There are many treatments to reduce and manage symptoms of anxiety disorder. Usually, people with anxiety disorder take medicine and go to counseling. Treatments for anxiety disorder include: medication. Several types of drugs are used to treat anxiety disorders. Talk to your doctor or psychiatrist about the pros and cons of each medicine to decide which one is best for you. Antidepressants. Modern antidepressants (ssris and snris) are typically the first drugs prescribed to someone with an anxiety disorder. Examples of ssris are escitalopram ( lexapro ) and fluoxetine ( prozac ). Snris include duloxetine (cymbalta)and venlafaxine (effexor). Bupropion. This is another type of antidepressant commonly used to treat chronic anxiety.
A person can support anxiety management with several types of medication. Medicines that might control some of the physical and mental symptoms include antidepressants , benzodiazepines, tricyclics, and beta-blockers. Benzodiazepines a doctor may prescribe these for certain people with anxiety, but they can be highly addictive. These drugs tend to have few side effects except for drowsiness and possible dependence. Diazepam, or valium, is an example of a commonly prescribed benzodiazepine. These commonly help with anxiety, even though they also target depression. People often use serotonin reuptake inhibitors (ssri), which have fewer side effects than older antidepressants but are likely to cause jitters, nausea, and sexual dysfunction when treatment begins.
How do you treat anxiety without medication?
These are some of the more common mental and physical symptoms of anxiety: feelings of danger, panic, or dread nervousness or restlessness if you notice that quick tips haven’t been working, you may want to consider seeing a professional for help. Especially if you believe you have gad and it’s interfering with routine activities and causing physical symptoms. A mental health professional can help with streamlining the process of identifying your triggers, maintaining long-term strategies through behavioral therapy, medications, and more. Anxiety may always be a part of your life, but it shouldn’t overtake your day-to-day. Even the most extreme anxiety disorders can be treated so that the symptoms aren’t overwhelming.
The second-line treatment for gad is acceptance and commitment therapy. In act, you learn to accept your thoughts without trying to alter or reduce them. Act also helps you focus on the present moment and your surroundings, as well as take action on your values, instead of letting your anxiety dictate your decisions and your days. You can learn more about act here. Other medications used off-label, such as beta-blockers these types of medications are described in more detail below. Keep in mind that many people with gad don’t respond to the initial medications they try. The next treatment your healthcare provider prescribes will depend on your specific symptoms, treatment history, and preferences.
It’s important to understand what is causing your anxiety – then you can look at steps to address it. You may want to look at ways to break out of a cycle of negative thoughts that are making you anxious. Or you may need to think about whether what is making you anxious is a fact – or something you have imagined (such as the true meaning behind the funny look from your boss). Breathing exercises can help to regulate your breaths physically, which can have an impact on relaxing your mind as well. Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation, can also have a positive impact for some people.