The Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Awards: The Top, Worst, Or The Most Unlikely Things We've Seen

Treating Anxiety Disorders

Talk to a mental specialist If your anxiety is constant and is affecting your daily routine. Psychologists specialize in psychotherapy and are able to prescribe medication, while psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of mental illness.

Counseling, medications and other treatments can help ease your symptoms and help manage your anxiety. You can also learn techniques for managing stress and join support groups (both in person and online).

Medication

Anxiety disorders can be treated using psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication or an amalgamation of both. Talk therapy can help people discover better ways to cope with their anxieties and decrease the symptoms. Exercise, sleep and stress management techniques can also aid in improving mood. The medications help to reduce anxiety levels and make other treatments more effective.

Anxiety disorders are more susceptible to developing other mental health conditions, including depression. Depression and anxiety symptoms frequently overlap, which is why it's important to treat them both at the same time. A doctor who specializes in treating mental illnesses (a psychiatrist) can diagnose anxiety and prescribe medications to ease the symptoms.

Certain life experiences and traits inherited from parents increase the likelihood of developing an  anxiety disorder . Traumas, such as war or a car accident, may trigger an anxiety disorder in some people. A chronic illness or caregiving can cause people to worry overly. Alcohol abuse, particularly alcohol and illicit drugs, can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders.

Antidepressants are the most popular option for treatment for the majority of anxiety disorders. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that modern antidepressants, called SSRIs or SNRIs such as escitalopram and duloxetine, (Cymbalta) and escitalopram as well as (Lexapro) are effective. Benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium), are also often used to help ease anxiety. However, they're not usually prescribed for more than four weeks at a time as they can become addictive and don't work as well after that.

Other kinds of medications that are used to treat anxiety are beta-blockers, like propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Toprol XL), which can reduce blood pressure and heart rate. Anticonvulsants, like the levothyroxine sodium (Levothyrix), can help control trembling and shaking. Buspirone (BuSpar) in small doses can help those suffering from physical symptoms of anxiety such as sweating or a rapid pulse.

Some sedatives such as Clonazepam (Klonopin), can only be obtained by prescription. Certain people suffering from severe anxiety take monoamine oxidase inhibits, like Anxair (moclobemide).

Psychotherapy

While it's normal for children to experience some anxiety or fear at times, their emotions shouldn't affect their lives or cause them to withdraw from school, friends and family. Anxiety disorders may lead to severe depression, or other mental health issues that may hinder a person's overall health. These issues are usually treated with psychotherapy (counseling) as well as medications.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most commonly used psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. It helps you to change the thoughts that cause anxiety. Your therapist will help you discover relaxation techniques and ways to deal with when you experience negative emotions. Exposure therapy is also used to gradually expose you to situations that can trigger anxiety. This is done by establishing a list of your triggers and then putting them in order of their intensity and gradually exposing you to them by using a method known as systematic desensitization.

Your therapist will also show you how to challenge your irrational beliefs and negative thoughts. They'll teach you how to test your beliefs about yourself through tests, weighing the pros and cons of worrying or avoiding and determining the real chances that something bad will occur.

Psychiatrists can prescribe shorter-term or long-term treatments to treat anxiety disorders. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and buspirone can help with anxiety by altering chemicals in the brain which regulate mood. Benzodiazepines like diazepam and lorazepam are effective in encouraging relaxation of the muscles and calming the brain. SNRIs, like venlafaxine, are able to help reduce anxiety by increasing serotonin levels and norepinephrine levels inside the brain.

Psychiatrists monitor your symptoms and answer any questions. They will also make the necessary changes to your treatment plan. Based on the severity of your condition it could take a while to heal. You may need to try a number of treatments or therapists until you find the one that works for you. It is crucial to stick to your treatment plan until you get the results. The longer you delay seeking assistance the more severe your symptoms could become.

Interpersonal therapy

Interpersonal therapy is a short-term type of psychotherapy that focuses on resolving interpersonal problems. It usually takes between 12 and 16 sessions to complete. It is scientifically proven and may help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. It has also been demonstrated to be effective in treating depression comorbid to PTSD. It can also be used to tackle issues with work and social interaction for people suffering from PTSD.

The initial three sessions are devoted to gathering information and identifying problems. The therapist may assist you in creating the list of your most important relationships. The therapist can help you determine the most important issues to address based on the severity of the issue and the possibility of improvement. In the middle sessions (4 between 14 and 4) you will work with your therapist in order to develop solutions for each of these areas of concern. You will then apply the new strategies to your everyday life in between sessions.

IPT's most important feature is that it frames a patient's problems as a medical condition not as a flaw in their character. This can ease patients from feelings of guilt and self-criticism. It can also help them recognize that their symptoms result from the combination of their current conditions and their medical illness.

When choosing a therapist, ensure you choose a therapist that is certified by your state's association for psychology and who is specialized in your condition. Find out about the therapist's education and experience. You can ask other doctors for recommendations. Make sure that you and your therapist are on the same page about the goals of the sessions prior to beginning therapy. You might, for example you'd like to focus on improving relationship skills or overcoming intimacy fears.

Self-help

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful events. However, it becomes problematic when it gets so intense that it interferes your life. People with anxiety disorders usually require medication and psychotherapy to recover. Self-help methods are a great method to lessen the symptoms of anxiety and help you deal with anxiety symptoms. For example, breathing exercises and relaxation can help lower the heart rate and calm you down. Try doing these exercises several times per day, and pay attention to how your body feels as you breathe in and out. Recognizing negative thoughts and replacing them with more positive ones can help to reduce anxiety.

Changing your diet and getting regular exercise can help you feel better. You might be able to reduce your intake of the intake of nicotine, caffeine and alcohol which can cause or increase anxiety. Regular exercise releases tension and encourages your brain to produce serotonin, a mood-enhancing chemical. You should do 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week.

There are a variety of ways to locate self-help for anxiety, including self-help groups, self-help books and online resources. Some of these resources include a range of tasks that can be completed at home, such as finding the triggers that cause anxiety and figuring out how to confront your thoughts of anxiety. Some of these resources include face-to-face sessions with therapy professionals or others with similar issues.

Psychological interventions are a must-have treatment for anxiety disorders, and they include cognitive behavioural therapy which assists you in changing the patterns of thinking that cause anxiety exposure therapy, in which you gradually face the situations, objects or people which trigger anxiety and complementary health techniques, such as meditation, breathing exercises, and a sense of relaxation. These techniques can be utilized in conjunction with medications.

Some people need to consult a doctor in order to determine if they have medical conditions which could be the cause anxiety. They can then start treatment. Anxiety disorders can be debilitating and can be a problem with work, school and social life. They can also lead to depression, which has a high suicide risk. People who do not seek treatment for their symptoms are at greater risk of developing into a more serious mental health issue.