subject: Anxiety And Medications: What You Should Know! [print this page] In today's hectic times, more women find themselves dealing with feelings of anxiety and are not entirely certain how they should go about dealing with the problem. Unfortunately some women turn to unhealthy means of working through the issue, which then comes back to impact them in the long run.
If you decide to approach your doctor about the anxiety you are experiencing, there is a fairly good chance that he or she may recommend a prescription for anxiety meds. But is this a necessary move?
Many women are uncertain about using anxiety medications, so it's important to educate yourself about them before making this decision.
Here are some of the things you should know.
Understand the Function of Anxiety Medication
The most important thing to know about anxiety medications is that they are not going to work to actually cure your anxiety. Most will simply help to take away the symptoms of your anxiety so that you feel calmer and more relaxed throughout the day.
If you don't take the necessary steps to work on the issues that are causing the anxiety, you're going to find that you're not winning in the game of dealing with the problem.
Medications should never be used as an all-inclusive treatment plan for anxiety, as they aren't. You should only use anxiety medications with the additional things you are doing to help control the issue.
Think About Different Treatment Options
With all the advancements in medicine, there are a number of different types of treatments you can take for your anxiety. The overall function of most medications for anxiety will be to slow the nervous system down so you feel less agitated, restless, and anxious.
In some cases the medication will also contain muscle relaxants, so this is a good option for those who are experiencing such high anxiety that there is constant tension in their body leading to muscle aches and pains.
Many women may also experience a slight degree of depression with the anxiety, so when that's present the doctor may also prescribe medication, however be sure you don't combine these two medications yourself without the advice of a medical professional because there can be problems with interactions of certain drugs.
Be Aware Of Side Effects of Anxiety Medications
Finally, it's also important that you're fully aware of all the side effects that anxiety medications can bring. If you're only experiencing a very low level of anxiety, it may be worth your time to try natural approaches to control it versus turning to medication due to the side effects you can experience.
For some women the side effects won't be all that strong, but for others, it's a different story.
The most common side effects that are experienced include feeling drowsy, having a lack of energy, feeling as though your reflexes are hampered, and demonstrating slurred speech, experiencing feelings of depression, feeling dizzy or light-headed, or showing signs of memory loss or forgetfulness.
Some women may also find that they experience an upset stomach while on the medication or have strong feelings of nausea, so that's another side effect to be aware of.
If you notice these side effects to such a degree that they begin to hinder your ability to live a normal life then you should contact your doctor immediately to see if another variety of medication or a different dose should be used.
Keep these points in mind. Avoid going on anxiety medication at the first feeling of nervousness because in many cases, the anxiety will just pass on its own or there are steps you can take to control it naturally.
Only when you've been experiencing ongoing anxiety for a longer period of time or it's so severe that you are unable to life normally should you consider this an option to discuss with your doctor.
