It is normal to experience anxiety, especially before you tackle an issue, take a test or attend an interview. But it is a mental health condition when it interferes with your ability to function, prevents you from controlling your response to situations, or makes you often overreact when things trigger your emotion. Anxiety Sandy Springs can result from a chemical imbalance in your brain, hereditary factors, or environmental aspects like trauma. Common anxiety symptoms include uncontrollable thoughts, panic, fear, trouble sleeping, uncontrolled emotions, and repeated thoughts of traumatic experiences. Here are common ways to treat anxiety.
Medications
Medications can help improve your symptoms and function better. Anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines can help reduce your anxiety, panic, and worry. They work fast, but long-term use can lead to tolerance. Antidepressants may help change how your brain uses particular chemicals, improving mood and reducing stress. Beta-blockers, often used for high blood pressure, can help alleviate anxiety symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shaking, and trembling.
Psychotherapy
There are various psychotherapy techniques that can help manage anxiety. These treatments include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most commonly used psychotherapy to treat anxiety. It helps you recognize your thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings. Your therapist teaches you how to change those negative feelings.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy aims at dealing with fears behind your anxiety. It helps you engage in activities or situations you may have been avoiding. Your therapist may combine exposure therapy with relaxation exercises and imagery.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) involves using magnetic fields to change brain activity in areas that help regulate mood. It involves your doctor passing an electromagnetic coil emitting pulses close to your scalp through your skull to your brain. The pulses stimulate nerve cells activating brain parts involved in controlling mood. Doctors mostly use TMS to treat major depressive disorder, but it can also help relieve anxiety symptoms.
Ketamine infusion
Ketamine infusion works by rapidly increasing glutamate activity in your brain. Glutamate is a brain chemical messenger that helps regulate mood and control memory and learning. This chemical also helps your brain adapt to new experiences. Researchers believe ketamine can disrupt troublesome or harmful thought patterns and allow you to form new pathways, helping you create more positive thoughts. Your doctor may recommend ketamine infusions if other treatment options do not relieve your anxiety symptoms.
Lifestyle modifications
Some lifestyle changes can help reduce anxiety symptoms. If you take caffeine, limit or avoid it because it can worsen your symptoms. Stress can also worsen your anxiety symptoms. Meditation and exercise can help manage your stress. Consult your doctor before you take over-the-counter medicines or herbal supplements. Some drugs and supplements may contain chemicals that can worsen your anxiety symptoms. Eating healthy may help improve your anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety becomes a disorder when it prevents you from controlling your thoughts, feelings, and emotions or hinders you from functioning properly. Schedule an appointment at Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions for anxiety treatment to help you control your thoughts.
