What are the various treatment options for anxiety you need to know?
An anxiety disorder may be treated with anxiety treatment. The treatment choice is dependent on the kind of disorder you are having. It all depends on how frequent you have anxiety attacks and what type of disorder it is, how severe it is and the personal choice of the one having it. Physicians often use a combination of treatments to offer maximum relief. In this section, we will discuss the various treatment options and the types of treatment for this particular disorder.
The various causes of anxiety…
Whenever there is a stressful situation, your reaction is getting anxious. But, anxiety helps an individual to cope with tough and demanding situations. Being anxious when the situation calls for it is pretty normal. But, if anxiety is a common occurrence then it is a disorder. At times, the reaction to the situation may also get out of control. This is again a disorder.
Anxiety disorder is that condition whereby the sufferer experiences stress and uneasiness at situations that seem normal to the other person. Such a situation and experience interferes with an individual’s ability to perform daily activities. If there is an imbalance of neurotransmitters, the person is said to suffer from an anxiety disorder. The sense of well being of an individual gets worsened. The person may find it difficult to relax, and this aggravates the symptoms. The disorder may result from a variety of factors like phobias, stress, and panic disorder, the problem in the relationship, any underlying medical condition, and financial problem. In most cases, depression is directly linked to anxiety. Preventative measures to curb depression can also cure anxiety to a great extent.
Anxiety treatment options.
A major portion of our population is affected by abnormal anxiety. It is great to learn that treatment for anxiety is available. As per the nature of the disorder and the personal preference of an individual, treatment options in the form of physical therapy, behavioral therapy, certain kinds of medications and counseling options are available. The main aim of such treatment options is to restore life to normalcy and reduce the symptoms of anxiety. As per the recent researches, 1 out of 8 kids in America suffers from this disorder.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety.
CBT is one of the powerful treatments for anxiety which is the therapy used commonly. During the process, the therapist lets an individual learn the various causes of anxiety and how to address them. The therapist also finds what the individual feels about anxiety and then makes certain behavioral modifications to curb anxiety. He directly targets anxiety triggering situations while doing behavioral modifications. This is an effective therapy where the person notices good results in a few weeks.
What is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure Therapy is again carried out by an experienced therapist who exposes the individual to such situations which would normally cause anxiety. Here the therapist makes the person accustomed to such situations to directly hit the symptoms of anxiety. The individual is desensitized to anxiety-triggering situations until those triggers become manageable. So, the person has less panic attacks.
The various other kinds of therapies.
Apart from CBT and Exposure Therapies, there are other therapies as well. The doctor or therapist may employ some relaxation techniques to curb anxiety. The kind of treatment the doctor adopts is dependent on the age of the person. It may encompass techniques like acupuncture and breathing techniques. Such techniques may curb anxiety or stop it from occurring. Such treatment may be carried at the place of a therapist or the home of the sufferer. The Inpatient center is better than outpatient treatment since the environment in the home is stable, and so a patient can recover easily without feeling distracted.
Medications for the treatment of a disorder.
To bring about immediate relief from the condition, a doctor can even prescribe anxiety medication. There are a wide variety of medicines available to address it. Some of the medicines can directly address the symptoms like heart palpitation, shivering, and depression, while others may restrict any impending anxiety attack. Medicines are usually needed to address any particular kind of anxiety-like social phobia or any other kind of phobia. Certain disorders need the person to intake medicines for a long time. The problem in using medicines for anxiety is the side effects caused when using them. There are medicines for calming the nervous system, but they may reduce the efficiency of the brain.
Complimentary treatment for anxiety disorder.
There are also complimentary treatments available for anxiety that tend to show good results. They are a non-mainstream treatment technique showing good results. Some of the options include exercises, breathing techniques, biofeedback and also hypnosis treatment. The doctor may prescribe you a combination of complementary treatments to bring about quick relief.
Which is the best treatment?
Although there are various treatments as stated before, the best treatment for anxiety would be using a combination of psychological counseling, medication, and behavioral modification techniques. A therapist must find out the reason behind anxiety and then move forward to prescribe a treatment plan. A good treatment is the combination of behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and medication. A doctor can also prescribe you natural treatment or a holistic kind of treatment program. Anti-depressants are a popular way to treat this disorder. But, only medication is not enough. It must be backed by therapies, breathing exercises, and lifestyle changes.
Preventing anxiety…
It will be best if you can avoid anxiety. Since prevention is better than cure, you can take a series of steps to prevent anxiety from happening. A lot depends on your lifestyle and your diet. You may reduce your intake of coffee, caffeine content, and chocolate. Eat a balanced diet and sleep for 8 hours a day. If you are sleep deprived, it will lead to mood swings, anxiety, and irritability. Inadequate sleep leads to stress and tension.
Behavioral therapy, medication, psychotherapy and making lifestyle changes can together address severe anxiety. The underlying condition should also be brought under control. Alcohol dependence must be curbed to a complete extent. Stress management, relaxation techniques, exercises and social support can help a lot.