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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but people with anxiety have a hard to control their reactions. Psychotherapy and medications like beta blockers, which are used to lower blood pressure, as well as benzodiazepines may help. Self-help strategies may also help alleviate symptoms. For instance, exercise can help reduce stress and relaxes the body. Medication If lifestyle changes or psychotherapy aren't working then medication could be a good alternative. Anxiety medications help to suppress fear signals and the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants are the most common medications used for anxiety. They boost levels of certain neurotransmitters which influence mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and prozac are typically the first medications prescribed. SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine, and tricyclic antidepressants, such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil, Tofranil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety. Benzodiazepines are also used to combat anxiety. They are quick-acting, and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they can be addictive. The most common benzodiazepines are Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam). There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat anxiety, but only licensed health care providers are able to prescribe them. They can be psychiatrists, psychologists doctors of primary care and OB-GYNs. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medications, but they must be trained specifically to do this. Exercise and complementary therapies are used by some people to reduce anxiety. They can also find methods to relax and relieve stress, including deep breathing and mindfulness meditation. 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. In addition, natural supplements like 5-HTP or melatonin can aid in relieving anxiety. Talk to your doctor prior to taking supplements for anxiety or any other condition. Supplements together with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates lifestyle and psychotherapy will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is among the many psychotherapeutic methods for anxiety disorders that has been thoroughly studied and supported by empirical evidence. It targets the maladaptive behavior and thoughts that cause anxiety over time. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were designed for different anxiety disorders, they all have common treatment goals and techniques. The first step in CBT is to discover dysfunctional thought patterns that can cause anxiety. Through sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist can also help patients recognize and modify their behavior patterns that cause them to avoid. The therapist may request patients to keep “thought journals” or diaries in between sessions, and to implement the behavioural strategies they have learned in everyday life. The ultimate final goal is to help patients to be their own therapists by helping them to understand their current patterns of thinking and behaviour. This will help them remove unfounded fears, lessen their anxiety and other negative feelings and become more resilient. CBT methods involve identifying and changing distortions of the patient's thinking, such as overgeneralizing and catastrophizing. Additionally, therapists aid the patient in developing strategies for dealing with stressful situations. These techniques can be utilized to treat all types of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called “cognitive-behavioral therapy”. The exposure therapy is a different aspect of CBT. It involves exposure therapy, which involves exposing the patient to the object or situation that causes them anxiety. This may be done through visualizing the object or scenario or confronting it directly in real life. A patient suffering from PTSD, who is afraid of a certain area, may be urged by their physician to visit the site in which they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder who is scared of public speaking could be encouraged to deliver a speech front of the group. Certain studies have demonstrated that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy improve outcomes. These results are not conclusive, and more research is needed. In general, combining medications with CBT is more effective than any one alone. Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been proven to be particularly effective for patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder. Exposure therapy Exposure therapy is among the most effective methods for treating anxiety. It can help you confront the things that you are afraid of in a secure setting with an expert. It can be difficult but the process can help you realize that your fears are not justifiable and that you are able to accept your triggers. It will also boost your confidence in facing life's challenges. There are many different types of exposure therapies, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization. For example, if you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist might encourage you to imagine yourself giving a speech or to practice with your friend. Then, you'll be able to slowly face the situation in real life with your therapy therapist's help. Your therapist will keep track of your anxiety and fear during each session. They will adjust the level of exposure as needed. During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax and cope with your emotions and then introduces triggers that make you feel scared. This may include techniques such as mindfulness, breathing rhythms and guided imagery. They will also provide strategies to avoid engaging the behaviors that cause anxiety, for example, avoiding elevators. Exposure therapy is usually carried out over a number of weekly sessions. However, some individuals require more than one or two sessions to overcome their fears. The first step is to pinpoint the triggers that cause anxiety. For example, flying on a flight or being with strangers. Your therapist can help you choose the best exposure therapy method that fits your preferences and personality. This could include using an order to determine the sequence of exposures or a relaxation practice prior to beginning. In vivo therapy is the process of confronting the situation or thing that you are afraid of. It could be as easy as walking across an overpass or touching your arm. This method can be used to treat specific fears and posttraumatic stress disorder. It can be challenging to squeeze in vivo exposure therapy between appointments. Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist who specializes in this form of cognitive therapy. You can locate an experienced specialist by searching your local psychology association or the mental health network. You can also read reviews and ask family and friends for suggestions. Complementary therapies Complementary therapies encompass a broad array of health treatments that aren't considered to be part of Western medicine. They can aid in reducing anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicine, meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy, and yoga. They can also aid in relieving depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body. A recent study revealed that mindfulness-based meditation programs were associated with moderate improvement in anxiety-related symptoms. This method employs various meditation techniques to promote mindfulness, or the ability of focusing on the present moment while getting rid of negative thoughts and feelings. This kind of meditation is suitable for almost anyone and does not require any special equipment or instruction. However, those with physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditative practices that involve movements. Other therapies that can ease anxiety include breathing exercise and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and the use of hypnosis. These techniques can help you manage anxiety by focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be used at home or within an environment for treatment. best herbal treatment for anxiety are usually employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Another way to relieve anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced, healthy diet. Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol level, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety. A healthy diet can help you feel more energetic, which in turn can reduce anxiety symptoms. Cognitive behavior therapy is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. It helps you recognize and confront negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. Your therapist will instruct you how to evaluate your anxiety and determine the likelihood that they will actually occur. You can use strategies like the comparison of your fears to previous experiences by considering the advantages and disadvantages of the situation and determining if it is reasonable to worry about something that might happen. Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese technique, can be used to treat stress. It is based on an evaluation of the excesses and deficiencies in your energy, referred to as Qi, that is found in specific meridians. For example, a deficiency in the spleen or kidney meridians could cause anxiety. Some studies suggest acupuncture may reduce anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy or other CAM approaches.