Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can take a toll on a person's life by making them feel depressed and tired. Worry can prevent people from interacting, reinforcing a misguided sense that they are in danger and creating a sense of isolation.
Treatment for anxiety involves psychotherapy, medication, and exercise. Medications can include antidepressants, such as SSRIs (citalopram, Escitalopram), and benzodiazepines, like diazepam and lorazepam.
Medicines
Anxiety disorders are a result of anxiety that lasts for too long or interferes in everyday life. Treatment of anxiety disorders usually involves psychotherapy and medication. Although medication can help alleviate symptoms, they are not able to cure anxiety disorders. They must be used with psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications.
Antidepressants and other benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed to treat anxiety. Antidepressants correct a chemical imbalance in the brain which causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are sedatives that are fast-acting to stop the body's reaction to anxiety. They can also be addictive and should not be used long-term.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, also known as SSRIs aid in reducing the levels of the cortisol, a stress hormone, in the body. They also block brain receptors that absorb serotonin which allows more of the mood-enhancing chemical to circulate. This eases anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. Pros: SSRIs are readily available and are effective for the majority of people, and have a favorable safety profile. Cons: Some patients may suffer from side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness and drowsiness.
Other psychiatric medications like propranolol can also be helpful for anxiety symptoms. These drugs are typically used to treat high blood pressure and heart ailments however, doctors can prescribe them "off-label" for anxiety. They act to blunt the effects of stress hormones within the body, such as noradrenaline and adrenaline, which increase heart rate and blood pressure. They can also trigger negative side effects, such as orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure when standing up), bradycardia (slower than the normal heart rate) and sedation.
You can reduce anxiety by changing your diet and exercising enough. Relaxing activities such as meditation and yoga can also aid in relieving anxiety. There are also treatments for the mind like acupuncture and tai chi which can help ease anxiety. Speak to your doctor about the options that could be the best for you.
stress management (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a research-based psychotherapy that is effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. It works on the principle that feelings, thoughts and physical sensations are all interconnected and that negative patterns can lead you into the cycle of. CBT helps you identify the negative patterns of your mind, and implement techniques to help you manage them. It also helps you control your reactions to anxiety-provoking situations and develop strategies for coping.
In the first session, the therapist typically conducts an assessment. This may include filling out questionnaires, conducting interviews, or even providing written material. This will allow them to comprehend your specific disorder, pinpoint the symptoms that are troubling you, and determine whether your current treatment options are effective. They will also use the assessment to determine if they can establish a therapeutic relationship with you.
CBT usually lasts 20 sessions or less. You will see your therapist once or twice a week during these sessions. Your therapist will teach you various self-help techniques that will help you reframe unhelpful thoughts and practice positive outcome visualization. They will also help you develop coping strategies including how to relax your body and calm your mind.
Your therapist could also provide you with a variety of tools, such as therapy worksheets to assist you in identifying your symptoms and triggers. They can help you manage anxiety in smaller steps that are manageable and to make it less as daunting. If you are scared of social situations, your therapist could have you role-play with them, and then move on to talking to your family or friends.
CBT also incorporates behavioural tests. It allows you to challenge your irrational and catastrophic predictions by providing evidence against them. For example, if you fear that something terrible will happen if you leave the house, you can conduct a behavioural experiment by making a prediction before going out, like "If I go out for dinner, I will be sick with food poisoning." You can then track whether your prediction was true or false.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy can be utilized as an alternative to medications to treat anxiety. It uses hypnosis to help people to change their perceptions of their symptoms, change their behavior and relax. It can also be used to overcome fears. It is frequently employed to decrease anxiety and stress, but it can also help in alleviating pain. The effects of hypnosis are long-lasting and can be observed after only one session.
During a session of hypnosis (or while listening to a recorded recording) the therapist guides you into a state of mind that appears to be like a daydream. In this state of relaxation, you are able to hear the suggestions of your therapist and respond. They may ask you to imagine a secure and comfortable place and after that they will instruct you to pay attention to the sensory details as they slowly become more real. This is referred to as "deepening trance". This is the point where you begin to notice a difference in the symptoms.
Many people notice a change straight away. After hypnotherapy, they can feel the shift in their body as soon as they leave the room or open their eyes. This is normal, and can sometimes feel magical. For some people, however, it may take a few sessions before they notice any positive changes. This is normal and it's crucial to allow time for the therapy to get it working.
If you are thinking about hypnotherapy, you should always consult with your doctor first. They will be able to answer any concerns you have about hypnotherapy and also discuss your options. Hypnosis is not available on the NHS therefore you'll have to schedule an appointment in private with a trained therapist. These sessions can be costly but they are also more cost-effective than other types of treatment for anxiety.
In some cases it is possible to use hypnosis to treat PTSD. This condition occurs after an event that was traumatic, such as a car crash, natural disaster or war. It can cause depression, anxiety, and other problems. The symptoms of PTSD include recurring memories, nightmares and increased anxiety or hypervigilance. Hypnotherapy can be a very effective treatment for PTSD and is often coupled with other types of talking therapy to achieve the best results.
Exercise
Exercise is a great treatment for anxiety. Exercise can help reduce anxiety symptoms for a long time. A regular schedule of exercise can aid in reducing them.
While it is widely acknowledged that regular exercise can provide health benefits, very few studies have specifically examined its effects on anxiety. A new study suggests that high intensity exercise regimens are particularly effective for those suffering from anxiety.
Researchers who participated in the study under the direction of University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson assigned 223 adults suffering from anxiety to 12 weeks of group exercise that included low- or high-intensity workouts. They also provided them with instructions on how to integrate exercise into their daily lives. The results were clear. Those in the high-intensity groups had a significant decrease in their anxiety levels compared to those in low-intensity.
These results have implications for the use of exercise programs in general practice. Patients suffering from anxiety tend to be more sedentary than those who do not suffer from the condition and the absence of physical activity could cause psychiatric issues for them. Research shows that those who are physically active are less likely to develop anxiety disorders or depression than those who are inactive.
Exercise has a positive effect on mental health. It increases the release of positive hormones like serotonin, dopamine and others. It can also improve sleep and boost self-esteem. However, the benefits of exercise is greater than that. A variety of studies have proven that it can be as effective as antidepressants for treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis done by Jayakody et al identified eight trials that compared groups that exercised with those who didn't exercise. All of the studies reported a reduction in anxiety. However, the researchers restricted their analyses to trials which included participants who had an anxiety disorder that was officially diagnosed. This means that more research is needed to determine if exercise is a viable option for those who have elevated levels of anxiety.