Two ways to treat anxiety

Chronic anxiety can have a severe impact not only on a person's mental and emotional well-being, but also on their physical health. It can, for example, lead to high blood pressure and elevated cortisol levels and also exacerbate the symptoms of digestive conditions such as IBS. Here are two treatment options for this health issue.

Medication

There are a number of prescription medications which can be used to treat this health problem. Benzodiazepines, for example, can be taken to help quickly lower a person's anxiety levels; these essentially act as sedatives. However, whilst they are very effective, they can also be addictive, and as such, most doctors do not recommend that people take them on a long-term basis.

Beta-blockers are another type of medication frequently prescribed to those suffering from anxiety. This type of prescription drug does help a person to relax but also drastically reduces the physical symptoms of anxiety (such as shaking and heart palpitations, for example).

This can make it easier for the anxiety-sufferer to manage their condition, as they do not have to face the frightening and uncomfortable physical symptoms associated with high anxiety levels. Beta blockers are not addictive and can be taken on a daily basis. However, they can have side effects when taken regularly for long periods of time.

Aromatherapy

For people who prefer to take a natural approach to managing their anxiety, aromatherapy can be very helpful. The scent of certain mixtures of essential oils can help to reduce some of the symptoms of anxiety and make a person feel more at ease.

When seeking out an essential oil blend for anxiety, consider blends that contain oils like lavender, bergamot, patchouli, sweet orange and frankincense, all of which are said to have a calming effect on those who smell them. Different distributors will have different blends, so you may need to try multiple.

There are several ways in which a person suffering from anxiety can use essential oil blends. They can add them to an oil burner, sprinkle a few drops into the tub before they take a bath or add a sprinkling of them onto their pillowcases.

They can also add them to a carrier oil (such as almond or avocado oil, for instance) and then apply them to their skin. However, it should be noted that most essential oils cannot be rubbed onto the skin undiluted, as their potency could potentially result in skin irritation.

You should talk with a doctor before deciding on any specific course of treatment for anxiety.


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