Anxiety Disorders Treatment
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Virtual reality (VR) exposure can be used to treat a number of anxiety and stress-related disorders, including fear of flying, fear of storms, fear of heights, fear of bridges, fear of public speaking and posttraumatic stress disorder. Virtual reality exposure therapy has been found to be an effective, cost-efficient treatment method for these types of disorders.
During VR therapy, people wear a virtual reality helmet that positions two goggle-sized miniature computer monitor screens close to the patient's eyes. The scenery in VR changes as the users move their head orientation (e.g. virtual objects in front of the user get closer as the user leans forward in the real world). The combination of these techniques gives patients a uniquely compelling experience of "being there" in the virtual world and contributes greatly to therapeutic success.
This therapy has several advantages:
For those who are reluctant to engage in recollection of feared memories, VR provides a sensory-rich and evocative therapeutic environment, allowing them to experience a "sense of presence" in the virtual setting. VR technology allows for gradual exposure to increasingly feared situations that can be carefully monitored and tailored to the individual patient's needs. VR environments can be manipulated above and beyond the constraints of the everyday world, creating new possibilities for therapeutic action.
As a result, VR therapy can increase a person's feelings of self-efficacy and of being active agents of their own experience. Patients have often been found to be more willing to consider VR treatment than other forms of exposure therapy. The VR world does not include the same risks as returning to the actual feared environment, and patients can feel supported in knowing that the therapist viewing the virtual environment is sharing in their experience.
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A common treatment for anxiety disorders in older adults is reassuring the patient and addressing their fears.
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Uncertainly naturally makes us anxious and uncomfortable, but there are ways to tolerate it by being more self-aware. In this video, personal coach Valorie Burton discusses how recognizing our fears and answering the "what if" questions can help.
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There are many treatments for anxiety including meeting with an individual psychotherapist once a week to target your specific anxieties. Self-help or support groups may also provide effective treatment for anxiety, as you may benefit from interacting with others who may be sharing your same struggles. Medication management may also be an alternative to assist with treating your symptoms.
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For those with relatively mild anxiety -- where symptoms do not significantly interfere with work or personal relationships -- “talk therapy” is the initial method of treatment. “Talk therapy” means talking with a counselor, social worker, psychologist, or other mental health professional to help find new ways to deal with anxiety. Therapy can be done on an individual level, with a group, or with a spouse or other family members.
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One type of talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is especially effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This type of therapy is a combination of cognitive therapy, which helps patients develop healthier thought patterns, and behavior therapy, which helps patients respond in new ways to anxiety-producing situations. During CBT, a mental health professional helps identify the distorted thinking patterns that trigger anxiety, and then adapt his/her reaction to the anxiety-producing situation. CBT is a short-term treatment lasting approximately 12 weeks.
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Cardiovascular exercise is an excellent way to deal with anxiety. When we are anxious, our body generates the hormone adrenaline, the "fight or flight" natural response to stress. When we take a run, or get to the gym for some cardio, we are able to lower these adrenaline levels, leaving us feeliing calmer. As a bonus, endorphins are at the same time released into the bloodstream. They act on the brain to promote a feeling of wellness. The exercise must be as rigorous as is safe, given the fitness level of the trainee, and extend for at least twenty minutes without stopping.
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Cognitive therapy is based on the work of Aaron T. Beck, M.D., a world authority on mood disorders. The word cognitive refers to how you think about things at any particular moment. Dr. Beck's thesis is simple: When you are depressed or anxious, you may be thinking in an irrational, self-defeating manner that limits your choices and your sense of hope. When you make an effort to retrain yourself and think differently about situations, you can reduce your physical and emotional symptoms and reduce your level of distress. This process is called a "mental tune-up."
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