Medical Treatment for Anxiety
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 105, Word Count: 546,
Anxiety disorders are a collection of disorders which are characterized by symptoms of intense worry and physical feelings of stress or panic. There are mainly 5 different categories of anxiety disorders: panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and social phobia.
Medical treatment for anxiety disorder is decided by health care professionals based upon the needs of a specific person. In most of the cases, anxiety disorders could be productively treated through a complete plan that includes psychological and medical interventions.
Medical Treatment for Anxiety
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are often helpful in treating the symptoms of anxiety. They serve to modify defective brain chemistry, reducing anxiety symptoms in many people. There are numerous different kinds of antidepressant medications; the most commonly prescribed being the newest group, SSRIs. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) manage the absorption of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which could lessen both feelings of anxiety and symptoms of depression.
Tranquilizers
Tranquilizers are medications which help relieve anxiety by causing the nervous system to slow down. They are usually prescribed only for stern anxiety symptoms and only for a short term use, as long term use could lead to addiction. Tranquilizers include medications such as klonopin, xanax, and valium. All of these medications could provide quick and effective symptom relief but come with higher side-effects than antidepressants. The side effects include trouble with coordination, confusion or disorientation, slurred speech and memory loss.
New Anti Anxiety Medication
The medicine Buspar (known as Buspirone) is a newer type of tranquiliser which is slower acting than the older ones, such as Xanax. It has the same effect, that is to slow the nervous system but works in a milder way and could take up to 2 weeks to reach full efficiency. Buspar has many advantages over other tranquilizers like it’s less addictive and sedating.
Psychotherapy
There are many different types of therapy which might be of benefit to people with anxiety disorders. Speaking with a mental health professional could help patients to recognize triggers for anxiety symptoms, learn more about their state and practice coping skills. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is especially effective for anxiety sufferers. CBT involves both learning to change unnecessary thought patterns and to consequently modify negative behaviors that could accompany these thoughts.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers such as Inderal, which are characteristically prescribed for heart conditions, could help to control the physical symptoms of stress and panic which frequently go with anxiety disorders. As per a study, they work by blocking the effects of the stress hormone, norepinephrine. This hormone is accountable for the “fight or flight” response in humans and creates uncomfortable physical symptoms such as palpitations, increased heart rate and dizziness.
Lifestyle Changes
Medical treatment for Anxiety involves many simple lifestyle changes that individuals with anxiety could do to reduce the sternness and regularity of their symptoms. Nicotine and caffeine are the substances which serve as stimulants and it’s recommended that patients avoid them. Getting good amount of rest and eating a balanced diet could also help to keep symptoms at bay. Most significantly, it’s important that patient is acquiescent with their treatment regimen in order to receive full effects of the medications and therapy.
About the Author
Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
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