotherapeutic strategies for anxiety disorders. It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behaviors that cause anxiety to persist. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and methods.
The first step in CBT is to recognize problematic thought patterns that can cause anxiety. In the course of therapy, patients are taught to recognize these negative beliefs and challenge. Therapists can also help patients identify and change behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist may ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions, and to apply the strategies for behavioural change they have learned in everyday life.
The ultimate goal is to help patients become their own therapists by helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will enable them overcome unfounded fears and anxieties, decrease their anxiety levels and other negative emotions and be more resilient.
CBT methods involve the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's mind that lead to overgeneralization and catastrophizing. In addition, therapists will aid the patient in developing strategies for dealing with stressful situations. natural remedies to treat anxiety can be applied to all types of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy".
Another element of CBT is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient's anxious object or situation. This can be done by visualizing the object or scenario, or by directly confronting it in real life. For instance, a patient suffering from PTSD who is scared of a certain location might be encouraged to visit the spot where they were abused. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is scared of speaking in public, may be encouraged to deliver a speech before an audience.
Certain studies have demonstrated that combining CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. The results are mixed and more research is needed. Combining medications with CBT is usually more effective than one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines with CBT have been shown to be particularly efficacious in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder.
Exposure therapy
One of the most effective ways to treat anxiety is exposure therapy, which helps you confront the things that scare you in a secure setting with the help of a therapy. It may seem difficult but the process can help you recognize that your fears aren't justifiable and you can be able to accept the triggers. It will also increase your confidence in dealing with life's challenges.
There are many kinds of exposure therapies, such as virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're scared of speaking in public Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with your friend. Then, you can gradually confront the scenario with your therapist’s support. Your therapist will be monitoring your anxiety and panic during each session. They will adjust the intensity of exposure if needed.
During the course of a session the therapist will show you how to calm and manage your emotions before explaining the triggers that create anxiety. This can include techniques like mindfulness, breathing rhythms, and guided imagery. They will also teach you strategies to avoid engaging in the behaviors that cause anxiety, for example, avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually done in a series weekly sessions. Some individuals require more than two sessions to overcome their fear.
The first step is to pinpoint the object or situation that causes anxiety, for example, flying on a plane or in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist will then help you to decide on the method of exposure therapy that will suit your needs and personality. This might involve using an order to determine the order in which exposures are given or a series of relaxation exercises prior to beginning.
In vivo exposure therapy involves directly facing the thing or situation you're fearful of. It could be as simple as crossing the bridge or having someone else reach out to you. This technique can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific phobias.
It can be difficult to fit in vivo exposure therapy between appointments. Therefore, it is important to find a therapist that specializes in this form of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychological association or mental network. It's an excellent idea to review reviews and ask your relatives or friends for suggestions.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies are a range of health treatments that are not traditionally considered part of Western medicine. They can ease anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting a healthy lifestyle. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal therapy, meditation, yoga music therapy, massage. They can also reduce depression symptoms by reducing the levels of stress hormones in your body.
A recent study has found that mindfulness-based meditation programs were linked with slight improvements in anxiety symptoms. This method employs various methods of meditation to increase mindfulness, or the ability of staying in the present moment and letting go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation is suitable for nearly everyone and doesn't require any special equipment or instruction. People who have physical limitations may not be able to take part in a meditation practice that involves movement.
Other therapies that can help relieve anxiety include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, as well as self-hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage anxiety by focussing on relaxing muscles, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be employed at home or in an environment for treatment. These techniques are often used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy.
Another way to relieve anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can help you feel more energized which can lessen your anxiety.
Cognitive behavior therapy is a very effective treatment for anxiety. It teaches you to identify and challenge negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to assess your fears and determine their probability of occurring. You can apply strategies such as comparing your fears to past experiences, weighing the pros and cons of a situation and determining whether it is realistic to worry about something that could happen.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese technique, is employed to treat stress. It is based upon an assessment of deficiencies or excesses in your energy (called qi) that are located in specific meridians. For instance, a deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridians could cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture could help alleviate anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.