About Anti Anxiety

Anti Anxiety

If your anxiety is recurring and your symptoms are worsening, then you may have an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders are treatable with anti-anxiety medications, behavioural therapy, and healthy lifestyle changes.

Anti-anxiety treatment

The treatment starts with proper medication. Anti-anxiety medicines are designed to relieve symptoms of an anxiety disorder, including excessive worry, fear, overthinking, seizures, and panic attacks. A practising doctor or a licensed psychiatrist must prescribe these pills.

There are several types of anti-anxiety medicines available, and each type may be useful to treat one or more kinds of anxiety disorders. Ask your doctor what anti-anxiety medication is most suitable for your symptoms.

It should be kept in mind that the purpose of anti-anxiety medications is not to cure anxiety disorders but to help you deal with some of the symptoms better.

Types of anti-anxiety medications

There are several types of anti-anxiety medications used to treat one or more kinds of anxiety disorders. They are as follows:

• Benzodiazepines:Xanax (alprazolam), Valium (diazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) are a few examples.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and Lexapro (escitalopram).
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): Cymbalta (duloxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine), and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine).
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): Nardil (phenelzine), Emsam (selegiline), and Parnate (tranylcypromine).
• Tricyclic antidepressants: Elavil (amitriptyline), Anafranil (clomipramine), and Pamelor (nortriptyline).
• Beta-blockers: Sectral (acebutolol), Inderal LA (propranolol), and Tenormin (atenolol).
• Alpha-blockers (alpha-adrenergic antagonists)
• BuSpar (buspirone)
• Antihistamines
• Antipsychotic drugs

How do anti-anxiety medications work?

Benzodiazepines increase the levels of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter in the brain, which helps to calm the mind, thus, alleviating anxiety.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) help by increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for the communication between neurons of the brain. Better communication between the brain cells helps relieve stress and anxiety.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) increase the levels of neurotransmitters that are mood regulators. This alleviates your anxiety and makes you feel better. MAOIs are usually used to treat panic disorders and social anxiety disorders.

Tricyclic antidepressants stop the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This helps reduce stress and improve your anxiety symptoms.  

Beta-blockers block or restrict the receptors that receive signals. Less active receptors mean less brain activity, which helps reduce anxiety and overthinking.

BuSpar (buspirone) works similarly to SNRIs and SSRIs. It increases serotonin levels, which are responsible for your mood. Buspirone may be used for the long-term treatment of chronic anxiety, as well as for generalised anxiety disorder.

Benefits of using anti-anxiety medications

Medical experts widely use anti-anxiety medicines to treat a variety of anxiety and panic disorders. The benefits of these medications are as follows:

• Anti-anxiety medicines are highly effective in treating short-term anxiety disorders.
• They inhibit the release of neurotransmitters that increase stress and anxiety levels in the brain.
• Other anti-anxiety drugs, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), increase the production of neurotransmitters that boost your mood.
• Some anti-anxiety medications, like benzodiazepines, reduce brain activity to induce a relaxing and calming effect.
• Anti-anxiety medications are also helpful in treating seizures and panic disorders. They help by reducing brain and muscle activity for a short time.

Side effects of using anti-anxiety medications

Like all prescription drugs, anti-anxiety medications may cause some side effects. Depending on the patient's physiology, these side effects can range from mild to severe. Common side effects of anti-anxiety medications are as follows:

• Nausea
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Lightheadedness
• Forgetfulness or memory issues
• Poor concentration
• Feeling tired  
• Speech problems
• Poor body balance and coordination
• Excessive sweating
• Cold hands and feet
• Sleeplessness
• Dry mouth
• High blood pressure
• Increased appetite
• Erectile dysfunction
• Irregular periods
• Difficulty during urination
• Drug addiction

Anti-anxiety medications are usually not safe for long-term use as they may have after-effects. Therefore, doctors generally prescribe anti-anxiety drugs for short-term usage, about 2 to 4 weeks on average.

Why should anti-anxiety drugs not be used for long periods?

The biggest drawback of the long-term use of anti-anxiety drugs is dependency. Long-term consumption may cause addiction in the patient, leading to substance abuse. Moreover, using these medications for long may also worsen your depression and suicidal thoughts. In some cases, people may develop drug tolerance over time which renders the medication to become unhelpful.  

Other practical methods to help treat anxiety

Although anti-anxiety medications are vital to treating anxiety disorders, natural food sources and a healthy lifestyle can help you with the anti-anxiety treatment in the long run. Some beneficial anti-anxiety practices are as follows:

Dietary changes

People with anxiety disorder are advised to eat foods rich in magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B complex. Eating more vegetables and fruits help relieve symptoms of panic disorders. Furthermore, anxiety patients should avoid caffeine and nicotine as they trigger adrenaline and other stress hormones.  

Anxiety supplements

You can also take magnesium and vitamin B supplements to improve your symptoms. Other prominent supplements that help reduce your anxiety include ashwagandha extract and L-Theanine. Both are available as pills. L-Theanine is an amino acid, while ashwagandha is a herb.

It is crucial to note that you should always consult your doctor before taking any anti-anxiety supplement as it may react with your medication and cause discomfort.  

Herbal teas

Calming teas like chamomile and valerian root are beneficial in lowering your stress levels, thus improving your anxiety symptoms. Chamomile tea and valerian root extract also help you to sleep better.

Hydration

Proper hydration is a key factor in your mental health. Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water daily keeps your hormone levels balanced. It also keeps your gut healthy. A healthy gut means a surplus amount of energy, which the brain needs to work properly.

Psychotherapy

In addition to medication, your doctor may also recommend a type of psychotherapy to help improve your anxiety symptoms. For instance, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) allows you to identify the root causes of your anxiety. It also teaches you specific coping mechanisms to deal with it in everyday life. Other than CBT, there are 3-3-3 rule therapy, 54321 therapy, exposure therapy, and general counselling.

Exercise

Any kind of physical activity is useful in reducing stress and anxiety. You can walk with your pet, dance, play a sport, join a yoga class, or do gardening; all are great ways to relieve your anxiety and improve sleep.

Adopting a hobby

Learning to do something you like keeps your mind off things. Start a hobby: painting, singing, cooking, cleaning, or being with nature are all therapeutic and calming methods to cope with your anxiety.

Buy the best Anti-Anxiety treatments

Anti-anxiety medications are very useful in treating many anxiety disorders, such as general and chronic anxiety disorders. Health professionals generally prescribe anti-anxiety pills for short-term use. However, long-term use of these pills can lead to many side effects, including memory loss and drug addiction.

Seek your doctor's advice on which anti-anxiety course works best for you. Follow the instructions carefully and let your health professional know of any changes you feel. Record your progress. Psychotherapy, regular exercise, and a healthy diet are beneficial in long-term anti-anxiety treatment.