Mindfulness And Applied Relaxation
Mindfulness and applied relaxation are alternative types of psychological treatment.
Mindfulness focuses your awareness on the present moment. It allows you to acknowledge and accept certain feelings. It can reduce anxiety associated with the fear of actual situations or sensations. It helps to counter the sense of ‘tunnel vision’ that may develop during anxiety.
Applied relaxation focuses on relaxing your muscles in a particular way. A trained therapist teaches the technique which alleviates anxiety and involves:
- learning how to relax your muscles
- relaxing your muscles quickly in response to a trigger
- practising relaxing your muscles in situations that make you anxious
Antidepressants And Weight Gain
Weight gain is another common side effect of antidepressants.
Some studies show up to 25 percent of people who take these medicines gain a significant amount of weight.
You can minimize this unwanted effect by exercising and following a healthy eating plan.
Since some antidepressants are more likely to lead to weight gain than others, talk to your doctor about switching to another medication if the antidepressant you are taking seems to be causing your weight problems.
How Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Related To Anxiety Disorders
Some people feel the effects of stress in their stomachs. People with IBS have uncomfortable problems with digestion, including stomach pain, constipation and diarrhea. They also frequently have anxiety and depression, which can make symptoms worse.
The connection between IBS and anxiety comes from the nervous system partly controlling the colon. The nervous systems response to stress may affect the stomach. Among people who get treated for IBS, anywhere from 50% to 90% may also have an anxiety disorder or depression. Treatment for IBS may include stress management and psychotherapy to relieve symptoms.
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How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated
Most people with anxiety disorders can experience great improvements with medication, psychotherapy, and exercise.
There are a number of treatment approaches for anxiety disorders. The type of treatment you receive will depend on your anxiety symptoms and type of disorder.
Not every treatment works for every person. You may need to try a number of treatments, or combinations of treatments, before finding what works for you.
The main treatments for anxiety disorders include:
- Psychotherapy
- Medications
- Complementary and alternative treatments
Speaking With A Professional
A mental health professional can help you identify the specific coping strategy and lifestyle changes that can help you manage your symptoms. Although it can be difficult, make sure to be as honest as possible about the symptoms and challenges that you face. Together, you and your mental health professional can work toward developing customized coping strategies.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion Guide
Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.
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Safety And Other Considerations
It’s also important to realize that the long term use of a mental health medication is going to have an effect on your wellbeing. Some cause digestion issues. Others cause extreme fatigue. These side effects can have a disruptive effect on your life.
Similarly, some anti-anxiety medications cause dependency with severe withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it or miss too many doses. Some medications may also lose their effectiveness over time . Keep this in mind and discuss with your doctor when you are choosing the right medication for you.
Best At Home Treatment For Anxiety
Most people want to treat their anxiety at home, and are looking for the best at home anxiety treatment. In this case, the answer is a bit more complex.
First, you need to start exercising. Exercise is far more important than those suffering from anxiety realize. It’s not simply for fitness. Exercise has very real benefits for your mental health.
You’ll also want to consider things like desensitization therapy, which you can do in the comfort of your own home .
But no matter what, you need to base your at home treatment on your symptoms.
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Interactions That Can Increase Your Risk Of Side Effects
Taking paroxetine with certain drugs raises your risk of side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as, ibuprofen and naproxen as well as aspirin and warfarin. Taking these drugs with paroxetine can increase your risk of bleeding or bruising.
- Triptans such as sumatriptan
- Lithium
- Serotonergic drugs, such as fentanyl, tramadol, and St. Johns wort. Taking these drugs with paroxetine can increase your risk of serotonin syndrome.
- Amphetamines, such as lisdexamfetamine and methamphetamine. Taking these drugs with paroxetine can increase your risk of serotonin syndrome.
- Theophylline. Taking this drug with paroxetine can increase your risk of restlessness, trouble sleeping, and irritability.
- Risperidone. Taking this drug with paroxetine can increase your risk of sleeping difficulty, anxiety, restlessness, and constipation.
- Cimetidine
- Antiarrhythmics, such as flecainide, and propafenone
- Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, and fluphenazine
- Tricyclic antidepressants , such as amitriptyline, imipramine and desipramine
- Quinidine. Taking this drug with paroxetine can increase your risk of tiredness, decreased appetite, sweating, dry mouth, and decreased sexual desire.
How Common Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Realizing youre not alone may be one of the first steps you take toward dealing with your anxiety. The first thing I do is tell patients that treatment is out there and it does work. And then I tell them that Ive seen this a lot, which makes them feel better, says Beth Salcedo, MD, the medical director of The Ross Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders in Washington, DC, and the past board president of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
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Can Antidepressants Cause Anxiety
Dr. Shelton says that SSRIs typically dont cause anxiety symptoms. However, if a patient is very anxious its a good idea to start on a very low dose to allow the patient to adjust to the medication slowly.
Dr. Plummer says that a patient starting an SSRI may notice an initial increase in anxiety. It takes a minimum of two to four weeks, sometimes longer, for SSRIs to reach the serotonin levels needed to relieve the depression or anxiety, she says.
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Interactions That Increase The Risk Of Side Effects
Taking certain medications with sertraline may result in increased side effects. These drugs include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin and warfarin. Taking these drugs with sertraline increases your risk for bleeding or bruising.
- Triptans such as sumatriptan. Your risk for serotonin syndrome is increased when you take these drugs with sertraline. Your doctor should watch you closely if you take these drugs together.
- Lithium. Taking this drug with lithium increases your risk for serotonin syndrome.
- Serotonergic medications such as fentanyl, tramadol, and St Johns wort. Taking these drugs with sertraline increases your risk for serotonin syndrome.
- Cimetidine. Taking cimetidine with sertraline may cause a build-up of sertraline in your body. Your dose of sertraline might need to be lowered if you take it with cimetidine.
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine, and imipramine. Taking sertraline with these drugs may cause these drugs to build up in your body. Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage of tricyclic antidepressants while you take sertraline.
Sertraline oral tablet comes with several warnings.
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Can You Use Other Medications To Treat Symptoms Associated With Social Anxiety Disorder
Other medications may be used off-label to treat social anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America , other SSRIs such as , , and may also be effective in treating social anxiety disorder. These might be prescribed if youve tried sertraline, paroxetine, or extended-release venlafaxine, and they havent seemed to help enough.
Benzodiazepines, including clonazepam and alprazolam , may sometimes be second-choice treatments for people with social anxiety disorder. Because many of these medications help calm anxiety symptoms within a few hours of a dose, they can be helpful when first starting SSRIs or venlafaxine until they kick in.
However, people taking benzodiazepines long-term may develop dependence on the medication and experience withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop them. Its best to discuss the safest way to take benzodiazepines with your healthcare provider if they prescribe them for you.
Medications used to treat seizures or nerve pain, such as gabapentin and pregabalin , are also sometimes used off-label to treat social anxiety disorder. However, research suggests that these medications are less effective in relieving symptoms than SSRIs or venlafaxine.
Some medications may be particularly effective in treating specific symptoms of social anxiety disorder, such as performance anxiety. People with performance anxiety may have an intense fear or worry while speaking or performing in public.
What Is Separation Anxiety Disorder
This condition mostly happens to children or teens, who may worry about being away from their parents. Children with separation anxiety disorder may fear that their parents will be hurt in some way or not come back as promised. It happens a lot in preschoolers. But older children and adults who experience a stressful event may have separation anxiety disorder as well.
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How Do I Know If I Have Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The first step is to rule out the possibility that your symptoms are being caused by a medical condition that is not psychiatric. Among the conditions that produce symptoms similar to those of anxiety are hyperthyroidism or other endocrine problems, too much or too little calcium, low blood sugar, and certain heart problems. Certain medicines also can sometimes cause anxiety. A thorough evaluation by your health care provider will determine if any of these conditions are the cause of your symptoms.
If no other medical culprit can be found and the symptoms seem out of proportion to any situation you are facing, you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
What Are Ssris And Snris
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Zoloft and Prozac, and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like Effexor and Pristiq are antidepressant medications, but they can help with anxiety symptoms as well. For this reason, many providers will prescribe an SSRI or SNRI if you have a combination of depression and anxiety.
SSRIs and SNRIs are not an instant fix for symptoms associated with an anxiety disorder, nor do they even provide immediate relief, Alonzo said. They work by interacting with the neurotransmitters and receptors in your brain, which can help regulate mood, sleep and energy levels. It is important for patients to understand that these medications may take four to six weeks for full effect.
Some patients may respond better to one of these medications than others. If after taking the medication for two weeks and symptoms have not improved, talk to your provider to have your medication regimen adjusted. Treatment trials with more than one medication are not uncommon.
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% Of Seniors Suffer High Anxiety At Exam Time Here’s What Parents Can Do To Help
by Eimear Quigley, The Conversation
Parents can feel hopeless when their children experience the huge emotional burden that comes with final-year exams. Sometimes our best intentions may actually make our children feel worse. Previous research has found more than 40% of year 12 students experience anxiety symptoms high enough to be of clinical concern.
In 2021, varying degrees of COVID-19 lockdowns have added an extra stress layer for everyone, not least young people feeling disconnected from their friends and schools. The following four strategies will help parents support their children through the coming weeks of year 12 exams.
1. Help teens name their feelings
“Name it to tame it” is a parenting strategy developed by psychiatrist Dan Siegel. This approach is about helping children name what they are feeling as the first step towards helping them reduce the impact of that emotion.
A parent’s automatic response like “stop stressing, you’re smart so you’ll be fine” can actually cause a child to feel worse as their emotional experience is not being validated. By naming what the feeling is , a parent can begin to support and understand the young person.
2. Offer helpful choices
So, rather than saying “I’ll get you some water to help you feel better,” a parent could make a slight change to the question by asking: “Hey, I could get you some water, or something to eat? Or you could take a break and have a snack with me in the kitchen. What would help you right now?”
How To Take Vistaril
Use Vistaril exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Shake the oral suspension well just before you measure a dose. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Hydroxyzine is for short-term use only.
You should not take this medicine for longer than 4 months. Call your doctor if your anxiety symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
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Other Herbs And Natural Medicines For Anxiety
Many other natural medications have been prescribed for anxiety, but their success rates vary and are not entirely clear. St. John’s Wort, for example, is an herb meant for depression but believed to have an effect on anxiety. Nevertheless, the research hasn’t backed up this claim. The three above have been successfully used for anxiety for years with minimal side effects, and research has often supported their success as a natural treatment for anxiety.
Still, you need to remember that you should never depend on medication alone, otherwise your mind will lose out on its ability to cope further. That’s why you need to make sure you’re complimenting your natural medicine with some type of medication free anxiety reduction strategy. And always consult your doctor before considering any of these options.
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Serotonin And Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors
If SSRIs don’t help ease your anxiety, you may be prescribed a different type of antidepressant known as a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor .
This type of medicine increases the amount of serotonin and noradrenaline in your brain.
Examples of SNRIs you may be prescribed include:
- insomnia
- sweating
SNRIs can also increase your blood pressure, so your blood pressure will be monitored regularly during treatment.
As with SSRIs, some of the side effects are more common in the first 1 or 2 weeks of treatment, but these usually settle as your body adjusts to the medication.
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