Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can sabotage the quality of life of an individual by making them feel overwhelmed, depressed, and tired. Worry can keep people from interacting with others, which can reinforce their false sense of security and thus creating isolation.
Exercise, medication, and psychotherapy are all a part of the treatment of anxiety. The medications can include antidepressants like SSRIs (citalopram, Escitalopram) and benzodiazepines like diazepam and lorazepam.
Medications
Anxiety disorders are a result of anxiety that lasts too long or causes disruption to daily activities. Treatment of anxiety disorders usually involves psychotherapy and medication. Although medications can relieve symptoms, they cannot solve anxiety disorders. They should be used along alongside psychotherapy and lifestyle adjustments.
The medications that are typically prescribed to treat anxiety include antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Antidepressants correct a chemical imbalance within the brain, which can cause anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are sedatives that are fast-acting to stop the body's response to anxiety. They can also be addictive and should not be used for long periods of time.
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, help to reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. They also block receptors that absorb serotonin in the brain, allowing more of the mood-enhancing chemical to circulate, and alleviating the anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. SSRIs have a great safety record, and are widely available and are effective for most people. Cons Some patients suffer from side effects like dizziness, drowsiness or dry mouth.
Propranolol, along with other psychiatric medicines can also alleviate anxiety symptoms. These medications are typically prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart issues. However, doctors can prescribe them "off label" for anxiety. They are used to lessen the effects of stress hormones within the body, including noradrenaline and adrenaline, which increase your heart rate and blood pressure. anxiety treatment can also cause negative effects, such as bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension, and sedation.
You can lessen anxiety by changing your diet and exercising enough. Meditation and yoga can aid in relieving anxiety. Additionally there are many mind-body therapies that can be beneficial for anxiety, including the acupuncture method and tai chi. Consult your physician about what options might be suitable for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that is effective in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the notion that feelings, thoughts and physical sensations are interconnected and that negative patterns can lead you into an endless cycle. CBT helps you identify negative thought patterns and implement techniques to help you control them. It also teaches you how to manage your responses to situations that trigger anxiety and to develop coping strategies.
In the first sessions in the first session, a therapist will usually conduct an assessment. This may involve completing questionnaires, interviewing you or even providing written material. It will help them understand your specific disorder, pinpoint the symptoms that are troubling you, and determine whether your current treatments are working. They will also utilize the assessment to determine whether they can develop a therapeutic relationship with you.
CBT is usually short-term, and will last 20 or less sessions. During these sessions, you will see your therapist at a minimum every week or every two weeks. Your therapist will teach you various self-help techniques, such as how to reframe unhelpful thoughts and practice positive outcomes imagery. They will also teach you coping strategies like how to quiet your mind and relax your body.
Your therapist can also provide you with different tools, such as therapy worksheets to assist you in identifying your symptoms and triggers. They can help you work through your anxiety in smaller steps to ensure that the process becomes less daunting. If you're afraid of social situations, your therapist could invite you to play with them, and then move on to talking to family or friends.
CBT also incorporates behavioural tests. It helps you challenge your irrational, catastrophic predictions by providing evidence to counter them. For instance, if you think that something awful will occur if you leave the house, you might do 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 not.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a different treatment to medications for anxiety. It utilizes hypnosis to assist people change their perceptions of their symptoms, change their behaviors, and relax. It can be used to help overcome phobias. It is frequently used to reduce anxiety and stress, however it can also help in alleviating pain. The effects of hypnosis can last for a long time and can be seen after only one session.
During a session of hypnosis (or while listening to a recorded audio) the therapist will guide you into a state that is like a dream. In this state of relaxation you will be able to respond and listen to suggestions made by the therapist. They might ask you to imagine a safe and comfortable space and then instruct you to pay attention to sensory details that slowly become real. This is referred to as a 'deepening trance'. This is where the therapy will begin to take effect and you will begin to notice a difference in your symptoms.
Many people notice a shift immediately. After hypnotherapy, they can feel the shift in their body as soon as they leave the room or open up their eyes. This is normal and can sometimes feel magical. However, for some it could take a few sessions before they see any positive changes. This is normal, and it's important to allow time for therapy to get things going.
If you are thinking about the use of hypnotherapy, it is best to consult your physician first. They will be able to answer any concerns you may have regarding hypnotherapy and discuss your options. Hypnosis is not available on the NHS so you will need to book a private session with a qualified therapist. These sessions are expensive but they are also more affordable than other forms of treatment for anxiety.
Hypnosis is often used to treat PTSD. This condition is triggered by a traumatizing event like a car accident or natural disaster or war and it causes anxiety, depression and other problems. The symptoms of PTSD include recurring memories, night terrors, and increased anxiety. Hypnotherapy can be a very effective treatment for PTSD, and it's usually combined with other talking therapy to produce the most effective results.
Exercise
Exercise is a great treatment for anxiety. Exercise can help reduce anxiety symptoms for several hours. A regular routine of physical activity can also aid in reducing them.
While it is well-documented that regular exercise can provide health benefits, very few studies have examined its effects on anxiety. A new study suggests that high intensity exercises are particularly effective for anxiety disorders.
The researchers who conducted the study, led by University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson the study enrolled 223 adults suffering from anxiety to a 12-week group workout program that included either low or high intensity workouts. They also gave them instructions on how to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. The results were clear: those who were in the high-intensity group showed significant improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the lower intensity group.
These findings have implications for the use of exercise programmes in general practice. Patients suffering from anxiety tend to be more sedentary than those who are not affected and an absence of physical activity could cause psychiatric issues for them. Research suggests that those who exercise regularly are less likely to develop anxiety or depression than those who are inactive.
It's not a surprise that exercise has a positive effect on mental health: it stimulates the release of feel-good hormones, such as serotonin and dopamine. It can also improve sleep and boost self-esteem. But the benefits of physical exercise are even greater research has proven that it is as effective as antidepressants in treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis by Jayakody and colleagues identified eight studies comparing groups who exercised to those that did not. These studies all reported an improvement in anxiety levels. However, the researchers limited their studies to those that included participants who had an anxiety disorder that was formally diagnosed. This means that more research is needed to determine if exercise is an option for those with clinically raised anxiety levels.