Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can destroy an individual's life by making people feel depressed and exhausted. Stress can hinder people from interacting, reinforcing a misguided sense that they are in danger and creating a sense of isolation.
(Image: https://www.iampsychiatry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/general-medical-council-logo.png)Treatment for anxiety can include psychotherapy, medication, and exercise. Medications can include antidepressants, such as SSRIs (citalopram, Escitalopram), and benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam and diazepam.
Medicines
Anxiety disorders arise as a result of anxiety that is too long or causes disruption to daily activities. Treatment for anxiety disorders typically involves psychotherapy and medication. While medications can alleviate the symptoms, they cannot cure anxiety disorders. They should be used in conjunction in conjunction with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.
The medications that are typically prescribed for anxiety include antidepressants as well as benzodiazepines. Antidepressants help to correct a chemical imbalance within the brain which causes anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are sedatives that are effective in stopping the body's reaction to anxiety. They are also addictive and shouldn't be used for a long time.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, help to reduce the levels of cortisol stress hormone in the body. They also block receptors that absorb serotonin in the brain, permitting more of the mood-enhancing chemical to circulate and easing the anxiety. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, have similar effects to SSRIs and can also be effective in treating anxiety. SSRIs have a solid safety record, and are widely available and are effective for most people. Pros: Some patients could have side effects, such as dry mouth, dizziness and drowsiness.
Other psychiatric drugs to treat depression and anxiety, such as propranolol, are also effective in treating anxiety-related symptoms. These medications are usually used to treat high blood pressure and heart ailments however, doctors can prescribe them “off-label” for anxiety. They help to lessen the effects of stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline that increase blood pressure and heart rate. They can also have adverse effects such as orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia and sedation.
You can reduce anxiety by adjusting your diet and getting enough exercise. Relaxing activities such as meditation and yoga can help ease anxiety. Additionally there are many mind-body therapies that can help with anxiety, such as acupuncture and tai chi. Talk to your doctor about the treatments that could be most suitable for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that is effective in treating anxiety disorders. It is based on the notion that thoughts, feelings physical sensations, and thoughts have a common connection, and that negative patterns could trap you in a vicious cycle. CBT helps you recognize your negative thought patterns and implement strategies to help you manage them. It also teaches you how to manage your reactions to anxiety-producing scenarios and develop coping strategies.
In the first sessions the therapist will usually conduct an assessment. This could involve completing questionnaires or conducting an interview or supplying written materials. It will help them understand your specific disorder, pinpoint distressing symptoms, and determine whether your current treatment options are effective. The assessment will also be used to determine if you are able to have a a therapeutic relationship.
CBT typically lasts for 20 sessions or less. You will meet your therapist once or twice a week during these sessions. Your therapist will instruct you on various self-help techniques, such as how to treat anxiety naturally (description here) to change your perspective on unhelpful thinking and practice positive outcomes. They will also help you learn coping skills including how to relax your body and relax your mind.
Your therapist could also provide you with a variety of tools, like therapy worksheets to assist you in identifying your symptoms and triggers. They can help you manage anxiety in small steps that are manageable so that it doesn't seem as 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 aspect of CBT is behavioural experiments. It helps you to challenge your irrational catastrophe predictions by providing evidence against them. For instance, if you are worried that something catastrophic will happen if you leave the house, you might do an experiment in your behavioural style by predicting a scenario prior to going out, like “If I go out for dinner, I'll get food poisoning.” You can then track whether your prediction was correct or not.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a different treatment for anxiety that is not a medication. It utilizes hypnosis to assist people to change their perceptions about their symptoms, change their behaviors, and relax. It can be used to help overcome fears. It helps to ease anxiety and stress however, it can also assist with pain. The effects of hypnosis can last for a long time and can be felt after just one session.
In a hypnosis session (or while listening to a recorded audio), the therapist guides you into a state that appears to be like a daydream. In this state of relaxation, you can hear the therapist's suggestions and respond. They might ask you to imagine a safe and peaceful place, and then they will instruct you to pay attention to sensory details that gradually become more real. This is referred to as “deepening trance”. This is the point where you begin to notice a change in the symptoms.
Many people notice a change immediately. They might leave the room or open their eyes after an hypnotherapy session and notice shifts. This is quite normal, and at times it can feel magical. However, for some it could take several sessions before they notice any positive changes. This is normal, and it's crucial to allow time for therapy to get things going.
Always consult your physician prior to undergoing hypnotherapy. They will be able to answer any questions you have about hypnotherapy and also discuss your options. You'll need to book an appointment with a specialist if you want to use hypnosis. These sessions can be expensive but are generally more cost effective than other types of treatment for anxiety.
Hypnosis is sometimes used to treat PTSD. This is a condition that occurs following an event that was traumatic, such as a car crash or natural disaster or war. It can cause depression, anxiety 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 combined with other talking treatments to achieve the best results.
Exercise
Exercise may be the best treatment for anxiety. Exercise can reduce anxiety symptoms for hours. A regular schedule of physical activity can also aid in reducing them.
Although it is well documented that regular exercise has benefits for health, only a few studies have specifically examined the effects it has on anxiety. A new study suggests that high intensity exercise is particularly effective in treating anxiety treatment edinburgh.
Researchers in the study, were led by University of Gothenburg psychologist Henriksson assigned 223 people suffering from anxiety to an intensive 12-week program of group exercise that included moderate or high-intensity training. They also gave them instructions on how to incorporate exercise into their daily lives. The results were clear: those who were in the high-intensity group showed significant improvement in their anxiety levels than those in the low-intensity group.
These findings have implications for the use of exercise plans in general practice. Patients with anxiety tend to be more sedentary than those without the condition and a lack of physical activity could contribute to their psychiatric problems. Research shows that those who are physically active are 25 percent less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression than those who are sedentary.
Exercise can have a positive effect on mental well-being. It stimulates the release positive hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and others. Additionally, it can help improve self-esteem and the quality of sleep. But the benefit of physical activity is even higher than that: a number of studies have found that it can be as effective as antidepressants for treating anxiety.
A recent meta-analysis by Jayakody et al identified eight studies that compared groups that exercised with those who didn't exercise. All of these studies showed a decrease in anxiety. However, the researchers limited their analysis to studies that included participants who had an anxiety disorder that was officially diagnosed. It is clear that more research is required to determine whether exercise is an effective treatment option for those who have elevated levels of anxiety.