Medications and Complementary Therapies to Treat Anxiety Everyone worries and feels fearful at times, but those who suffer from anxiety have a tough managing their reactions Psychotherapy can help, as does medications such as beta blockers used to treat blood pressure and benzodiazepines Self-help strategies can help ease symptoms Exercise, for instance, helps to reduce stress and relax your body Medication If changes to your lifestyle or psychotherapy aren't working, medication may be a good option Anxiety medications can help reduce fears and trigger the body's fight or flight response Antidepressants, the most popular medication used to treat anxiety are antidepressants They raise levels of certain neurotransmitters that affect mood SSRIs such as citalopram citalopram, escitalopram escitalopram sertraline prozac and citalopram escitalopram are often the first drugs prescribed SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, as also tricyclic antidepressants like Tofranil imipramine Elavil, Tofranil or Pamelor are also effective in treating anxiety Benzodiazepines are also used to treat anxiety They are quick-acting, and may be beneficial in the short-term However, they can be addictive The most commonly used benzodiazepines are 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 well as primary care physicians, some doctors of OB/GYNs and some psychiatric nurses Nurse practitioners, family practice physicians and psychiatric nurses may also prescribe certain medications, but they must be trained specifically to do so Certain people utilize complementary therapies, such as exercise, to ease anxiety You can also find ways to relax and reduce stress, including deep breathing and mindfulness meditation 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 Additionally natural supplements such as melatonin and 5-HTP can also help ease anxiety But, it is essential to consult your doctor before taking any supplement for anxiety or any other reason Supplements in conjunction with a complete treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and lifestyle changes can maximize the effectiveness of your treatment Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT CBT is one of the many psychotherapeutic https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/anxiety-treatment disorders that has been extensively studied and supported by evidence-based research It focuses on the maladaptive thoughts or behavior patterns that lead to anxiety Although different CBT protocols were developed for different anxiety disorders, they all share common treatment goals and methods CBT begins by identifying dysfunctional thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety Through sessions, patients learn to recognize negative beliefs and confront them The therapist may also assist patients recognize and modify their behavior patterns that cause them to avoid The therapist may ask patients to keep "thought journals" or diaries outside of sessions, and to apply the strategies for behavioural change they've learned in daily life The aim is to eventually help patients become their own therapists, by aiding them in understanding their current patterns of thinking and behavior This will allow patients overcome fears that are unfounded and anxiety, as well as other negative emotions and be more resilient CBT methods focus on identifying and changing distortions of the patient's thoughts like overgeneralizing and catastrophizing Additionally, therapists help the patient to develop coping skills for anxiety-provoking situations These techniques can be utilized to treat all types of anxiety disorders Often, they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach to mental health called "cognitive-behavioral therapy" Exposure therapy is another element of CBT This involves exposure therapy, which involves exposing the patient to the object or situation that causes them anxiety This can be done by creating a mental picture or confronting the situation or object in real life For instance, a person suffering from PTSD who is afraid of a particular location could be encouraged to visit the place where they were assaulted A person with social anxiety disorder, who is afraid of speaking in public, may be encouraged to make an address in front of the group Certain studies have demonstrated that the combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes These results are not conclusive, and more research is required Combining medication with CBT is usually more effective than one alone Combinations of benzodiazepines as well as CBT have been shown to be particularly effective in patients suffering from panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety disorder Therapy for exposure One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is exposure therapy, which can help you confront things that scare you in a secure environment with the help of a therapy It may seem difficult, but the process can help you recognize that your fears aren't justifiable and that you are able to accept your triggers It can also improve your confidence in navigating the challenges of life There are a variety of treatments for exposure, including virtual reality, imaginal therapy and systematic desensitization If you're nervous about speaking in public, your therapist could encourage you to practice with a partner or imagine yourself giving the speech Then, you'll gradually confront the situation in real life with the help of your therapy therapist's help In each session, your therapist will check to see whether you're experiencing anxiety or panic and alter the intensity of your exposure depending on the needs During the session, the therapist teaches you how to relax, manage your emotions, and then introduces you triggers that can make you feel fearful This may include meditation, a rhythmic breathing and guided images They will also teach you ways to avoid engaging in the behavior that leads to anxiety, for example, staying clear of elevators Exposure therapy is typically conducted in a series of weekly sessions Some people need more than two sessions to overcome the anxiety The first step is to identify the triggers that cause anxiety For instance, being on a flight or being around strangers Your therapist will then help you choose the method of exposure therapy that will suit your needs and personality This could involve using a hierarchical system to decide the order in which exposures are performed or practicing relaxation techniques prior to starting In vivo exposure therapy is confronting the object or situation that you're afraid of It could be as easy as crossing a bridge or having someone else contact your arm This approach can be used to treat specific fears and posttraumatic stress disorder It isn't easy to squeeze in the vivo exposure therapy in between appointments Therefore it is crucial to find a therapist that is specialized in this kind of cognitive therapy You can find a qualified specialist through your local psychology group or mental network You can also read reviews or ask family and friends for suggestions Complementary therapies Complementary therapies encompass a variety of health treatments that aren't typically thought of as part of Western medicine They can help reduce anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and encouraging healthy lifestyles These treatments include acupuncture and herbal medicines, meditation, Yoga massage, music therapy, and yoga They can also help relieve depression-related symptoms by reducing levels of stress hormones in your body Recent research revealed that mindfulness-based programs led to moderate improvement in anxiety symptoms This method uses a variety of meditation techniques to promote mindfulness or the ability of focusing on the present moment while getting rid of negative thoughts and feelings This type of meditation can be performed by almost anyone, and it does not require special equipment or any special training However, those who have physical limitations may not be able to participate in meditative practices that involve movement Other therapies that can relieve anxiety include breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation PMR biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and the use of hypnosis These techniques assist you in controlling your anxiety through focusing on relaxing muscle breathing, calming breathing, and visual imagery These techniques can be used at home or within an environment for treatment These techniques are often used in conjunction with other types of therapy, such as exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy Another way to relieve anxiety is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet Regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels, which is an important hormone that causes anxiety A healthy diet will make you feel more energetic, which can reduce anxiety Cognitive behavior therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety It helps you identify and combat negative thoughts that cause anxiety Your therapist will teach you how to assess the likelihood of occurrence You can employ strategies such as the comparison of your fears to previous experiences, weighing the pros and cons of an event, and determining if it is realistic to be worried about something that could happen Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method, can be used to treat stress It is based on an assessment of deficiencies or excesses in your energy called Qi located in specific meridians A deficiency in the kidney or spleen meridian can cause anxiety Some studies suggest that acupuncture can improve anxiety symptoms when combined with psychotherapy and other CAM approaches