Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can affect the quality of life of an individual because it makes them feel overwhelmed, depressed, and tired. The fear of being anxious can make people unable to socializing, creating a false sense that they are in danger and creating isolation.
Treatment for anxiety includes psychotherapy, medication, and exercise. Antidepressants are a few options, such as SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram), and benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam and diazepam.
Medicines
Anxiety disorders result of anxiety that lasts for too long or causes disruption to everyday life. Treatment for anxiety disorders typically involves psychotherapy and medication. While medication can help alleviate symptoms, they cannot solve anxiety disorders. They must be used alongside psychotherapy and lifestyle adjustments.
The medications that are typically prescribed for anxiety include antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Antidepressants address a chemical imbalance within the brain which causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam) are sedatives that work fast to stop the body's response to anxiety. They can also be addictive and should not be used long-term.
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs aid in reducing the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the body. They also block receptors that soak up serotonin in the brain, which allows 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. Pros: SSRIs are readily available, effective for most people and have a good safety profile. Cons Some patients suffer from side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, and dry mouth.
Propranolol and various other psychiatric medications can also alleviate anxiety-related symptoms. These drugs are usually prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions. However, doctors can prescribe them "off label" for anxiety. They are used to lessen the effects of stress hormones within the body, such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, that raise your heart rate and blood pressure. They can also cause negative effects, such as bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension, and sedation.
You can lessen anxiety by adjusting your diet and getting enough exercise. Meditation and yoga can also aid in easing anxiety. In addition, there are mind-body treatments that can help ease anxiety such as the acupuncture method and tai chi. Consult your physician about what options are right for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
generalized anxiety treatment is a research-based psychotherapy that works in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the belief that emotions, thoughts physical sensations, and thoughts have a common connection, and that negative patterns may cause you to be caught in a vicious cycle. CBT helps you identify negative patterns of thought and apply strategies to manage them. It also teaches you how to control your responses to situations that trigger anxiety and to develop coping strategies.
In the first session the therapist will usually conduct an assessment. This may involve completing questionnaires, interviewing you, or supplying written materials. This will help them to understand your specific disorder and pinpoint distressing symptoms. It will also determine whether your current treatments are working. They will also use the test to determine if they are able to build an therapeutic relationship with you.
CBT typically lasts for 20 sessions or less. Your therapist will visit you every week, either once or twice during these sessions. Your therapist will teach you various self-help techniques that will help you redirect negative thoughts and to practice positive outcome imagery. They will also assist you to develop coping strategies, such as how to relax your body and relax your mind.
Your therapist can also offer you various tools, such as therapy worksheets, to aid in tracking your triggers and symptoms. They will help you overcome anxiety in smaller, manageable steps to make it less like a daunting task. If you are afraid of social situations, your therapist may have you role-play with them, and then move on to talking to your family or friends.
Another benefit of CBT is behavioural experiments. It helps you to challenge your irrational predictions of catastrophe by providing evidence against them. If you are afraid that something bad will happen to you if you leave your house you can conduct an behavioural test by making predictions. For example, "If I go for dinner, I'll be afflicted with food poisoning." Then, you can verify whether or not your prediction was right.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is an alternative treatment to medication for anxiety. It utilizes hypnosis to assist people change their perceptions of their symptoms, change their behavior and relax. It can be used to help overcome phobias. It is used to reduce stress and anxiety however, it can also assist with pain. The effects of hypnosis can be long lasting and the benefits can be observed after just one session.
During a hypnosis session (or when listening to an audio recording), the therapist will guide you into a trance state that feels a bit like being in a dream. In this state of relaxation, you can hear and respond to suggestions made by the therapist. They may ask you to imagine a safe and comfortable space and then instruct you to pay close attention to the sensory details that slowly become real. This is referred to as 'deepening trance'. This is when you will start to notice a difference in the symptoms.
Many people notice a change immediately. They may leave the room or close their eyes following an hypnotherapy session and can already feel a shift. This is normal and can feel magical. However, for some, it can take a few sessions before they can see any positive changes. This is normal, and it's important to allow therapy time to be effective.
Always consult with your doctor before undergoing the hypnotherapy method. They will be able to answer any concerns you may have regarding hypnotherapy and also discuss your options. Hypnosis isn't available on the NHS therefore you'll need to arrange an appointment with a qualified therapist. The sessions are costly, but they are more cost-effective than other types of treatment for anxiety.
Hypnosis is sometimes used to treat PTSD. This condition occurs after a traumatic event like a car crash or natural disaster, or even war. It can trigger anxiety, depression and other issues. The symptoms of PTSD include recurring memories of night terrors, increased anxiety. Hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for PTSD and is usually used in conjunction with other forms of therapy to achieve the best results.
Exercise
Exercise could be the most effective treatment for anxiety. Exercise can ease anxiety symptoms for a long time. A regular schedule of physical exercise can help to reduce them.
While it is well-documented that regular exercise has health benefits, only a few studies have looked specifically at the effects it has on anxiety. A new study suggests high intensity exercise is especially effective in treating anxiety.
Researchers involved in the study led University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson assigned 223 people suffering from anxiety to a 12-week program of group exercise that included moderate or high-intensity training. They also provided them with instructions on how to incorporate exercises into their daily routines. The results were evident for those who were in the high intensity group showed significantly greater improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the low intensity group.
These findings have implications on the use of exercise programs in general practice. Patients with anxiety are more sedentary than people who are not suffering from the condition. This may contribute to their mental health issues. Research has shown that people who are physically active are less likely to develop anxiety disorders or depression than those who are sitting down.
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. Additionally, it can help improve self-esteem and the quality of sleep. However, the benefits of exercise are even greater research has proven that it is more effective than antidepressants in treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis carried out by Jayakody and colleagues identified eight studies that compared groups who exercised with those who did not. All of the studies showed a decrease in anxiety. However, the researchers restricted their studies to those which included participants who had a formally diagnosed anxiety disorder. It is evident that more research is required to determine whether exercise is an effective option for people with elevated levels of anxiety.