Treatment For Anxiety Attacks
A doctor can conduct tests to determine if there are underlying medical conditions that could trigger anxiety attacks. They may also be able to teach you how to manage your anxiety.
Treatments for anxiety like cognitive behavioral therapy as well as other psychotherapies are effective. However, they may take time to work. Benzodiazepines are effective short-term medications for severe anxiety.
Medications
If psychotherapy alone isn't enough, medications may be prescribed for patients with anxiety disorders. The medications can help manage anxiety attacks by treating the underlying chemical imbalance that causes anxiety attacks. Anxiety medications include antidepressants benzodiazepines, and sedatives. Consult your physician to determine the most effective medication for you.
When deciding on the best anxiety treatment for you, your healthcare provider will consider the severity of your symptoms as well as your family history. They will also consider your other medical conditions and the medications you are taking. They may suggest cognitive behavior therapy or a combination of therapy and medication. Biofeedback, exposure therapy and stress management techniques are all other methods that can be used for anxiety.
SSRIs are the most common antidepressants that are used to treat anxiety. These medications work by correcting a neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain that regulates mood. They include fluoxetine, citalopram and sertraline. Other antidepressants include tricyclic antidepressants that function the same way SSRIs do but with fewer side effects. Tricyclic antidepressants start with a small dose and slowly increased 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, causing the brain to relax. They are typically prescribed to treat generalized anxiety disorder, and anxiety disorders. They are only suggested for short-term use because they can be addictive. They also lose their effectiveness if they are taken for longer than 4 weeks.
Alprazolam and Clonazepam are two other sedatives that can be prescribed when benzodiazepines aren't an option. These medications are effective in treating panic attacks, but not as effective as SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs can also be addictive and may interfere with your sleep cycle.
It is essential to communicate with your doctor about your symptoms and the way your medication works for you. Let them know of any other strategies you're trying to manage your symptoms and request regular follow-ups. You can also make use of the telehealth service, such as Doctor On Demand which is covered under certain Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota policies. These online services let you visit with psychologists or psychiatrists using your smartphone or computer.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
The most commonly used treatment for anxiety disorders and panic attacks is cognitive therapy. It is a scientifically proven and effective treatment that addresses both the behaviors and thoughts that contribute to anxiety. The therapist will help you to recognize your negative thinking patterns, or thinking patterns and replace them with more positive ones. The therapist can also help you improve your behavior by teaching you how to cope with anxiety symptoms. These techniques include breathing exercises as well as progressive muscle relaxation and exposure therapy. Therapists can provide you with homework tasks to complete between sessions, such as recording your anxiety or engaging in a task that you've avoided because of it (like talking to a stranger at a social gathering).
People suffering from panic disorder often suffer from avoidance behavior, which is motivated by the fear they will have another panic attack. This can be avoided in situations that are likely to cause anxiety, such as the crowded malls or elevators, driving on highways or walking by themselves. These avoidance behaviors can have a major impact on the quality of life. This kind of anxiety can result in issues such as difficulties in concentrating at work and depression, as well as substance abuse.
The reason for panic disorders is believed to be a combination between genetics and environment factors. Stressful life events, such as moving to a new home or the loss of a loved one, are often triggers for these conditions. It is also possible that some genes can increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders.
The aim of cognitive behavioral therapy is to help you learn to manage your fears and improve your overall quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy, in contrast to medication, addresses the root causes and assists you in developing coping skills that can help you in the future.
This kind of therapy can be challenging to begin with although it is effective in treating a wide variety of anxiety disorders. You may need to go to therapy for several weeks before feeling better. It is normal to experience some setbacks. It is important to persevere and keep in mind that you will reap the rewards of your efforts.
Therapy for exposure
Psychotherapy and medication are two of the many options for treatment for anxiety attacks. Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) assists a person to recognize and modify unhealthy emotions, thoughts and actions that cause or exacerbate anxiety attacks. This kind of treatment consists of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is a technique that helps people change negative patterns and build more effective coping strategies. It also helps people learn to overcome their fears of certain situations. It is crucial to adhere to a treatment program. Attending weekly therapy sessions regularly can make a patient improve their condition in 10 to 20 weeks.
Exposure therapy is a method in CBT that requires you to repeatedly confront your fear triggers. The therapist will create a plan to expose you to your fears in a secure and controlled environment. In vivo (real life) exposure is used where you confront your fears in the real world, or in virtual reality, where you face your fear in a virtual environment. In vivo exposure is more effective for specific fears. The therapist gradually exposes you to the fear until it is less threatening.
The treatment can be extremely intense. It could include flooding, where you are exposed to a fear-inducing circumstance for a lengthy period of time. It can also include cognitive therapy, psychoeducation, and behavioral therapy. It can be used to treat almost all major anxiety disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic disorder. It is also effective for social anxieties.
It's important to find a specialist who is familiar with exposure therapy. You should select a doctor who is registered with an association or network that deals with anxiety disorders. Reading reviews is also an excellent idea. You can also ask your doctor for a referral to an expert. You can join a support group for people who suffer from anxiety. You can reduce anxiety by staying physically active and by using relaxation techniques. Avoid alcohol, recreational drug and smoking, which can all cause anxiety or make it worse. It's also a good idea not to overload yourself, as this can increase anxiety.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (also called benzos) are powerful medications that treat anxiety very well. They can be addictive, and have severe side effects if taken regularly or for a long period of time. This is the reason they are generally prescribed for the short-term relief of severe anxiety or sleeplessness.
They work by slowing the nervous system and causes an increase in sedation. They can be taken orally, and taken in the form of sprays, liquids or tablets. They can be directly injected into veins. Benzos can be used to treat panic disorder, insomnia, and generalised anxiety disorder. They are especially helpful for patients who are experiencing anxiety attacks, since they can provide instant and effective relief from symptoms. They can be prescribed on their own, or as an adjunct to other treatments, such as CBT for anxiety.
There are a variety of benzos, each having a different effectiveness and duration of action and rate of absorption by the body. There is a connection between the duration of time a benzo is used for and its propensity to be misused, so shorter-acting benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam) are usually preferred.
Benzodiazepines can trigger harmful side effects when taken with other drugs such as sedatives or painkillers. These interactions can also increase drug effects and result in an overdose or even death. Benzodiazepines can also interact with certain food items and herbs. If treatments for anxiety are taking a benzo, then it is essential to inform your pharmacist and doctor of any other medications you are taking or planning to take.
When a person takes benzodiazepines over a long period of time, their brain becomes dependent on them to function normally. This is known as physical dependence and it can cause various symptoms, including tolerance, withdrawal, and craving. This kind of dependence is distinct from addiction, which is an uncontrollable, compulsive desire to take the drug.
Benzodiazepines are very effective and exhibit no adverse effects when utilized in a proper manner. However, they should only be considered as a treatment option if other methods have not proved successful or aren't feasible. Non-drug approaches to anxiety management include meditation and cognitive behavior therapy.