Practical Treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Cathryn Harper)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a recognized and common condition. With the levels of stress that most of us face every day, it is no wonder that this disorder could easily develop. It is good to know that it is a medical condition that can be practically treated with medications and/ or psychotherapy. The primary symptoms associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) are tension, inability to relax and persistent worrying over matters that don't call for any extreme concern. Any person with GAD will find it difficult to control the symptoms. It is as if there is a roller coaster of anxiety running through the mind at all times and it will not stop unless the person experiencing these symptoms can find quiet isolation. Other symptoms that accompany this disorder are difficulty concentration, being easily startled, chronic irritability which could lead to drug seeking behavior, general restlessness and insomnia (Hoffman SG, 2008).

The most practical approach to treating GAD is a combination of cognitive therapy and medication. Cognitive therapy is a way or re-training the brain to react to certain stimuli in a healthy manner. For example, if the sound of a dog barking induces a panic attack, the therapist would work with someone to discover what triggers this reaction. These triggers set off a chemical cascade in the brain that induces anxiety. By discovering the thoughts that cause the anxious reaction, the cognitive therapist is then able to help re-route the thinking process to eliminate the sensation of anxiety and panic. Often, by the time a person has reached the doctor's office for this problem, it is necessary to use medication to alleviate the symptoms and protect the body from the dangers of chronic stress.

Currently, the primary pharmacological treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a class of drugs called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors). These medications have been proven to be the best treatment for GAD. They increase the levels of a neurotransmitter (a chemical that facilitates a specific electrical impulse in the brain) called serotonin. When there is enough serotonin in our brains, we feel content, confident, trusting and safe. When serotonin is deficient, we feel scared, worried, shy and insecure (Pollack MH, 2008 ). SSRIs have been proven effective in countless studies. These include medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and citalopram (Celexa), among many others. When someone has remained on one of these medications for 6-8 months, they may be taken off of the medication to determine if it is still needed. The only drawback to SSRIs is the time it takes for them to demonstrate any benefit. This could take 4-6weeks before any results are perceived.

In the interim, drugs known as benzodiazepines are prescribed for short-term relief until the SSRI begins to work and the cognitive therapy starts to show results. These drugs are immediately effective within less than an hour. Alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan) and oxazepam (Serax) are some of the commonly prescribed benzodiazepines. These are the most effective medications for anxiety disorders, but they are highly addictive, so doctors usually prescribe a small amount until other treatments begin to help.

All of this is good news. Psychiatrists around the world have a plan to treat GAD. You don't have to live with this problem or be afraid of treatments.

Hoffman SG, S. J. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry , 69;621-632 [Pub Med].

Pollack MH, K. G. (2008 ). The Pharmacology of Anxiety Disorders. Massachusets General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry , Chapter 41.

Cathryn is a working mother of three. A self-professed health and fitness nut, Cathryn loves to research and write about health and wellness related topics. For more professional information please visit at http://www.cathrynharperpress.com/

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Practical Treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Cathryn Harper)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a recognized and common condition. With the levels of stress that most of us face every day, it is no wonder that this disorder could easily develop. It is good to know that it is a medical condition that can be practically treated with medications and/ or psychotherapy. The primary symptoms associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) are tension, inability to relax and persistent worrying over matters that don't call for any extreme concern. Any person with GAD will find it difficult to control the symptoms. It is as if there is a roller coaster of anxiety running through the mind at all times and it will not stop unless the person experiencing these symptoms can find quiet isolation. Other symptoms that accompany this disorder are difficulty concentration, being easily startled, chronic irritability which could lead to drug seeking behavior, general restlessness and insomnia (Hoffman SG, 2008).

The most practical approach to treating GAD is a combination of cognitive therapy and medication. Cognitive therapy is a way or re-training the brain to react to certain stimuli in a healthy manner. For example, if the sound of a dog barking induces a panic attack, the therapist would work with someone to discover what triggers this reaction. These triggers set off a chemical cascade in the brain that induces anxiety. By discovering the thoughts that cause the anxious reaction, the cognitive therapist is then able to help re-route the thinking process to eliminate the sensation of anxiety and panic. Often, by the time a person has reached the doctor's office for this problem, it is necessary to use medication to alleviate the symptoms and protect the body from the dangers of chronic stress.

Currently, the primary pharmacological treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a class of drugs called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors). These medications have been proven to be the best treatment for GAD. They increase the levels of a neurotransmitter (a chemical that facilitates a specific electrical impulse in the brain) called serotonin. When there is enough serotonin in our brains, we feel content, confident, trusting and safe. When serotonin is deficient, we feel scared, worried, shy and insecure (Pollack MH, 2008 ). SSRIs have been proven effective in countless studies. These include medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and citalopram (Celexa), among many others. When someone has remained on one of these medications for 6-8 months, they may be taken off of the medication to determine if it is still needed. The only drawback to SSRIs is the time it takes for them to demonstrate any benefit. This could take 4-6weeks before any results are perceived.

In the interim, drugs known as benzodiazepines are prescribed for short-term relief until the SSRI begins to work and the cognitive therapy starts to show results. These drugs are immediately effective within less than an hour. Alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan) and oxazepam (Serax) are some of the commonly prescribed benzodiazepines. These are the most effective medications for anxiety disorders, but they are highly addictive, so doctors usually prescribe a small amount until other treatments begin to help.

All of this is good news. Psychiatrists around the world have a plan to treat GAD. You don't have to live with this problem or be afraid of treatments.

Hoffman SG, S. J. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry , 69;621-632 [Pub Med].

Pollack MH, K. G. (2008 ). The Pharmacology of Anxiety Disorders. Massachusets General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry , Chapter 41.

Cathryn is a working mother of three. A self-professed health and fitness nut, Cathryn loves to research and write about health and wellness related topics. For more professional information please visit at http://www.cathrynharperpress.com/

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Types of Drug Rehab Treatments for Sober Recovery (Nicholas Grimaldi)

It's been rightly said, there's no man stronger than the one who accepts that he/she is an addict and is ready to fight it. Addiction as a social as well as cultural threat is nothing new. Over the ages man has been abusing substances to experience the ecstatic feeling that is most commonly referred to as 'feeling high'. However, the antidote to this socio-cultural threat - de-addiction has never been so well-known and widely chosen as it has been in the last three decades, though the effort for sober recovery had always been there. It is only in last three decades that terms like drug rehab, rehabilitation center or de-addiction centers have been able to create awareness to a considerable extent.

What a Drug Rehab Does
Drug rehab or drug rehabilitation refers to the process of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment for those who have grown dependency on alcohol, prescription drugs, marijuana and other psychoactive substances. The purpose of the treatment processes is to help the patient overcome his/her psychological dependency on the substances so that the patient ceases to abuse substances and is able to avoid the psychological, physical, financial and social consequences of drug abuse.

Types of Drug Rehab Treatments
Treatment processes at drag rehabs are of various types, the purpose being all the very same - to make the patient physically and emotionally independent of the substances he/she is addicted to. What type of treatment will be applied on a patient depends on the condition of the patient. The will of the patient also matters in this regard, though it is always the professionals who take the final call. Let's now have a quick overview of the various types of treatments at a drug rehab.

Addressing Psychological Dependency: Most drug rehabilitation programs address psychological dependency of the patient on the substance. The patients are taught different new ways to interact and survive in a drug-free environment. The patients, in most of the cases, are advised and encouraged not to be in company with those who instigate them to try drugs or do drugs by themselves. Twelve-Step-Programs, a set of guiding principles for the addicted, encourage the addicts to stop using drugs or alcohol and even change their habits that are related to their addiction.

Medication: Medicinal courses have been found to be one of the most effective treatment types in a drug rehab. Patients who have been addicted to prescription drugs are given medicines that tend to affect the same parts of the brain. Patients with addiction to prescription opiates are given medications like methadone and buprenorphine.

Behavioral Therapy: Behavioral therapy is meant for those who have been addicted to prescription stimulants, benzodiazepines and some other drugs. Behavioral therapies are categorized into four categories. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps the patients to recognize the situations in which they are most likely to relapse. This type of behavioral therapy also helps the patients to avoid and/or cope with such situations. Multidimensional family therapy, a very significant behavioral therapy, is designed to support the patient with improved family functioning. Motivational interviews and motivational incentives are two other types of behavioral therapies that motivate the patient to change their behavioral pattern, undergo treatment for sober recovery, and abstain from using the drugs again.

Nicholas Grimaldi is a member of a reputed NGO that is associated with running de-addiction campaigns and raise funds for drug rehabs. She shares her knowledge and experience of the various types of treatments for sober recovery at a drug rehab.

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