Anxiety disorder treatments

Anxiety disorders are often treated with psychotherapy, medication, and dietary and lifestyle changes. Each patient's anxiety treatment will be unique depending on the kind of anxiety illness they have and any underlying problems. A healthy way of life, regular exercise, and good time management are all part of a person's self-management strategy. Consult a psychiatrist for effective treatment options if these steps fail to alleviate anxiety.

Medications

As soon as a patient is diagnosed with an anxiety condition, psychiatrists can begin prescribing medication. Medications alleviate symptoms and improve patient outcomes.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

Psychiatrists often prescribe an SSRI after diagnosing a patient with an anxiety disorder. This medicine prevents serotonin from being reabsorbed by certain nerve cells. Elevated levels of serotonin reduce stress and elevate mood.

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)

An SNRI inhibits the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine by brain cells. This process alters the communication between nerve cells.

Tricyclic antidepressants

A tricyclic antidepressant works like an SNRI. Many mental health professionals now even prescribe this medicine in place of an SNRI. Tricyclic antidepressants are an appealing therapy option for anxiety disorders because patients cannot acquire a tolerance to them.

Benzodiazepine

The psychiatrist may prescribe short-term use of benzothiazine. Patients who are prone to panic episodes can benefit greatly from this treatment. Daily use of these drugs is not recommended because they are fast acting and may be habit forming.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Psychiatrists often include psychotherapy in their treatment plans. Psychological counseling and therapy are the most common treatments for anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy or a mix of therapy and counseling might be part of this treatment. The primary goal of cognitive-behavioral therapy is to identify negative thought patterns that may lead to anxiety and other unpleasant emotions. This approach teaches patients how to better control how their body and mind respond to particular stimuli or triggers.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has remarkable benefits among the several talk treatments available to those with anxiety disorders. Patients are taught how to alleviate their symptoms during their therapy sessions. The mental health professional may ask the patient to place themselves in a setting that elicits feelings of fear. For example, a person who is afraid of crowds may be exposed to them as part of their treatment.

This treatment is a long-term procedure that will take a while. But people gradually conquer their phobias through exposure to them.

The bottom line

Anxiety disorders are difficult to live with. You may be unable to accomplish the activities that you used to like because you are always afraid of the impact of your anxiety. But there is anxiety treatment available. Begin therapy for your mental illness by seeing a psychiatrist. You can get medication and psychotherapy that is both effective and comfortable for you.

Become a new patient today or give us a call: 631-673-3233.