Things to take for anxiety

Drugs to Treat Anxiety Disorder

Most people feel anxious at some point in their lives, and the feeling often goes away by itself. An anxiety disorder is different. If you’ve been diagnosed with one, you may need help managing anxiety. Treatment typically consists of psychotherapy and medication.

While drugs do not cure anxiety, they can help you manage your symptoms, so you can function well and feel better in your day-to-day life.

Many types of medications are available. Because every person is different, you and your doctor may have to try several medications to find the right one for you.

Benzodiazepines are sedatives that can help relax your muscles and calm your mind. They work by increasing the effects of certain neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that relay messages between your brain cells.

Benzodiazepines help treat many kinds of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Examples of these drugs include:

alprazolam (Xanax)
chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
diazepam (Valium)
lorazepam (Ativan)

Benzodiazepines are typically used for short-term treatment of anxiety. This is because they can increase drowsiness and cause problems with balance and memory. They can also be habit-forming. There’s an increasing number of cases of substance use disorder involving benzodiazepine.

It’s important to only use these drugs until your doctor prescribes other treatment. However, if you have panic disorder, your doctor may prescribe benzodiazepines for up to 1 year.

Side effects

In addition to drowsiness and memory problems, taking benzodiazepines can also cause:

confusion
vision problems
headaches
feelings of depression

If you’ve taken a benzodiazepine regularly for more than 2 weeks, it’s important to not stop the pills suddenly, as this could cause unwanted withdrawal symptoms. Instead, talk with your doctor about slowly tapering off your dosage to reduce your risk of seizure.

Buspirone is used to treat both short-term anxiety and chronic (long-lasting) anxiety disorders. It’s not fully understood how buspirone works, but it’s thought to affect chemicals in the brain that regulate mood.

Buspirone can take up to several weeks to become fully effective. It’s available as a generic drug as well as the brand-name drug Buspar.

Side effects

Side effects can include dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Some people also report strange dreams or difficulty sleeping when they take buspirone.

Antidepressant medications work by affecting neurotransmitters. These drugs can be used to treat anxiety symptoms, but they usually take 4 to 6 weeks to produce noticeable effects.

Types of antidepressants include:

SSRIs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work by increasing levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sexual desire, appetite, sleep, and memory. SSRIs are typically started at a low dose that your doctor gradually increases.

Examples of SSRIs used to treat anxiety include:

escitalopram (Lexapro)
fluoxetine (Prozac)
paroxetine (Paxil)
sertraline (Zoloft)

Side effects

SSRIs can cause a variety of side effects, but most people tolerate them well. Side effects can include:

nausea
dry mouth
muscle weakness
diarrhea
dizziness
drowsiness
sexual dysfunction

If you have a concern about a particular side effect, talk with your doctor.

Tricyclics

Tricyclics work as well as SSRIs do for treating most anxiety disorders, except obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s thought that tricyclics work similarly to SSRIs. Like SSRIs, tricyclics are started at a low dose and then increased gradually.

Examples of tricyclics used for anxiety include:

clomipramine (Anafranil)
imipramine (Tofranil)

Tricyclics are older drugs that are used less often because newer drugs cause fewer side effects.

Side effects

Side effects of tricyclics can include:

dizziness
drowsiness
confusion
urinary retention
nausea and vomiting
constipation
blurred vision
weight gain

Side effects can often be controlled by changing the dose or switching to another tricyclic.

MAOIs

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are used to treat panic disorder and social phobia. They work by increasing the number of neurotransmitters that regulate mood.

MAOIs that are FDA approved to treat depression but used off-label for anxiety include:

isocarboxazid (Marplan)
phenelzine (Nardil)
selegiline (Emsam)
tranylcypromine (Parnate)

Side effects

Like tricyclics, MAOIs are older drugs that cause more side effects than newer drugs. Some side effects include:

dry mouth
nausea
diarrhea
constipation
drowsiness
insomnia
dizziness

Certain medications, including SSRIs, some birth control pills, pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, cold and allergy medications, and herbal supplements can react with MAOIs.

Using an MAOI with medications can dangerously increase your blood pressure and cause other potentially life threatening side effects.

Beta-blockers are most often used to treat heart conditions. They’re also used off-label to help relieve the physical symptoms of anxiety, especially in social anxiety disorder.

Your doctor may prescribe a beta-blocker such as propranolol (Inderal) to help reduce your anxiety symptoms in stressful situations, such as attending a party or giving a speech.

Side effects

Beta-blockers don’t usually cause side effects in everyone taking them.

Some potential side effects can include:

fatigue
dizziness
drowsiness
cold fingers or toes

Other side effects may include:

trouble sleeping
nausea
shortness of breath

There are a variety of at-home interventions that can help ease your anxiety symptoms. Several interventions can also be practiced in addition to taking medications.

Examples of these interventions include:

Exercise

Exercise can help reduce stress and enhance your overall sense of well-being, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

It helps produce neurotransmitters known as endorphins. These neurotransmitters are your body’s natural pain relievers and can also help improve your sleep quality.

The ADAA reports that even short exercise sessions (about 10 minutes at a time) are effective in helping lift your mood.

Meditate

Taking 15-minute intervals of quiet time and meditation to focus on deep breathing and relaxation can help calm your anxiety. You can listen to music or repeat a motivational mantra on a regular basis.

Try chamomile

Sipping chamomile tea or taking a chamomile supplement might help to ease anxiety symptoms.

A 2016 double-blind study published in the Phytomedicine journal focused on individuals with generalized anxiety disorder.

The study found that study participants who took 500-milligram chamomile supplements three times per day on a daily basis reported a reduction in moderate to severe generalized anxiety.

Drinking chamomile tea has also been shown to help reduce anxiety.

Smell aromatherapy oils

Smelling diluted aromatherapy oils may help reduce anxiety, according to an article published in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal.

Examples of essential oils used to provide anxiety relief include:

lavender
neroli
chamomile

Avoid caffeine

Sometimes caffeine may make you feel jittery and more anxious. Avoiding it can help some people reduce their anxiety.

Your doctor can help you find the best course of treatment for your anxiety. Proper treatment will likely include psychotherapy and medication.

Be sure to follow their instructions when taking anxiety medications and let them know about any side effects you have. Also, ask any questions you have about your condition or your treatment, such as:

What side effects could I have from this medication?
How long will it take to start working?
Does this medication interact with any other drugs I’m taking?
Can you refer me to a psychotherapist?
Could exercise help relieve my anxiety symptoms?

If you feel a medication isn’t giving you the desired results or is causing unwanted side effects, talk with your doctor before you stop taking it.

How to Treat Your Symptoms and When to See a Doctor

In this Article

Some anxiety is a normal part of life. You might feel a certain amount of unease or uncertainty when it comes to stressful situations such as taking a test, giving a presentation, or meeting new people. In many cases, a small amount of anxiety every so often can be a good thing. It helps to keep you aware of potential dangers and motivates you to be prepared.

For many people, however, anxiety occurs more frequently. They experience it almost every day. Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or phobias can interfere with normal daily activities, affecting their work, home, and personal lives. They differ from regular anxiety in that people feel an excessive amount of fear or anxiousness.

Dealing with anxiety can be stressful, but it is treatable. Many people with anxiety find relief with treatment. While some people benefit from taking medication, others find success with natural remedies.

Natural Remedies for Anxiety

Natural remedies for anxiety are those that don’t involve conventional medications (medicine you get from a doctor or health professional). They include things such as herbs, aromatherapy, and performing certain actions that promote relaxation. Some people with anxiety use natural remedies alongside conventional treatments to find relief.

Examples of natural remedies for anxiety include:

Exercise

Exercise isn’t just good for your physical health; it’s also beneficial for your mental health. While the connection isn’t well understood, studies do show that exercise can help to alleviate symptoms of anxiety.

Getting active helps to take your mind off of the issues bothering you. It also triggers your body to release endorphins, which are natural feel-good hormones.

Herbal Remedies

Several different herbs and herbal supplements may help alleviate anxiety symptoms, helping you to relax and feel calmer. Some of the more well-known varieties include:

Lavender
Lemon balm
Chamomile
Passionflower
Kava

Studies show that chamomile can help with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. While many of the studies on herbal supplements for anxiety are limited, the results are promising.

You can find many of these (and other) supplements in capsule (pill) form. Many people also drink herbal teas to help them relax.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils to improve health and overall well-being. Many scents can help to boost your mood, help you relax, and reduce anxiety.

There are a few ways you can use essential oils. You can use a diffuser, place a few drops on a lava bead bracelet, or mix your favorite scent in a carrier oil to place on your wrist or neck.

Scents to use for anxiety include:

Lavender
Ylang ylang
Grapefruit
Clary sage
Bergamont

CBD Oil

Hemp-derived CBD oil has risen in popularity in recent years. Unlike marijuana-derived CBD, CBD from hemp plants has little (less than 0.3%) to no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid that causes a high.

Several studies have shown that CBD can help with many ailments, such as pain, inflammation, insomnia, and anxiety. While research is still in the early stages, studies show that it may have a lot of potential as an alternative anxiety treatment.

You can find CBD products in many mainstream stores. There are many options, including:

CBD oil tinctures (liquid drops)
CBD gummies
CBD chocolate and candies
CBD topicals (creams or lotions)

Meditation

Meditation involves the practice of mindfulness. You focus on removing chaotic thoughts from your mind and replacing them with calm. Research indicates that meditation can help to relieve anxiety symptoms, helping you to feel more at ease.

Deep Breathing Exercises

Rapid, shallow breathing is a common symptom of anxiety. Breathing in this manner can increase your heart rate, make you feel dizzy, and may even increase the risk of a panic attack. Deep breathing involves taking deliberately deep and measured breaths to restore normal breathing patterns, which can help to reduce anxiety.

Weighted Blankets

Research shows that weighted blankets can be beneficial for alleviating symptoms of anxiety. The pressure helps to put your body into “rest mode,” reducing those symptoms and preparing your body to rest. These blankets come in many different sizes and weights, enabling you to find what works best for you.

Quit Cigarettes and Alcohol

Both alcohol and cigarettes may appear to calm your nerves at first. After taking a drink, however, your anxiety may worsen. A cycle can develop, leading to alcohol dependence.

Several studies also show that smoking can worsen symptoms of anxiety. Therefore, it’s a good idea to try to avoid drinking or smoking to reduce feelings of anxiety.

When to See a Doctor

While natural treatments can help with anxiety symptoms, some signs may indicate that you need to call your doctor:

Your anxiety is chronic (long-lasting), and it interferes with your ability to function daily
Your symptoms have persisted for six months or more
You’re experiencing physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, difficulty sleeping, stomach issues, or chronic fatigue
You’re avoiding people or places
You’re having thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety medications or refer you to a specialist. In some cases, the natural remedies described above may be used along with more conventional treatments to help you manage your symptoms.

SOURCES:

American Addiction Center: “The Connection between Anxiety and Alcohol.”

American Psychiatric Association: “What Are Anxiety Disorders?”

Brain and Behavior: “How cigarette smoking may increase the risk of anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders: a critical review of biological pathways. ”

Cleveland Clinic: “Stressed Out? Aromatherapy Can Help You Feel Calmer.”

Harvard Health Publishing: “Cannabidiol (CBD) – What we know and what we don’t.”

Mayo Clinic: “Depression and anxiety: Exercising eases symptoms.”

Mayo Clinic: “Herbal treatment for anxiety: Is it effective?”

Michigan Medicine: “Stress Management: Breathing Exercises for Relaxation.”

National Institute of Mental Health: “Anxiety Disorders.”

Neurotherapeutics: “Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Meditation for Anxiety and Depression?”

Journal of Clinical Trials: “Long-Term Chamomile Therapy of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Study Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.”

Penn Medicine: “More than Just a Fad: 4 Ways Weighted Blankets Can Actually Help You.”

What can be taken (drink) from anxiety, fear and anxiety? Krevel Moiselbach

Are you about to defend your diploma, submit an annual report at work or an upcoming tax audit? Stressful situations at work and in transport, on the street and in the store? Do they appear almost everywhere, as if chasing you? And then a quarrel with family members may arise, because with such a tense state, emotions must find a way out.

Frequent irascibility and violent reaction to any irritants is fraught with serious malfunctions in the body, ranging from jumps in blood pressure, blood sugar to chronic gastritis and even diabetes. All diseases are from nerves, remember?

What will save you from anxiety?

You need to learn to calmly accept everything that has happened or that you have no control over. For example, instead of worrying about preparing a report, it’s worth getting together and doing the task in the best possible way with a sober head. A tax audit will be able to identify violations in the activities of the company. If they cannot be corrected, it is worth trying to prevent this from happening in the future.

Surely there are people in your environment who smile and are cold-blooded in the most delicate situations. This is not to say that they are not at all worried about the circumstances. It is very important to be able not to lose self-control in case of anxiety and fear and to quickly find the best way out. Washing with ice water, rubbing your palms will help to pull yourself together. Increased blood circulation in the hands, a wet face from water will literally return your “cold head”. You can drink herbal tea from mint, lemon balm, chamomile. It is necessary to distract the brain from concentrating here and now on the problem, when it literally intercepts the air from hopelessness. Sometimes just drinking water is enough.

If stressful situations often lead to blurred vision, dizziness and dry throat, consider drug therapy. Anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed by a doctor, but there are simpler solutions. For more than 20 years, the state of anxiety, anxiety, stress has been successfully helping to eliminate Valocordin. The time-tested drug contains a small amount of phenobarbital, and therefore is safe and can be purchased without problems at the nearest pharmacy.

How do I take a sedative?

The use of drugs, and especially sedatives, must be justified. It is best, without self-medication, to consult a doctor. If the medicine is purchased independently, be sure to follow the instructions. For example, Valocordin from the German company Crevel Meiselbach is available in the form of drops. If convenient, space allows, it is better to dissolve 15-20 drops in water, where the concentration of the active substance is high. What to take for anxiety is up to you, but we recommend not to abuse drugs, but to teach yourself to be less susceptible to stress. We wish you strong nerves!

9 foods that reduce stress and anxiety

September 5Health

Try antidepressants, generously provided by nature.

You can listen to the article. If it's more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

1. Salmon

Photo: yelenayemchuk / Depositphotos

Salmon contains many nutrients that promote brain health. These are vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids.

Omega-3s, EPA and DHA help the body produce the hormones dopamine and serotonin, which have a calming and relaxing effect. And the absorption of vitamin D avoids neurocognitive dysfunction, promotes brain health, and also promotes calm.

In one experiment, researchers from the University of Bergen (Norway) found that people who ate Atlantic salmon meat three times a week for five months experienced less stress than those who preferred chicken, pork or beef. In addition, their heart rate and heart rate variability improved.

2. Chamomile

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Traditionally, chamomile tea is believed to help calm the nerves, and this is one case where folk wisdom is backed up by science. Chamomile is high in antioxidants, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and may reduce the risk of anxiety.

Studies show that chamomile can help relieve anxiety, even for people diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. And one experiment showed that subjects who consumed chamomile extract for eight weeks experienced a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety.

3. Chocolate

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The fact that chocolate reduces stress and in general is one concentrated “happiness hormone” is known to everyone. It increases the level of serotonin, which reduces stress and anxiety. In addition, dark chocolate contains flavanols, which improve brain function, help it adapt to stressful situations and relieve anxiety.

It is traditionally believed that bitter tiles are the most useful. But studies show that the milk version is more effective in reducing anxiety. So, if you do not like bitterness, there is no point in forcing yourself to eat the “right” chocolate. However, remember that this is a very high-calorie product and it is better not to abuse it.

4. Brazil nuts

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Brazil nuts, the fruit of a tree called Bertoletia, contain a lot of vitamin E, low levels of which lead to depression.

They also have a high selenium content. This substance has antioxidant properties and has a good effect on mood. However, too much selenium should not be consumed. The recommended daily allowance for adults is 400 micrograms. So don't eat more than three or four Brazil nuts a day.

5. Turmeric

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Turmeric is a spice that contains a compound called curcumin. It is very beneficial for promoting brain health and preventing anxiety disorders. Curcumin also has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are also good for brain cells.

In addition, the use of oriental spice reduces the body's production of inflammatory markers such as cytokines, which are responsible for increased anxiety.

6. Bananas

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Bananas contain large amounts of tryptophan, an amino acid involved in the production of serotonin in the body. This means that they contribute to relaxation and anxiety relief. In addition, bananas are full of magnesium and potassium, the lack of which leads to stress.

7.

Eggs Photo: nblxer / Depositphotos

Eggs are an excellent source of vitamin D, the deficiency of which leads to depression and anxiety. The use of this product improves well-being and mood. In addition, eggs contain tryptophan, which, as already mentioned, is involved in the production of serotonin.

8. Yogurt

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Probiotics and other beneficial bacteria found in yogurt have a beneficial effect on mental health. Studies show that products with these components suppress free radicals and neurotoxins, helping to protect the nervous tissue of the brain.

Anxiety sufferers who consume daily probiotic yogurt have been experimentally shown to cope with stress more easily than those who consume the non-probiotic variant. A product with beneficial bacteria improves the functioning of the areas of the brain that control emotions and sensations.

Keep in mind that not all types of yogurt are equally effective in reducing stress.

Learn more