Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can affect the quality of life of an individual by making them feel stressed exhausted, depressed and depressed. Worry can keep people from engaging with others, reinforcing their false sense of security and causing feelings of isolation.
Treatment for anxiety involves psychotherapy, medication, and exercise. Medications can include antidepressants, such as SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram), and benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or lorazepam.
Medicines
Most people feel anxious from time to time, but when that feeling persists for a long time or interferes with day-to-day life it could be the sign of an anxiety disorder. Treatment of anxiety disorders usually involves psychotherapy and medication. While medications can ease the symptoms, they don't cure anxiety disorders. Therefore, they need to be utilized in conjunction with psychotherapy and other lifestyle adjustments.
Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are often prescribed to combat anxiety. Antidepressants help to correct an imbalance of chemical substances in the brain, which causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are sedatives that are effective in stopping the body's response to anxiety. They are also addictive and are therefore not recommended for use in the long term.
SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) assist in reducing levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, within the body. They also block receptors in the brain that absorb serotonin which allows more of the mood-enhancing chemical to move around. 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, effective for most people and have a high safety profile. Pros: Some patients could suffer from side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness and drowsiness.
Other psychiatric medications like propranolol are also effective in treating anxiety-related symptoms. These medications are usually used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems However, doctors may prescribe them "off-label" to treat anxiety. They are used to lessen the effect of stress hormones in your body, including noradrenaline and adrenaline. These hormones raise your blood pressure and heart rate. They can also have adverse effects such as orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia and sedation.
Making changes to your diet and getting enough exercise can ease anxiety. Relaxing activities such as meditation and yoga can aid in relieving anxiety. Additionally there are many mind-body therapies that can help ease anxiety such as the acupuncture method and tai chi. Consult your physician about what options might be suitable for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy, a psychotherapy founded on scientific research and proven to be effective in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the belief that feelings, thoughts physical sensations, and thoughts have a common connection, and that negative patterns may trap you in a vicious loop. CBT helps you identify negative thought patterns and implement techniques to help you control them. It also teaches how to manage your responses to situations that trigger anxiety and develop coping strategies.
In the first session a therapist usually performs an assessment. This could involve completing questionnaires, conducting an interview, or even supplying written material. This will allow them to comprehend your specific disorder, pinpoint distressing symptoms and determine if your current treatments are working. The assessment can also help determine if you are able to have a an emotional connection.
CBT usually lasts 20 sessions or less. You will see your therapist at least once a week during these sessions. Your therapist will teach various self-help methods like how to change your perspective on unhelpful thinking and practice positive outcomes. They will also assist you to develop coping strategies like how to relax your body and calm your mind.
Your therapist might also offer tools, such as therapy worksheets, that will aid you in identifying the symptoms and triggers. They will help you work through your anxiety in small steps to ensure that the process is less intimidating. If you're afraid of social situations, your therapist may invite you to play with them and then move onto talking to your family or friends.
CBT also includes behavioural experiments. It helps you challenge your irrational catastrophic predictions by developing helpful evidence to counter them. If you're afraid that something bad will occur to you if you leave your home You can perform a behavioural test by making predictions. For instance, "If I go for dinner, I'll contract food poisoning." Then, generalized anxiety disorder treatment 'll be able to note whether or not the prediction was correct.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a different treatment for anxiety that is not a medication. It employs hypnosis to aid people to alter their perceptions of their symptoms, change their behaviors, and relax. It can be used to help overcome fears. It is used to reduce anxiety and stress, but can also help with pain. The effects of hypnosis can be lasting and the benefits can be observed from just one session.
In a hypnosis session (or when listening to recordings), the therapist will guide you into a trance state which is similar to being in a dream. In this state of relaxation, you can listen to the suggestions of the therapist and then respond. They may ask you to imagine a secure and peaceful place, and then they will advise you to be aware of sensory details that gradually become more real. This is referred to as 'deepening trance'. This is when the therapy will begin to work and you'll begin to notice a difference in your symptoms.
Many people notice a difference immediately. After hypnotherapy it is possible to feel the shift as soon as they leave the room or open their eyes. This is normal, and at times it can feel magical. For some people, however, it may take several sessions before they can notice any positive changes. This is normal and it's important to give the therapy time to get it working.
Always consult your physician prior to undergoing hypnotherapy. They will be able to discuss your options and answer any questions that you may have about the benefits of hypnotherapy for anxiety. Hypnosis isn't available on the NHS therefore you'll need to schedule a private session with a qualified therapist. The sessions are costly, but they are more affordable than other forms of treatment for anxiety.
Hypnosis can be used to treat PTSD. This condition is caused by trauma like a car crash or natural disaster, or even war, and can cause anxiety, depression and other problems. The signs of PTSD include recurring memories as well as night terrors and increased anxiety. Hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for PTSD, and it's usually coupled with other types of talking therapy to produce the most effective results.
Exercise
Anxiety is a major hurdle for many people who want to live active lives however the good news is that exercise can provide some of the best non-pharmacological treatments for the disorder. One vigorous exercise session can ease anxiety symptoms for hours, and a consistent schedule of physical activity may drastically reduce anxiety symptoms over time.
While it is well-documented that regular exercise provides health benefits, very few studies have specifically examined the effects of exercise on anxiety. A new study suggests that high intensity exercise routines are particularly beneficial for the condition.
The researchers involved in the study, led by University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson, assigned 223 adults with anxiety to a 12-week group fitness program that included high or low intensity exercises. They also provided them with instructions on how to incorporate exercises into their life. The results were evident. Participants in the high intensity groups showed a significant improvement in their anxiety levels compared to those in low intensity.
These findings have implications for the use of exercise schemes in general practice. Patients with anxiety tend to be more sedentary compared to those who are not affected, and the absence of physical activity may contribute to their psychiatric problems. Physical activity is linked to a 25 percent lower risk of depression or anxiety disorders than people who are sedentary.
It's not a surprise that exercise can have a positive impact on mental health. It triggers the release of hormones that make you feel good, such as serotonin and dopamine. Furthermore, it can help improve self-esteem and sleep quality. However, the benefits of physical exercise are much greater than that studies have proven that it is more effective than antidepressants in treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis carried out by Jayakody and colleagues identified eight trials comparing groups that exercised versus those who did not exercise. All of these studies reported an improvement in anxiety levels. However, the researchers limited their studies to those which included participants who had an anxiety disorder that was officially diagnosed. It is clear that further research is needed to determine if exercise is an effective treatment option for those with elevated levels of anxiety.