Treatment For Anxiety Attacks A doctor may run tests to determine if there are any underlying medical conditions that can trigger anxiety attacks They can also teach you how to manage your symptoms Treatments for anxiety such as cognitive behavioral therapy and other psychotherapies are effective They may take time to be effective Benzodiazepines are a great short-term treatment for people suffering from severe anxiety Medicines If psychotherapy is not enough to combat anxiety disorders, medication may be prescribed The medications can help manage anxiety attacks by addressing the chemical imbalance that causes anxiety attacks Sedatives, tranquilizers, and antidepressants are all anxiety medication Talk to your physician about the best medication for you Your healthcare provider will consider your symptoms and family history when choosing the right anxiety treatment for you They will also consider your other health conditions and any medication you are taking They might recommend cognitive behavior therapy or a combination of psychotherapy and medication Other treatments that can be utilized to combat anxiety include exposure therapy, biofeedback and strategies for managing stress The most commonly used SSRIs are antidepressants that are used to treat anxiety These medications reduce symptoms by resolving an imbalance in brain neurotransmitters that control mood These include fluoxetine, citalopram and sertraline Tricyclic antidepressants work in the same way as SSRIs, but with fewer negative side effects Tricyclic antidepressants begin at a low dose and gradually increased as time passes Certain medications, like birth control pills, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, can interact with tricyclic antidepressants Benzodiazepines may be prescribed to treat severe anxiety attacks These medications target GABA gamma-aminobutryic in the brain, causing an calming effect These medications are prescribed to treat panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, and anxiety disorders They are only suggested for short-term use since they can become addictive They also lose effectiveness if they are taken for more than 4 weeks When benzodiazepines aren't an option alternative sedatives are prescribed, such as alprazolam or Clonazepam These drugs can be beneficial in treating panic attacks, but they aren't as efficient as SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants They can also be addictive and can interfere with your sleep cycle It's important to communicate openly with your doctor regarding your symptoms and how the medication is effective for you Ask for regular follow-ups and inform them of how you are managing your symptoms You can also utilize the telehealth service, such as Doctor On Demand which is covered under certain Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota policies These online services let you consult with a psychologist or psychiatrist using your smartphone or PC Cognitive behavioral therapy The preferred treatment for anxiety disorders and panic attacks is cognitive therapy It is a proven treatment that targets both the behaviors and thoughts that contribute to anxiety The therapist can help you to recognize your negative thoughts or patterns of thought, and replace them with more positive ones In addition the therapist can assist you to alter your behavior by teaching you new skills to cope with the symptoms of anxiety These techniques include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation and exposure therapy Therapists can also give you homework tasks to complete between sessions, such as monitoring your anxiety or engaging in an activity you've been avoiding because of it like talking to a stranger at a social gathering People with panic disorder are often prone to avoidance behaviors This is due to the fear of another panic attack This can include avoiding situations likely to cause anxiety, such as crowded shopping malls elevators, highway driving or walking by themselves These avoidance behaviors can have a major impact on the quality of life This type of anxiety may lead to problems like difficulty in concentrating at work, depression, or even substance abuse The reason for panic disorders is believed to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors Life events that stress us such as moving to a new home or the loss of a loved ones, are common triggers for these conditions Certain genes can also increase the risk of anxiety disorders The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to assist you in learning to face your fears and improve your overall quality of life Contrary to medication that only treat symptoms of anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapy targets the root causes of anxiety and assists you in developing coping mechanisms that will be beneficial in the future Although this kind of therapy is effective for many anxiety disorders however, it can be a challenge at first You may need to go to therapy for several weeks before feeling better It is normal to have some back-ups It is crucial to stay positive and remember that you will reap the rewards of your efforts Therapy for exposure Psychotherapy and medication are two of the many treatment options available for anxiety attacks Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, aids people identify negative emotions and thoughts that can trigger panic attacks or worsen them This type of treatment usually includes cognitive behavioral therapy CBT which helps people to change negative patterns and develop better coping strategies It also teaches people how to overcome their fear of certain situations It is essential to adhere to a treatment program Regularly attending weekly therapy sessions can help a patient feel better in 10-20 weeks Exposure therapy is a method in CBT that requires you to repeatedly confront your fears that trigger https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/anxiety-treatment will develop plans to expose you to your fears within a controlled and safe environment In live real life exposure is used where you face your fears in the real world, or virtual reality where you confront your fears in a virtual environment In vivo is the best option for specific fears The therapist gradually exposes you to your fear until it is less threatening The treatment can be extremely intense It could involve flooding, in which you are subjected to a frightening situation for a long duration It could also involve cognitive therapy, psychoeducation, and behavioral therapy It is used to treat a variety of major anxiety disorders including obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic disorder It's also beneficial for social anxieties It is essential to find a doctor who has experience with exposure therapy Find a doctor who is registered with an organization or network that is specialized in treating anxiety disorders It is an excellent idea to look up reviews You can also ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist You can join a support group that is for people who suffer from anxiety You can lessen anxiety by staying physically active and utilizing relaxation techniques Avoid alcohol or recreational drugs, and smoking as they can all cause anxiety or worsen it It's also important not to overwork yourself, as this can cause anxiety to increase Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines also known as benzos are powerful medications that can treat anxiety quite effectively They can be addictive, and have serious side effects when taken regularly or for an extended time They are therefore only prescribed to relieve insomnia or extreme anxiety for a brief period of time They work by slowing the nervous system and creating a state of the body to relax They can be consumed orally as tablets, liquids or sprays and can also be injected into a vein Benzos can be used to treat panic disorder, insomnia, and generalised anxiety disorder They are particularly beneficial when a patient is suffering from an intense panic attack as they can offer quick effective and immediate symptomatic relief They can be prescribed as a separate treatment or in conjunction with other treatments such as CBT There are a variety of benzos, each possessing different potency, duration of action, and rate of absorption by the body There is a connection between the length of a benzo's usage and its likelihood to be misused The benzodiazepines that have a shorter duration of action like alprazolam are generally preferred Taking benzodiazepines with other drugs, such as sedatives, alcohol, or opioid painkillers could increase the risk of dangerous adverse effects These interactions can also intensify the effects of the drug and may result in a overdose or even death Additionally, benzodiazepines can interact with certain herbs or foods If you are taking a benzo, then it is essential to inform your pharmacist and doctor of any other medication you are taking or planning to take When a person is taking benzodiazepines to treat long-term anxiety, the brain becomes dependent on it to function normally This is referred to as physical dependence and it can cause a number of symptoms including withdrawal, tolerance, and craving This type of dependence is different from addiction, which is a compulsive and uncontrollable need to take the drug When properly used, benzodiazepines can be very efficient and have minimal adverse effects They should only be considered to treat anxiety when other alternatives have failed or aren't feasible Cognitive behavioral therapy and mediation are non-pharmacological methods for anxiety management