Treatment of Anxiety Disorders Anxiety can affect a person's quality of life by making them feel stressed, depressed, and tired The fear of being anxious can make people unable to engaging, causing a false belief that they are in danger and creating a sense of isolation Treatment for anxiety can include psychotherapy, medication, and exercise The medications can include antidepressants such as SSRIs citalopram, escitalopram and benzodiazepines such as diazepam or lorazepam Medications People are generally anxious from time to time however, when the feeling goes on for too long or becomes a problem in daily life, it's an indication of an anxiety disorder Psychotherapy and medication are commonly employed to treat anxiety disorders While medications can alleviate the symptoms, they don't treat anxiety disorders They should be used in conjunction in conjunction with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes Antidepressants as well as other benzodiazepines can be often prescribed to combat anxiety Antidepressants help to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes anxiety Benzodiazepines, like Xanax alprazolam, Klonopin clonazepam and Valium diazepam are sedatives that quickly stop the body's response to anxiety They are also addictive and should not be used for long periods of time SSRIs serotonin reuptake inhibitors assist in reducing levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, within the body They also block the brain's receptors that absorb serotonin, allowing for more of the mood-enhancing chemical to circulate This eases 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 high safety profile Cons Some patients might suffer from side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness and drowsiness Propranolol, along with other psychiatric medicines can also alleviate anxiety symptoms These medications are usually used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems, but doctors sometimes prescribe them "off-label" for anxiety They work to reduce the effects of stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline which can increase blood pressure and heart rate They can also cause side effects such as orthostatic hypotension drop in blood pressure when standing up, bradycardia slower than normal heart rate and sedation Changing your diet and getting enough exercise, can help ease anxiety Relaxing activities like meditation and yoga can aid in easing anxiety Additionally, there are mind-body treatments that can help with anxiety such as acupuncture and tai chi Talk to your doctor about the options that are appropriate for you Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT Cognitive behavioral therapy is a scientifically-based psychotherapy that is effective in treating anxiety disorders It is based on the idea that feelings, thoughts and physical sensations are connected and that negative patterns could keep you in a vicious cycle CBT helps you identify negative patterns of thought and apply techniques to help you control them It also teaches you to manage your reactions to anxiety-provoking situations and develop strategies for coping In the initial sessions in the first session, a therapist will usually perform an assessment This could involve filling out questionnaires, interviewing you or providing written materials They will be able to understand your specific illness, identify the signs that are distressing, and determine whether your current treatments are working The assessment will also be used to determine if you're able to establish a a therapeutic relationship CBT typically lasts for 20 sessions or less During these sessions, will meet with your therapist at least once every week or every two weeks Your therapist will guide you through various self-help methods, such as how to reframe negative thinking and practice positive outcomes They will also assist you to develop coping skills, such as how to relax your body and relax your mind Your therapist may also offer you different tools, such as therapy worksheets, to assist you in identifying your symptoms and triggers They can help you work through your anxiety in smaller steps, so that the process becomes less daunting If you're afraid of social situations, your therapist might allow you to role-play them before moving on to talking to your family or friends Another benefit of CBT is behavioural tests It allows you to challenge your irrational and catastrophic predictions by generating evidence against them If you are afraid that something terrible will happen to you if you leave your home You can perform an behavioural test by making an assumption For example, "If I go for dinner, I'll get food poisoning" Then, you'll be able to record whether or not the prediction was right Hypnotherapy Hypnotherapy is a different treatment for anxiety that is not a medication Hypnosis helps people relax, change their perception of their symptoms and alter their behavior It can be used to help overcome phobias It helps to ease anxiety and stress, but can also help with pain The effects of hypnosis may be long lasting and the benefits can be observed after just one session In a hypnosis session or while listening to a recorded audio the therapist guides you into a state of mind that is like a dream In this state of relaxation, you are able to hear the suggestions of your therapist and then respond They might ask you to imagine a safe and peaceful place, and then they will tell you to be aware of sensory details as they gradually become more real This is known as a 'deepening state of trance' This is the point where you begin to notice a change in the symptoms Many people notice a difference immediately They can walk out of the room or even open their eyes after a hypnotherapy session and they notice a shift This is normal, and can sometimes feel magical For some, however, it may require several sessions before they see any positive changes This is normal and it is crucial to give the therapy time to get it working You should always consult your doctor before undergoing treatment with hypnotherapy https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/anxiety-treatment can answer any questions you have about hypnotherapy and help you decide on your options Hypnosis isn't available on the NHS therefore you'll have to book a private session with a trained therapist These sessions can be expensive but are generally more cost efficient than other forms of treatment for anxiety Hypnosis can be used to treat PTSD This disorder is often triggered by traumatizing events such as a car crash, natural disaster or war It can cause anxiety, depression, and other problems The symptoms of PTSD include recurring memories, nightmares, and an increase in anxiety or hypervigilance Hypnotherapy is a great method of controlling PTSD and it is usually used in conjunction with other treatments to achieve the optimal results Exercise Exercise is a great treatment for anxiety One vigorous exercise session can ease anxiety symptoms for hours, and a consistent schedule of physical activity may significantly reduce them over time While it is well-documented that regular exercise can provide health benefits, very few studies have focused on the effects of exercise on anxiety A new study suggests that high intensity exercise is especially effective in treating anxiety The researchers who conducted the study, supervised by University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson The study assigned 223 people suffering from anxiety to a 12-week group fitness program that involved either high or low intensity workouts They also gave them tips on how to incorporate fitness into their life The results were evident that those in the high intensity group showed significantly greater improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the low-intensity group These findings have implications for the use of exercise programmes in general practice Patients with anxiety tend to be 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 exercise regularly are less likely to suffer from anxiety disorders or depression than those who are sedentary It's not surprising that exercise has a positive effect on mental health it stimulates the release of feel-good hormones like serotonin as well as dopamine In addition, it helps improve self-esteem and sleep quality But the benefit of physical exercise is higher than that A variety of studies have proven that it can be as effective as antidepressants for treating anxiety A recent meta-analysis carried out by Jayakody and colleagues revealed eight studies comparing groups who exercised versus those who did not exercise All of these studies reported an improvement in anxiety levels However, the researchers restricted their analysis to studies that involved participants with an anxiety disorder that was officially diagnosed It is evident that more research is needed to determine if exercise is an effective treatment option for those with clinically elevated anxiety levels