Treatment For Anxiety Attacks
A doctor might run tests to identify an underlying medical condition that could trigger anxiety attacks. They may also be able to teach you how to manage your symptoms.
Treatments for anxiety such as cognitive behavioral therapy and other psychotherapy methods are efficient. However, they take time to work. They are effective short-term treatments for people suffering from severe anxiety.
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If psychotherapy alone isn't enough, medication may be prescribed to patients suffering from anxiety disorders. The medications can aid in managing anxiety attacks by addressing the chemical imbalance that causes anxiety attacks. Antidepressants, tranquilizers and sedatives are all anxiety medications. Talk with your doctor about the most effective medication for you.
Your doctor will look at your symptoms and your family history when choosing the right anxiety treatment for you. They will also consider your other health issues, and any medications you take. They may recommend cognitive behavior therapy or a combination of therapy and medication. Exposure therapy, biofeedback, and stress management techniques are all other treatments that can be used for anxiety.
The most popular antidepressants used to treat anxiety are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These medications reduce symptoms by resolving an imbalance in brain neurotransmitters that regulate mood. These include citalopram, fluoxetine, and sertraline. Other antidepressants are tricyclic antidepressants, which work exactly the same way as SSRIs do, but have fewer side effects. Tricyclic antidepressants begin at a low dosage and slowly increasing as time passes. Certain medications, like birth control pills, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, can interact with tricyclic antidepressants.
Benzodiazepines are a fast-acting medication that can be prescribed to treat severe anxiety attack. These drugs focus on GABA (gamma-aminobutryic) in the brain, causing an calming effect. These medications are prescribed to treat panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, and fears. Because they are addictive and addictive, benzodiazepines should be used for a short period of time. They also lose their effectiveness if taken for more than 4 weeks at each time.
Alprazolam and clonazepam are other sedatives that can be prescribed in the event that benzodiazepines are not 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 may interfere with your sleep cycle.
It is essential to be honest with your doctor regarding your symptoms and the way your medication works for you. Inform them of any other ways you're trying to manage your symptoms and ask for regular check-ups. You can also use telehealth services such as Doctor On Demand which is covered by specific Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota policies. These online services allow you to visit with a psychiatrist or psychologist using your smartphone or computer.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
The preferred treatment for anxiety disorders and panic attacks is cognitive behavior therapy. It is a scientifically proven and effective treatment that addresses both the behaviors and thoughts that contribute to anxiety. The therapist will assist you to identify negative thoughts or patterns and replace them with more positive ones. In addition the therapist can assist you change your behavior by teaching you new techniques to cope with the symptoms of anxiety. These techniques include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and exposure therapy. Therapists can provide you with homework activities to do between sessions, like monitoring your anxiety or engaging in an activity that you've avoided because of it (like talking to a stranger at a gathering).
People who have panic disorder typically suffer from avoidance behavior, which is motivated by the fear they'll have another panic attack. Avoiding situations that create anxiety, such as crowds in malls, elevators or driving is a method to avoid this. These behaviors of avoidance can have significant effects on your quality of life. This kind of anxiety can cause problems such as difficulties in concentrating at work and depression, as well as substance abuse.
The cause of panic disorders is believed to be a result of a combination between genetics and environment factors. Life events that stress us, such as moving into a new house or the loss of an individual loved one are common triggers. Certain genes can also increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders.
The purpose of cognitive behavior therapy is to assist you in learning to manage anxiety and improve your overall quality of life. Unlike medication that treat only the symptoms of anxiety, cognitive behavior therapy tackles the root cause of anxiety and helps you develop strategies to cope that will be helpful in the future.
This kind of therapy can be challenging to begin with, even though it is effective in treating a broad variety of anxiety disorders. It is possible that you will need to attend therapy sessions for several weeks before you feel better. It is normal to have some setbacks. The key is to stick with it and remember that your efforts will pay off.
Therapy for exposure
There are several treatment options for anxiety attacks, such as psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, aids a person identify unhealthy thoughts and emotions that could trigger panic attacks or worsen them. This kind of treatment typically includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps individuals to change their negative habits and learn better coping strategies. It teaches people to overcome their fears in certain situations. It is essential to stick to a treatment program. Regularly attending weekly therapy sessions could help a person feel much better within 10 to 20 weeks.
Exposure therapy is a technique in CBT that involves repeatedly facing your fear triggers. The therapist will create a plan that exposes you to your fears in an environment that is controlled and secure. They can use in vivo exposure (real life) in which you are exposed to your fears in a real-world setting or virtual reality, where you are exposed to your fear in a fully immersive setting. In vivo exposure is more effective for specific fears. The therapist will gradually expose you to your fears until it becomes less severe.
This therapy can be very intense. It could involve a flood in which you are exposed for a prolonged period of time to a situation that causes fear. It may also involve psychoeducation, cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. It is used to treat nearly all major anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It also works for social anxieties.
It's crucial to find a specialist with exposure therapy experience. Find a doctor who is registered in an association or network that deals with anxiety disorders. Checking reviews is also an excellent idea. You can also request the recommendation of your doctor to an expert. You could even join a support group for people who suffer from anxiety. You can lessen anxiety by staying physically active and utilizing relaxation techniques. Avoid alcohol, recreational drug use, and smoking cigarettes as they can all cause anxiety or make it worse. It's also important not to overload yourself, as this may cause anxiety to increase.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (also known as benzos) are powerful drugs that can treat anxiety quite effectively. They can be addictive and they have serious side effects when taken regularly or for a long duration. They are therefore only prescribed to alleviate insomnia or extreme anxiety for a short period of time.
They work by reducing the nervous system, causing relaxation and sedation. Orally, they can be taken in the form of sprays, liquids or tablets. They can be injected directly into the vein. Benzos are used to treat generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and insomnia. They are especially beneficial for those who suffer from anxiety attacks, since they can provide immediate and effective symptomatic relief. They can be used on their own or as an adjunct to other treatments, like CBT for anxiety.
There are a variety of benzos, each having a different potency, duration of action, and rate of absorption by the body. There is a correlation between the amount of time a benzo is employed for and its tendency to be misused, which is why shorter-acting benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam) are often preferred.
Taking benzodiazepines with other drugs, such as sedatives, opioid painkillers or alcohol can increase the risk of harmful adverse side effects. These interactions can also intensify the effects of the drug and could result in a overdose or death. Additionally, benzodiazepines can interact with certain herbs or foods. If you are taking a benzo, it is important to inform your pharmacist and doctor of any other medication you are taking or plan to take.
When a person is using benzodiazepines long-term, their brain becomes dependent on them to function normally. This is referred to as physical dependence and can result in a variety of symptoms, including withdrawal, tolerance and a craving. This kind of dependence is distinct from addiction, which is an uncontrollable and compulsive need to take the drug.
Benzodiazepines are extremely effective and exhibit no negative effects when employed in the right way. However, they should only be used as a treatment option in cases where alternatives to drugs have not proven successful or are not possible. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mediation are non-drug techniques for managing anxiety.