Treatments For Anxiety Disorders

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Treatments For Anxiety Disorders

When a person is suffering from anxiety, the body’s response is to produce adrenalin, a chemical messenger that triggers the fight-or-flight response. This response is designed to help humans avoid danger. Today, humans are less concerned with running away from danger and are instead worried about work, money, family life, and health. While this reaction is natural, the modern world does not have such opportunities. It is therefore common to experience a high level of anxiety, especially if an individual suffers from panic attacks, severe phobias, or other disorders.

Treatment for anxiety disorders begins with an assessment. Healthcare providers will first perform a comprehensive medical history and physical exam. While lab tests cannot diagnose anxiety disorders, they can rule out physical conditions that may be causing the symptoms. Afterward, the healthcare provider may ask about the intensity and duration of the symptoms and whether they interfere with daily life. If necessary, they will also consult the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a reference tool created by the American Psychiatric Association, to identify the cause of anxiety.

Medications for anxiety disorders include antidepressants and beta-blockers, which are commonly used for high blood pressure. These medicines are effective in controlling the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as trembling and rapid heartbeat. The healthcare provider will help the patient select the right combination of these medications, and monitor any side effects. Another treatment for anxiety disorders is psychotherapy, which teaches the patient to recognize and cope with troubled thoughts and feelings.

Psychotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders. However, depending on the severity of the condition, a specific treatment approach may be required. Typically, therapy is a combination of medications and therapy. The therapy helps patients identify negative thinking patterns and challenge irrational beliefs. This type of therapy is also widely used for people with anxiety disorders. Further, cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people learn ways to cope with their condition, which can reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

Anxiety is an entirely normal reaction to danger. Anxiety is the body’s automatic fight-or-flight response to danger. When anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, it can give you energy to face difficult situations and focus on tasks. However, it can become a disorder when it affects your daily life and prevent you from performing basic activities. The most common forms of anxiety disorder are generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobia-related disorders.

Often, anxiety attacks will last for ten minutes or less. In a severe case, an anxiety attack can leave people feeling as if they are about to die or having a heart attack. They may fear having an anxiety attack in public, and they may even try to avoid places where they might have another attack. They may feel completely out of control and are likely to pass out if they do. If the symptoms continue to occur, they may need medical treatment.