The following treatment options can help a person manage nighttime anxiety:
Therapy
Therapy focuses on addressing the source of anxiety and helping a person develop effective coping skills.
The American Psychological Association reports that therapy is often more effective than medication. This may be because therapy helps a person identify the cause of the problem and address it in a constructive way.
Therapy often works best alongside medication, as medication can offer some immediate relief, allowing a person to focus on the therapy.
Several different therapies can be effective for anxiety, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy.
Medication to manage anxiety
Anxiety medications can change the body’s physical response to anxiety, helping a person feel less anxious.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants affect chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters, in the brain. They can help stabilize a person’s mood or alleviate stress.
Antidepressants can take some time to begin working. A person should give the medication a chance before deciding whether it is effective.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodizaepines are the most common type of anti-anxiety medication. These drugs tend to begin working almost immediately.
Benzodiazepines bind to the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). This helps slow down activity in the brain, thereby helping a person feel less anxious. However, these drugs come with risks that a person should discuss with their doctor first.
Beta blockers
Beta-blockers are medications that people ordinarily use to treat high blood pressure. However, doctors sometimes prescribe these drugs to help alleviate the physical symptoms of anxiety.
Sleep medications
Sleeping pills may help people fall asleep faster, thereby reducing nighttime restlessness. However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine states that sleeping pills only reduce the length of time it takes to fall asleep by 8 to 20 minutes.
Sleeping pills can also be addictive, so it’s safest to try other interventions first. People who do use sleeping pills should:
- take the pills only when needed
- take the pills for the shortest possible time
- avoid combining the pills with any other drugs, including alcohol