Anxiety Disorder Help
It is possible to seek help if your experiencing persistent anxiety symptoms. Treatment for anxiety disorders typically includes medication and therapy.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to ease anxiety, such as benzodiazepines and modern antidepressants. SSRIs (like Lexapro and Prozac) and SNRIs (like duloxetine and venlafaxine) are common examples. Your therapist can also teach you techniques to help you reduce anxiety symptoms, such as confronting negative thoughts or exposure therapy.
Medications
Medication is one way to treat anxiety disorders and can reduce the need for psychotherapy. But they're not right for everyone, and there are other options, too. For instance, getting plenty of exercise, focus on healthy eating, and utilizing relaxation techniques are ways to manage stress that don't require medications. If you're taking medication to control anxiety, be sure to adhere to the prescribed dosages and keep your appointments with your therapist.
Antidepressants are usually prescribed by doctors to people with anxiety disorders. These medications correct an imbalance of brain chemical and can take up to six weeks to kick in. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the most commonly used antidepressants used to treat anxiety. The neurotransmitters that affect mood are impacted by drugs like Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro. Other medications, like SNRIs such as Effexor(venlafaxine) or Cymbalta(duloxetine), can also be prescribed for depression and anxiety.
If SSRIs don't work, doctors may prescribe benzodiazepines for anxiety-related symptoms. They are able to target gamma-aminobutyric acid also known as GABA, a chemical found in the brain that produces a calming effect. Benzodiazepines can be found in Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium. They can cause dangerous negative side effects, including addiction, which is why they are typically prescribed for short-term use.
Other medicines, such as propranolol, which is approved for treating social anxiety disorders is a drug that inhibits a chemical known as Monoamine Oxidase A. They don't affect the brain in the same way as benzodiazepines do, but they can be more effective and do not suffer from the same adverse effects. Benzodiazepines, SNRIs and SSRIs are typically reserved for patients suffering from severe anxiety. SSRIs however can be used to treat a wide range of anxiety disorders.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy could be a part of a treatment plan for anxiety disorder . There are many types of psychotherapy, and a certified mental health professional can assist you to choose the best one for you. Psychotherapy involves talking with a therapist and developing techniques and skills to manage anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy which can help you learn to challenge anxious thoughts and behaviors. CBT helps you identify and stop unhelpful thinking, feeling, and acting patterns. It also helps you identify the specific events and people or objects that trigger anxiety and how to deal with these triggers. CBT is recommended for a variety of kinds of anxiety disorders.
EMDR (eye movement desensitization and processing) is a different type of psychotherapy that may be used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. During this treatment you'll lie on a couch or a reclined chair while your psychotherapist guides you through the various phases of the therapy which could involve looking at an object by using your eyes, listening to music, or reminiscing about a negative experience from your past (for example, being frightened of thunderstorms because someone broke up with you during a bad storm). EMDR can assist you in overcoming these negative associations and reduce your anxiety symptoms.
Interpersonal psychotherapy is one type of psychotherapy which focuses on improving social and interpersonal functioning. IPT is not a treatment for anxiety, but it can assist you in addressing issues that can contribute to anxiety.
Exercise
Exercise is a natural way to relieve stress and anxiety. Exercise is important for your physical health and it can improve your sleep. Both of these can be affected by anxiety disorders. It is a low-cost treatment that you can do yourself.
Most studies have shown that anything from high-intensity interval training to tai-chi can be efficient. Finding something you enjoy is essential to increase your chances of participating and building resilience. Exercise can also be an escape from the day to day and reduce anxious rumination. This is particularly beneficial for patients who struggle to deal with the Distraction Theory. According to this psychological theory, anxious patients tend to avoid social interaction, and instead engage in excessive self talk and worry.
Although exercise isn't a cure for anxiety but it can be used in combination with other treatments to lessen the severity of symptoms. For instance patients can combine exposure therapy with exercise to reduce their anxiety about flying or driving. Another effective technique is attention training, which helps a person learn to control their brain wave activity. During a series of sessions with a certified therapist, the patient watches their own brain waves on an electroencephalograph monitor and teaches themselves to achieve a more relaxed state at will.
Exercise isn't a panacea for anxiety however, it is an effective treatment. Exercise is likely to play a part in the treatment of anxiety disorders, in particular since many GPs offer "exercise on a prescription" programs which provide patients with an exercise program that is subsidised at the local gym.
Relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques can help reduce stress and anxiety by eliciting the body's relaxation response which is evident by a reduction in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Meditation, guided imagery, deep breathing and biofeedback assisted relaxation are the most common examples of these techniques. Many users find that these techniques are most effective when they are practiced regularly.
You can learn these techniques from a mental health professional or health care provider. They will also give you the tools needed to practice them independently. Your health care provider may suggest that you participate in self-help groups and group therapy groups, which are beneficial for meeting others with similar problems. Stress can be reduced by staying in contact with family and friends and exercising regularly, while abstaining from alcohol or other substances.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy are two kinds of psychotherapy that treat anxiety disorders. CBT helps you to identify and overcome irrational fears as well as negative thoughts that cause anxiety. Then, you are taught to replace them with more realistic and calming thoughts. Exposure therapy is the process of gradually confronting situations that cause anxiety until you can handle them without anxiety. Usually, you start with the least frightening situations before moving on to more challenging ones.
Other psychological treatments include mindfulness, support groups and hypnosis. They can be especially beneficial if you have co-occurring conditions that can trigger anxiety, like depression or substance misuse. Other helpful habits can be getting enough rest and eating well. Regular exercise is essential because it helps to eliminate stress chemicals that are produced during stressful times. It is also crucial to establish solid relationships with others as loneliness and isolation can cause anxiety symptoms to worsen.
Healthy eating habits
Anxiety can trigger a range of physical symptoms and behavior that include abdominal pain, muscle tension and feelings of panic. It is normal to feel anxious or anxious from time to time but anxiety that is excessive can cause a feeling of helplessness and anxiety that could affect your daily routine. If you are suffering from anxiety, you can manage your symptoms by developing coping skills and following the advice of your doctor.
A nutritious diet, in addition to medication and therapy can help reduce anxiety symptoms. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and healthy fats will aid in reducing stress levels and supply the nutrients your body needs to perform at its best.
Avoid foods that are high in sugar or fat as they can worsen anxiety symptoms. To keep hydrated, drink plenty of water and non-caffeinated drinks. Some of the foods that have been proven to help ease anxiety are avocados, bananas and avocados, as well as dark chocolate as well as oysters, berries and fish. Foods that are naturally high in magnesium, such as leafy green vegetables (spinach and Swiss Chard) as well as pumpkin seeds and legumes, nuts, and whole grains are excellent options. Omega-3 fatty acid, which is found in fish like sardines, trout and salmon as well as walnuts, can aid in reducing anxiety symptoms.
It is important to seek treatment for both anxiety disorders and eating disorder. A combination of psychiatric medications and psychotherapy is usually the most effective form of treatment for both disorders. Talk therapy can help you learn how to manage your negative emotions and replace them with positive ones, while psychiatric medication can help to alleviate anxiety symptoms and prevent them from becoming too severe.