Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can ruin a person's life by making them feel depressed and tired. The fear of being anxious can make people unable to socializing, creating a false belief that they are in danger and creating isolation.
Treatment for anxiety includes psychotherapy, medication, as well as exercise. Antidepressants are a few options, like SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram) and benzodiazepines such as lorazepam and diazepam.
Medicines
People are generally anxious at times however, when the feeling goes on for a long time or interferes with day-to-day life it's an indication of an anxiety disorder. Treatment of anxiety disorders usually involves medication and psychotherapy. While medication can help alleviate symptoms, they cannot treat anxiety disorders. Therefore, they must be utilized in combination with psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications.
Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed to treat anxiety. Antidepressants help to correct an imbalance of chemicals in the brain that causes 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 are also addictive and shouldn't be used for a long time.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, also known as SSRIs aid in reducing the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the body. They also block receptors in the brain that absorb serotonin, allowing for more of the mood-enhancing chemical to move around. This helps reduce 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 good safety profile. Pros: Some patients could experience side effects like dry mouth, dizziness and drowsiness.
Propranolol, along with other psychiatric medicines can also alleviate anxiety-related symptoms. These drugs are usually prescribed to treat high blood-pressure and heart issues. However, doctors can prescribe them "off label" for anxiety. They are used to lessen the effect of stress hormones in the body, including adrenaline and noradrenaline, that increase blood pressure and heart rate. They also can cause side effects like bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension, and sedation.
Change your diet and ensuring you get enough exercise can help reduce anxiety. So can relaxing activities such as meditation and yoga. In addition there are many mind-body therapies that can help with anxiety such as the acupuncture method and tai chi. Consult your physician about the treatments that could be most suitable for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a scientifically-based psychotherapy that works in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the belief that thoughts, feelings physical sensations, and thoughts are connected and that negative patterns can trap you in a vicious cycle. CBT teaches how to identify negative thoughts and patterns and then implement strategies to manage them. It also teaches you to regulate your responses to anxiety-producing situations and develop strategies for coping.
In the initial session the therapist will usually perform an assessment. This could involve completing questionnaires, conducting an interview, or even supplying written material. This will help them identify the specific disorder you suffer from and identify the symptoms that are distressing. It will also help determine if your current treatments are working. The assessment can also determine if you're able to establish a an emotional connection.
CBT typically lasts for 20 sessions or less. You will see your therapist every week, either once or twice during these sessions. Your therapist will instruct you on various self-help techniques like how you can reframe unhelpful thinking and practice positive outcomes. They will also teach you coping skills such as how to calm your mind and relax your body.
Your therapist could also give you different tools, like therapy worksheets that will aid in tracking your symptoms and triggers. They can help you conquer your anxiety in small steps that are manageable and so that it doesn't seem like a daunting task. If you are afraid of social situations, your therapist may invite you to play with them and then move onto talking to your family or friends.
Another benefit of CBT is behavioural experiments. It allows you to question your irrational catastrophe predictions by providing evidence against them. For instance, if you are worried that something catastrophic will occur if you leave your house, you can conduct a behavioural experiment by making a prediction prior to going out, for example "If I go out for dinner, I will be sick with food poisoning." You can then track whether your prediction was accurate or not.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is an alternative treatment to medications for anxiety. Hypnosis helps people relax, change their perception of their symptoms and modify their behavior. It can also be used to overcome phobias. It can be used to decrease anxiety and stress and can help with pain. The effects of hypnosis can last for a long time and the benefits can be seen from just one session.
During a session of hypnosis (or while listening to a recorded audio), the therapist guides you into a state that appears to be like a daydream. In this relaxed state you can hear the therapist's suggestions and then respond. They might ask you to imagine a secure and relaxing place and then they will advise you to be aware of sensory details as they slowly become more real. This is referred to as a "deepening state of trance.' This is the point where you start to notice a difference in the symptoms.
Many people notice a shift immediately. They might leave the room or even open their eyes following a hypnotherapy session and they notice shifts. This is normal, and sometimes it can feel like magic. For some people however, it could take several sessions before they see any positive changes. This is normal and it is crucial to give the therapy time to get it working.
Always consult with your doctor prior to starting hypnotherapy. They will be able to answer any concerns you have regarding hypnotherapy, and also discuss your options. Hypnosis is not available on the NHS therefore you'll need to arrange an appointment in private with a trained therapist. The sessions can be costly but they are usually more effective than other types of treatment for anxiety .
In some cases it is possible to use hypnosis to treat PTSD. This is a condition that is caused by trauma like a car accident or natural disaster, or even war. It can trigger depression, anxiety and other problems. The symptoms of PTSD are arousing memory as well as night terrors and an increase in anxiety. Hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for PTSD and is usually coupled with other types of talking therapies to get the best results.
Exercise
Anxiety can be a significant hurdle for many people who are looking to live active lives However, the good news is that exercising could be one of the most effective non-pharmacological treatments for the disorder. Exercise can help reduce anxiety symptoms for a long time. A regular schedule of physical exercise can help reduce anxiety.
Although it is well-documented that regular exercise can provide health benefits, only a few studies have specifically examined its effects on anxiety. However, a new study suggests that intense exercises are particularly effective for anxiety disorders.
The researchers in the study, led by University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson, assigned 223 adults with anxiety to a 12-week group fitness program that included either low or high intensity workouts. They also provided them with instructions on how to incorporate fitness into their life. The results were clear that those 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 programs in general practice. Patients suffering from anxiety tend to be more sedentary than people who do not suffer from the condition, and the absence of physical activity could contribute to their psychiatric disorders. Physical activity is linked to a 25 percent lower risk of depression or anxiety disorders than people who are sedentary.
Exercise has a positive effect on mental well-being. It increases the release of good-feeling hormones, such as serotonin, dopamine and others. It can also improve sleep and boost self-esteem. However, the benefits of physical activity are more extensive studies have proven that it's just as effective as antidepressants for treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis done by Jayakody and colleagues identified eight trials that compared exercise groups with those who didn't exercise. All of these studies reported an improvement in anxiety levels. The researchers limited their analysis to trials involving participants who have a diagnosis of anxiety disorder. It is evident that more research is required to determine if exercise is an effective option for people with elevated levels of anxiety.