They may help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or stress. You may need to try several different antidepressant medicines before finding the one that improves your symptoms and has manageable side effects. A medication that has helped you or a close family member in the past will often be considered. If you begin taking antidepressants, do not stop taking them without the help of a doctor.
Stopping them abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms. Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs are commonly used as first-line treatments for anxiety.
Less-commonly used — but effective — treatments for anxiety disorders are older classes of antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs.
Please Note: In some cases, children, teenagers, and young adults under 25 may experience an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressant medications, especially in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed. Because of this, patients of all ages taking antidepressants should be watched closely, especially during the first few weeks of treatment.
Although beta-blockers are most often used to treat high blood pressure, they can also be used to help relieve the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat, shaking, trembling, and blushing. These medications, when taken for a short period of time, can help people keep physical symptoms under control. Some types of drugs may work better for specific types of anxiety disorders, so people should work closely with their doctor to identify which medication is best for them.
Certain substances such as caffeine, some over-the-counter cold medicines, illicit drugs, and herbal supplements may aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorders or interact with prescribed medication. Patients should talk with their doctor, so they can learn which substances are safe and which to avoid. Your doctor may try several medicines before finding the right one. Please note that any information on this website regarding medications is provided for educational purposes only and may be outdated.
Diagnosis and treatment decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor. Information about medications changes frequently. Please visit the U. Food and Drug Administration website for the latest information on warnings, patient medication guides, or newly approved medications.
Some people with anxiety disorders might benefit from joining a self-help or support group and sharing their problems and achievements with others. Internet chat rooms might also be useful, but any advice received over the internet should be used with caution, as Internet acquaintances have usually never seen each other and what has helped one person is not necessarily what is best for another. You should always check with your doctor before following any treatment advice found on the internet.
Talking with a trusted friend or member of the clergy can also provide support, but it is not necessarily a sufficient alternative to care from a doctor or other health professional. Stress management techniques and meditation can help people with anxiety disorders calm themselves and may enhance the effects of therapy.
Research suggests that aerobic exercise can help some people manage their anxiety; however, exercise should not take the place of standard care and more research is needed. Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions.
The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe. Although individuals may benefit from being part of a clinical trial, participants should be aware that the primary purpose of a clinical trial is to gain new scientific knowledge so that others may be better helped in the future. Researchers at NIMH and around the country conduct many studies with patients and healthy volunteers. We have new and better treatment options today because of what clinical trials uncovered years ago.
Talk to your health care provider about clinical trials, their benefits and risks, and whether one is right for you. Last Revised: July Unless otherwise specified, NIMH information and publications are in the public domain and available for use free of charge. Citation of the NIMH is appreciated. Statistics NIMH statistics pages include statistics on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental illness for the population of the United States. Help for Mental Illnesses If you or someone you know has a mental illness, there are ways to get help.
Clinical Trials If you or a friend or family member are thinking about taking part in clinical research, this page contains basic information about clinical trials. Stakeholder Engagement Find out how NIMH engages a range of stakeholder organizations as part of its efforts to ensure the greatest public health impact of the research we support. Education and Awareness Use these free mental health education and outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about topics like eating disorders, autism awareness, and suicide prevention.
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Innovation Speaker Series NIMH hosts an annual lecture series dedicated to innovation, invention, and scientific discovery. Gordon, M. Advisory Boards and Groups Read about the boards and groups that advise and provide guidance to the Institute. Learn all about separation anxiety by clicking here. The causes of anxiety disorders are complicated. Many might occur at once, some may lead to others, and some might not lead to an anxiety disorder unless another is present.
To learn more about the causes and diagnosis of anxiety disorders, click here. Alcohol dependence, depression , or other conditions can sometimes have such a strong effect on mental well-being that treating an anxiety disorder must wait until any underlying conditions are brought under control.
In some cases, a person can treat an anxiety disorder at home without clinical supervision. However, this may not be effective for severe or long-term anxiety disorders. There are several exercises and actions to help a person cope with milder, more focused, or shorter-term anxiety disorders, including:. A standard way of treating anxiety is psychological counseling.
This can include cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT , psychotherapy, or a combination of therapies. This type of psychotherapy aims to recognize and change harmful thought patterns that form the foundation of anxious and troublesome feelings.
In the process, practitioners of CBT hope to limit distorted thinking and change the way people react to objects or situations that trigger anxiety. For example, a psychotherapist providing CBT for panic disorder will try to reinforce the fact that panic attacks are not really heart attacks.
Exposure to fears and triggers can be a part of CBT. This encourages people to confront their fears and helps reduce sensitivity to their usual triggers of anxiety. Medicines that might control some of the physical and mental symptoms include antidepressants , benzodiazepines, tricyclics, and beta-blockers. 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.
These drugs might cause side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth , and weight gain. Imipramine and clomipramine are two examples of tricyclics. There are ways to reduce the risk of anxiety disorders.
Remember that anxious feelings are a natural factor of daily life, and experiencing them does not always indicate the presence of a mental health disorder. Anxiety itself is not a medical condition but a natural emotion that is vital for survival when an individual finds themselves facing danger. An anxiety disorder develops when this reaction becomes exaggerated or out-of-proportion to the trigger that causes it.
There are several types of anxiety disorder, including panic disorder, phobias, and social anxiety. Treatment involves a combination of different types of therapy, medication, and counseling, alongside self-help measures. Read the article in Spanish. Anxiety and related mental health conditions can cause ear ringing or tinnitus, and tinnitus can exacerbate existing anxiety. Learn more about the…. Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder that causes an inability to speak in certain situations.
Learn more about the causes and treatment. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview It's normal to feel nervous in some social situations. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Social anxiety disorder social phobia.
American Psychiatric Association; Accessed May 21, Gabbard GO, ed. Social anxiety disorder social phobia. In: Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders. Schneier FR. Social anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis. Accessed April 8, Stein MB, et al. Approach to treating social anxiety disorder in adults. Hofmann SG. Psychotherapy for social anxiety disorder in adults. Stein MB.
Pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder in adults. Bystritsky A. Complementary and alternative treatments for anxiety symptoms and disorders: Herbs and medications.
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