Identifying the signs of anxiety and managing the illness on one’s own, without medical help, is often the first step in treating the disease.
However, a person might resort to high anxiety treatment counseling or medicine if self-management is unable to lessen the intensity of symptoms or if the onset is very abrupt or acute.
The medicinal and at-home therapies for anxiety symptoms are covered in this article.
- Anxiety: What is it?
The majority of individuals encounter stress at various times in their lives. Stress, on the other hand, is often a transient physiological reaction to a perceived danger or biological harm.
Conversely, anxiety is the feeling of impending doom and tension stemming from a perceived danger.
Anxiety disorders may be present in people whose anxiety is strong and persistent enough to interfere with their day-to-day functioning.
Anxiety disorders come in several forms, including social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM–5), includes these disorders.
Various anxiety disorder kinds may present with symptoms such as:
- Excessive anxiety, restlessness, and concern
- Exhaustion
- Headache, abdominal discomfort, and sleeplessness
- Having trouble focusing
- Heart racing and perspiring
- Self-awareness
Study up on the various forms and manifestations of anxiety disorders.
- How common is anxiety?
Since the COVID-19 epidemic began, there have been an extra 76.2 million instances of anxiety disorders worldwide. Women have had a greater increase than males. Studies indicate that the highest spike in anxiety rates in different individuals was around the onset of the epidemic.
- Self-care
Anxiety is closely related to depression, alcohol use disorder, and other illnesses. Before treating their anxiety illness, some individuals need to take care of an underlying medical issue.
A person may be able to manage anxiety at home without professional supervision in milder situations or in cases that do not meet the criteria for being classified as an anxiety disorder.
In research on lifestyle modifications and mental health, participants’ stress levels and mental health were positively impacted by things like giving up smoking, eating a balanced diet, exercising often, and sustaining regular social interactions.
- A person may also use the following techniques to manage their anxiety:
Controlling stress-inducing factors, such as monitoring job demands and deadlines, planning difficult chores in to-do lists, and scheduling frequent breaks from work or school using methods of relaxation, such as yoga, mindfulness meditation, lengthy baths, deep breathing exercises, and dark rest.
Keeping a support system in place by communicating with friends, family, or a support group; failing to do so might exacerbate anxiety problems.
Engaging in regular physical activity, may enhance one’s perception of oneself and cause the brain’s feel-good hormones to be released.
Restricting or cutting down on alcohol use and other recreational drug use, such as the use of nicotine, caffeine, and cannabis; obtaining at least six hours of sleep per night; these factors may reduce the risk of mental discomfort by 2.5 times.
Consuming a healthy, well-balanced diet rich in minerals, including magnesium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin B
- Therapy and counseling
The usual course of treatment for anxiety disorders is therapy and counseling in psychology.
Psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or a mix of several therapeutic methods may be included in this.
The goals of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are to identify and modify the negative thought patterns that might lead to anxiety symptoms, restrict erroneous thinking, and modify the degree and type of responses to stress.
This aids individuals in controlling their responses to certain stimuli. A CBT therapist may assist a client in creating cognitive exercises that help them replace negative ideas with good ones.
One way to counteract negative ideas is to write down a list of them and then develop another list of positive ones. If a person’s anxiety symptoms are connected to a particular stressor, it might help them to see themselves confronting and overcoming that particular worry.
Another treatment that entails attempting to identify the underlying cause of an anxiety illness and speaking with a qualified mental health expert is psychotherapy. Sessions may examine anxiety sources and potential coping techniques.
Psychodynamic therapy and exposure therapy are two other forms of treatment for anxiety.
- Medicines
Anxiety disorders may be treated with a variety of medications. Among them are:
TCAs or tricyclic antidepressants
The majority of anxiety disorders, except for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), have been successfully treated by these drugs. On the other hand, adverse symptoms, including fatigue, vertigo, and weight gain, are possible with these medications. Imidamine and clomipramine are two tricyclic examples.
Both serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
SSRIs or SNRIs are sometimes recommended by physicians to treat anxiety problems, while antidepressants are often used to treat depression. Side effects, including nausea and erectile dysfunction, are still possible with them.
Benzodiazepines
These are only accessible with a prescription, have a significant potential for addiction, and are seldom the first choice in treatment. Benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium) are often used to treat anxiety.
Those who suffer from anxiety may benefit from medications. On the other hand, someone starting anxiety medication has to be careful not to quit suddenly.
A few drugs, particularly antidepressants like SSRIs or SNRIs, may lead to withdrawal symptoms, including zaps in the brain. These are excruciating headache shocks that resemble electrical shocks.
After using antidepressants for a while, people who want to change how they manage anxiety disorders should talk to their doctor about the best method to stop taking these drugs.
A person should contact their doctor right away if they have any severe, unexpected, or undesirable side effects from taking any prescription drugs.
Conclusion
Psychological counseling, medication, and lifestyle modifications are the mainstays of treating anxiety disorders. Each person’s course of treatment will vary based on the kind of anxiety disorder they have and if any underlying medical issues are present.
The first stage in treating anxious emotions is self-management, which often includes time management skills, physical activity, and relaxation methods. If these steps are ineffective in controlling anxious emotions, the individual may choose to see a physician and explore other therapy options.
A counselling therapy for anxiety is one psychological therapy that may assist people in changing their response to stressful life events and triggers. They may also aid in reducing skewed thinking and dispelling unfavourable ideas.
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