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Anxieties – types of treatments

There is a wide variety of anxiety treatments:

Treatment using medications

This treatment is usually prescribed by a psychiatrist and sometimes by a family doctor. There is a wide variety of medications, such as Cipralex, Prozac, Recital, Serotonin and Neuroadrenalin inhibitors, such as Cymbalta, or Viepax, and calming medications such as Vaben, Clonex, or Xanax. Being prescribed the right medication is important and sometimes critical, so if you decide to start taking a medication, you will need an extensive diagnosis by a psychiatrist.

Before you take the medication, it is recommended that you check that it is suitable for you.

Medications to treat anxiety disorders might cause unwanted side effects and even be addictive. It is very important to check all the possibilities, consider the advantages and disadvantages of each medication, and find the one most suitable for you, together with the psychiatrist.

With some kinds of anxiety disorders, such as phobias or social anxiety, the medical recommendation to use a medication may only be from time to time, rather than a permanent treatment.

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment

The treatment helps the patient identify the disturbing and anxiety-triggering thoughts and the stressful situations. The patient gradually learns to anticipate these situations and handle them using tools acquired as part of the treatment. The treatment requires an independent intensive investment in between sessions. In addition, the treatment itself does not address the emotional realm. Anxiety whose source is emotional may not be alleviated at all by this kind of treatment.

Psychological Treatment

This is a conversation-based treatment, that does not focus solely on the problem itself, but on the general context of each person’s life, feelings and experiences. This treatment is especially beneficial when the tension and stress arise from an emotional source and from a past memory. In most cases, this kind of treatment requires many sessions, so that the psychologist slowly learns to understand the patient’s stress and the variety of feelings he or she is experiencing.

Relaxation and guided imagery techniques to treat anxieties

This is a relaxation technique that helps the person develop the ability to cope better with the stressful factors causing the anxiety, as well as with some of the physical symptoms of the anxiety. The techniques learned include practicing correct breathing.

Bio-feedback to treat anxieties

Bio-feedback is the practice of relaxation techniques using a computer. The patient monitors his or her physiological parameters such as heart rate, sweating, etc. Learning and practicing relaxation techniques is also part of the Cognitive-Behavioral treatment but the latter excludes the use of a computer.

Hypnosis as anxiety treatment

It involves learning and practicing deep relaxation, which assists with lowering the tension. It requires relinquishing control and entering a hypnotic state.

Self-treatment and self-practice methods:

Treating anxieties using sports
This can be achieved by practicing low-intensity sports. Research proves that about 30 minutes of physical activity, 3-5 times a week may lead to significant relief of anxiety and anxiety attacks.

Treating anxieties using relaxation and breathing techniques
Consistent practicing of relaxation methods such as meditation, yoga, and guided imagery may help with anxiety.

Treating anxieties by practicing “deep abdominal breathing”
Take a long breath while counting to four, keep the air inside and count to four, let the air out and count to four. Practice this exercise ten times in the morning and in the evening.
The consistent practice of this exercise leads to a decline in daily tension and stress which results in a significant decline in anxiety states.

Treating anxiety with laughter exercises
Laughter is a therapeutic tool that alleviates tension and anxieties and makes us feel better by causing the release of Endorphins by the brain. Endorphin is the same chemical substance that helps with pain relief and with tension and anxiety states. All we have to do is laugh (even if it is induced laughter) a great laugh accompanied by a vocal laughter sound. You can practice this with the help of family, funny videos, or any other way that will relieve your tension.

Treating anxiety with positive thinking
You need to close your eyes, breathe deeply and imagine that you are in a calm place, in nature, in the open air, a place that is gently lit and with clean air. You need to loosen your muscles and let yourself relax from the daily stress and any kind of thought.

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