Treatment For Anxiety Attacks
A doctor can conduct tests to determine if there are any underlying medical conditions which may cause anxiety attacks. They can also assist you to understand strategies to manage your anxiety.
Treatments for anxiety, such as cognitive behavioral therapy as well as other forms of psychotherapy are effective. However, they can take a while to get results. Benzodiazepines are effective short-term medications for people suffering from severe anxiety.
Medications
If psychotherapy is not enough to treat anxiety disorders, medication may be prescribed. The medications can aid in managing anxiety attacks by treating the chemical imbalance that causes them. Sedatives, tranquilizers, and antidepressants are all anxiety medications. Speak to your doctor to find out the best medication for you.
Your doctor will take into consideration your symptoms and your family history when choosing the right anxiety treatment for you. They will also consider your other health conditions and medications you are taking. They may suggest cognitive behavioral therapy or the combination of psychotherapy and medications. Other therapies that are employed to treat anxiety include biofeedback, exposure therapy and stress management techniques.
The most popular antidepressants used to treat anxiety are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These medications ease symptoms by resolving an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters that control mood. These include fluoxetine, citalopram and sertraline. Tricyclic antidepressants function similarly to SSRIs, but have fewer adverse effects. Tricyclic antidepressants should be started with a small dosage and gradually increasing as time passes. Certain medications, including birth control pills, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, can interact with tricyclic antidepressants.
Benzodiazepines can be prescribed for severe anxiety attacks. These drugs target GABA (gamma-aminobutryic) in the brain, which causes a calming affect. These medications are prescribed to treat panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorders and fears. Benzodiazepines are only recommended for short-term use as they can become addictive. They also lose effectiveness if they are taken for more than 4 weeks.
Alprazolam and clonazepam are also medications that can be prescribed when benzodiazepines aren't an option. These medications are effective in treating panic attacks but not as efficient as SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs are also addictive and can disrupt your sleep cycle.
It's important to communicate openly with your doctor about your symptoms and how the medication is effective for you. Let them know of other methods you're using to manage your symptoms and request regular check-ups. You can also try online health services, such as Doctor On Demand, which is covered by a variety of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota plans. These online services let you visit with psychologists or psychiatrists on your smartphone or computer.
Cognitive therapy for behavioral problems
The most commonly used treatment for anxiety disorders and panic attacks is cognitive behavior therapy. It is a well-established treatment that targets both the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. The therapist can help you to recognize your negative thoughts or patterns of thinking, and replace them with more positive ones. The therapist can also assist you to change your behavior by teaching you how to cope with anxiety-related symptoms. These techniques include breathing exercise, progressive muscle relaxation and exposure therapy. The therapist can provide you with homework assignments to do between sessions, like recording your anxiety or participating in an activity you've been avoiding because of it (like talking to strangers at a gathering).
People with panic disorder are often plagued by avoidance behaviors that are based on the fear that they'll have another panic attack. Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety such as crowded malls, elevators or highway driving is a way to prevent this. These behaviors of avoidance can have a huge impact on the quality of life. This kind of anxiety could cause problems like difficulty concentrating at work, depression and even addiction problems.
The reason for panic disorders is believed to be a mix between environmental factors and genetics. Life events that stress us such as moving to a different house or the loss of a loved one, are common triggers for these conditions. Some genes may also increase the risk of anxiety disorders.
Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to teach you how to deal with your fears, and improve your quality of life. Unlike medication that only treat symptoms of anxiety, cognitive behavior therapy addresses the root causes of the disorder and assists you in developing coping mechanisms that will be helpful in the future.
This kind of therapy can be difficult to begin with although it is effective in treating a wide variety of anxiety disorders. It is likely that you will need to attend sessions for a couple of weeks before you begin to feel better. There may be some setbacks, like a worsening of your symptoms, but this is normal. It is important to persevere and remember that you will reap the rewards of your efforts.
Exposure therapy
There are several treatments for anxiety attacks, including psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) helps a person recognize and alter negative thoughts, emotions and actions that cause or exacerbate anxiety attacks. pediatric anxiety treatment of treatment usually includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps people to change negative patterns and develop better strategies for coping. It teaches people to overcome their fear in certain situations. It is important to adhere to the treatment plan. Regularly attending weekly therapy sessions could help a person feel much better in 10 to 20 weeks.
CBT employs exposure therapy to help you face your fears repeatedly. The therapist will develop an approach to expose you to your fears in a secure and controlled environment. They can employ in vivo exposure (real life), where you are exposed to your fears in a real-world setting, or virtual reality, in which you are exposed to your fear in a fully immersive setting. In vivo is ideal for specific phobias. The therapy therapist will gradually expose your fear to you until it becomes less severe.
The treatment can be extremely intense. It could involve a flood where you are exposed for a long time to a situation that causes anxiety. It may also involve cognitive therapy, psychoeducation, and behavioral therapy. It is used in nearly all of the major anxiety disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. It's also effective for social anxiety.
It's important to find an expert who is experienced in exposure therapy. You should choose someone who is registered with a national organization or network that focuses on anxiety disorders. It is recommended to look up reviews. You can also ask for the recommendation of your doctor to an expert. You can even join an online support group for those who suffer from anxiety. You can lessen anxiety by staying physically active and by using relaxation techniques. Avoid drinking, recreational drug use, and smoking as they can all cause anxiety or increase it. It's also important not to overload yourself, as this can cause anxiety to increase.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are potent drugs that treat anxiety effectively. They can be addictive, and can cause serious side effects when used regularly or for an extended duration. They are therefore only prescribed to alleviate extreme insomnia or anxiety for a short period of time.
They work by slowing down the nervous system, causing relaxation and sedation. They can be taken orally, and taken as liquids, sprays or tablets. They can be injected directly into the vein. Benzos are utilized to treat generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and insomnia. They are particularly effective for patients who are suffering from a major panic attack because they can offer quick, effective and immediate symptomatic relief. They can be used on their own or as an addition to other treatments, for instance CBT for anxiety.
There are a myriad of types of benzodiazepines, which differ in terms of their potency, length of action and how quickly the body absorbs them. There is a connection between the amount of time a benzo used for and its potential to be misused, so shorter-acting benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam) are generally preferred.
When you take benzodiazepines in conjunction with other drugs, such as sedatives, alcohol or opioid painkillers can increase the risk of dangerous adverse effects. These interactions can also intensify drug effects and result in an overdose or even death. Additionally, benzodiazepines can interact with certain herbs or food items. It is crucial to inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking benzos, or intend to take other medication.
When a person takes benzodiazepines to treat long-term anxiety the brain becomes dependent on it to function normally. This is referred to as physical dependence and can trigger several symptoms like tolerance, withdrawal and craving. This type of dependence is distinct from addiction, which involves a compulsive and uncontrollable need to use the drug.
Benzodiazepines are very effective and exhibit no adverse effects when they are used appropriately. However they should only be used as a treatment option if alternatives to drugs have not proven effective or are not feasible. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mediation are non-drug methods for anxiety management.