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Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety The people suffering from anxiety aren't able to manage their reactions. Everyone worries and feels scared at times. Psychotherapy can help, as can medication like beta blockers (used for blood pressure) and benzodiazepines. Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms. Exercise, for example helps reduce stress and relaxes your body. Medication If changes in your lifestyle or psychotherapy don't help with anxiety, medication might be an option. Anxiety medication helps to reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response. Antidepressants, the most common medication used to treat anxiety, are antidepressants. They work by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that influence mood. SSRIs such as citalopram (citalopram), escitalopram (escitalopram) sertraline (prozac) and citalopram (escitalopram) are often the first prescription medications prescribed. SNRIs such as duloxetine, venlafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil (imipramine) Elavil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety. The benzodiazepines are sometimes used to treat anxiety. They're quick-acting and may be beneficial in the short-term. However, they are addictive. Typical benzodiazepines include Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam). Only licensed health professionals can prescribe medications to treat anxiety. These providers include psychologists and psychiatrists as along with primary health care doctors, some OB/GYNs, and some psychiatrist nurses. Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses are also able to prescribe certain medications, but they have to be trained specifically to do so. Exercise and complementary therapies are a common method used by some people to help reduce anxiety. They can also find ways to relax and relieve stress such as mindfulness meditation and deep breathing. 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. Finally natural supplements such as melatonin and 5-HTP can also help ease anxiety. However, it is important to consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplements for anxiety or any other reason. Using supplements in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and lifestyle changes 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 backed by evidence-based research. It focuses on maladaptive thinking or behavior patterns that cause anxiety to persist. Despite the fact that various CBT protocols were developed for various anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and techniques. The first step in CBT is to discover problematic thought patterns that cause anxiety. During sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and challenge them. The therapist also helps patients identify and change behavior patterns that hinder them from doing so. The therapist may ask patients to keep “thought journals” or diaries in between sessions, and to apply the strategies for behavioural change they've learned in daily life. The ultimate goal is to help patients become their own therapists, helping them understand their current patterns of thinking and behavior. This will allow them to overcome unfounded fears and anxiety, as well as other negative emotions, and become more resilient. CBT methods include the identification and correction of distortions in the patient's thinking that lead to overgeneralization catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or minimizing positive events. The therapist will also help the patient develop strategies to cope for stressful situations. These techniques can be employed to treat all kinds of anxiety disorders. Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called “cognitive-behavioral therapy”. Another element of CBT is exposure therapy. anxiety attack treatment involves exposing the patient's anxious subject or event. This can be done by making up a scenario or imagining the subject or situation in real life. A person suffering from PTSD, who is afraid of a particular area, may be urged by their physician to visit the site in which they were attacked. A person with social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of speaking in public, may be encouraged to make a speech before a group. Some studies have proven that combining CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes. However, these results are mixed and further research is required. 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 in people with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Therapy for exposure Exposure therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat anxiety. It can help you confront things you are afraid of in a comfortable setting with a therapist. It might seem daunting but the process can help you realize that your fears aren't justifiable and you can accept your triggers. It can also help increase your confidence when it comes to navigating the challenges of life. There are many different kinds of exposure therapy, such as virtual reality, imaginal therapy, and systematic desensitization. For instance, if you're nervous about speaking in public Your therapist may encourage you to imagine yourself speaking or to practice with your friend. You can then gradually face the issue with your therapist's support. In each session your therapist will examine you to see whether you're experiencing anxiety or panic and adjust the intensity according to the need. During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax and manage your emotions and then introduces you triggers that cause you to feel scared. This can include mindfulness, rhythmic breath and guided images. They will also teach strategies to avoid engaging in the behavior that triggers anxiety, like avoidance of elevators. Exposure therapy is usually conducted over a series of weekly sessions. However, some people require more than two or three sessions to overcome their fears. The first step is to determine the situation or object that triggers your anxiety, such as being on a plane, or being in a crowd of strangers. Your therapist will assist you choose the method of exposure therapy that fits your personality and needs. This might involve using a hierarchy to determine the order of exposures or practicing relaxation techniques before beginning. In vivo therapy is the process of confronting the thing or situation you are afraid of. It could be as simple as crossing a bridge or having someone touch your arm. This technique can be employed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and specific fears. In vivo exposure therapy may be hard to fit within your schedule between appointments, which is why it's important to find a therapist that specializes in this type of cognitive behavioral therapy. You can locate a certified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network. It's also a good idea to look up reviews and ask friends or family members for recommendations. Complementary therapies Complementary therapies are a wide variety of treatments for health that are not considered to be part of Western medicine. They can aid in reducing anxiety by teaching you relaxation techniques and promoting healthy lifestyle habits. These treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines as well as yoga, meditation massage, music therapy, and yoga. They also can reduce depression symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones within your body. Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programs lead to moderate improvements in anxiety-related symptoms. This approach uses different meditation techniques to promote mindfulness or staying in the present moment while letting go of negative thoughts and feelings. This type of meditation can be done by almost everyone, and does not require any special equipment or training. People with physical limitations may not be able to take part in a meditation practice that involves moving. Other therapies that can relieve anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) biofeedback, self-hypnosis and the use of hypnosis. These techniques help you control your anxiety through focus on relaxing muscles breathing, calming breathing and visual imagery. These techniques can be utilized at home or within an environment for treatment. These methods are often combined with other forms of therapy like cognitive behavior therapy or exposure therapy. Another method to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. Regular exercise can reduce your heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels which are hormones that can cause anxiety. A healthy diet can make you feel more energetic which can lessen anxiety. Cognitive behavior therapy is a highly effective treatment for anxiety. It helps you identify and overcome negative thoughts that lead to anxiety. Your therapist will teach you how to assess your fears and determine the probability that they will actually occur. You can employ strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, considering the pros and cons of an event, and determining whether or not it is realistic to worry about something that might occur. Acupuncture is an old Chinese technique that can be used to help with anxiety. It is based on an assessment of the deficiencies and excesses in your energy, referred to as qi, located in specific meridians. A deficiency of the kidney or spleen meridian can cause anxiety. Certain studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce anxiety symptoms when it is combined with psychotherapy and other CAM methods.