Are All Antidepressant Medications Addictive
Posted on July 22, 2009
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I know that some very legal prescribed drugs are just as addictive as some illegal drugs. It seems self-defeating to me to take a medication that only creates a whole new problem – addiction. But the good news is there are antidepressants that aren’t addictive. These drugs are called SSRI antidepressant medications. When my doctor suggested trying a medication for my anxiety I would only agree to one that isn’t addictive.
Of course, like any drug, there are side effects but they didn’t last long in my case. Everyone is different and you can’t go strictly off my experience, but the SSRI medication caused drowsiness and headaches for approximately 2 or 3 weeks. After that I never had any more problems. The doctor did say the SSRI drug can cause sexual dysfunction too, but I never had that side effect. Unless you’re independently wealthy, you will also find the drug to be expensive unless you have medical insurance. Without my insurance, I would have to pay over $200 every month for this one prescription.
In Anticipation of Anxiety
Posted on July 15, 2009
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I have anxiety issues and one of them is my propensity to make things worse in my mind then they really will are or will be. I sometimes have to monitor group work sessions at my place of employment, and inevitably I start imagining the worst. What if I’m not prepared enough? What if they ask me something I should be able to answer? What if I look foolish trying to handle the material? What will they think of me as a professional? My mind starts racing, full of these anxious thoughts, and by meeting time I’m a mental mess.
I decided I needed to put a stop to this anticipation anxiety. Treatments for anxiety are mostly about taking control of your thoughts, so I knew I had the power of control. What I started doing was focusing my mind on something else once I was prepared for the meeting. For example, I would work on another project I was interested in doing or was doing well. This served to bolster my mental confidence and provided a much needed distraction. With practice, I learned how to make myself quit thinking the worst.
You Believe Yoga Can Help My Anxiety?
Posted on July 8, 2009
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Yoga has become a popular exercise program once again. It’s been around for centuries, but true yoga is much more than just a few exercises. It’s a philosophy that blends physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of our lives. The purpose is to help you find peace in your life through meditation and respect for your physical body. Two of the treatments for anxiety include exercise and cognitive therapy and that means yoga is a perfect fit.
In order to stop anxious thoughts, you have to be able to control your thoughts by clearing your mind. Yoga is a fitness and relaxation treatment rolled into one. You keep your body fit through regular exercise and you teach your mind to embrace peaceful thoughts that stop anxiety in its tracks. Yoga is for men, women and children and can even be learned at home through self-help materials such as books and videos. If you’ve been looking for a way to begin a home therapy for anxiety, I highly recommend trying yoga. It’s very philosophy and discipline makes a perfect treatment.
Too Much To Do
Posted on July 1, 2009
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I have a generalized anxiety disorder, and much to my surprise, discovered one of the symptoms is my constant efforts to fit too much into my life. I think I can do it all and do it better than anyone else if it’s my project. I have trouble delegating and letting go when others are perfectly capable. The interesting thing about all of this is my body tries to tell me when I’ve taken on too much. I get an upset stomach and can’t eat. I get such a feeling of anxiousness I can’t think straight. I get headaches too.
Anxiety will make itself known even if you don’t have panic attacks. When I constantly fill my days with nonstop activity and unreasonable deadlines, I raise the stress in my life to an unworkable point. But since I think I can do everything myself, I ignore the physical symptoms and just get more determined to try harder. That creates more stress and so the cycle goes. If you never take time for yourself and are always pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion, don’t be surprised when you feel anxiety. I know, because I’m dealing with it right now.
I “Think” Myself Into An Anxiety Attack
Posted on June 17, 2009
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It seems odd, but you can actually think yourself into an anxiety attack. But if this is true, then you should be able to think yourself out of one. Your thoughts are what control your reactions to situations. You can choose to deal with a situation in a calm and rational manner, or you can let anxiety take hold. Everyone has qualities that make them very special, but anxiety can mask those capabilities. When you’re overcome with fear about something, it leads to inaction.
By learning to change your anxiety plagued thoughts to relaxing thoughts, the panic attacks and physical reactions can actually be controlled. The feeling will be one of release. Anxiety can make you feel as if you’re suffocating and losing control. By having positive thoughts you can control your reactions and begin to live the life you’re entitled to live. You can even learn to do this on your own by mastering the power of positive self-talk.
Don’t Forget To Exercise
Posted on June 10, 2009
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When looking for a great way to relieve stress and reduce anxiety consider starting a regular exercise program. Exercise benefits the muscles and bones, but it’s also just as beneficial for the mind and spirit. It makes a great distraction too when you’re feeling ongoing anxiety. Panic attacks are actually a fight-or-flight response that causes uncomfortable and frightening physical responses to mental anguish. It only makes sense to respond to physical issues with physical activities.
Anxiety is a creator of tension in the body and mind. When you exercise, endorphins are released which are natural mood enhancers. You also improve your blood blow to the brain, relieve muscular and skeletal tensions and improve your digestive system. But doing regular exercise will also help you sleep, make you feel better about yourself and improve your memory. In other words, it’s a great outlet for you anxiety. I exercise regularly to keep my anxiety levels low and have even developed some exercises I can do quickly and quietly at work when the stress becomes too great.
Should I or Shouldn’t I Use Anxiety Medications
Posted on May 27, 2009
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Sometimes we have to take medication in order to get whole again. Though prescribing antidepressant medicine is a last resort treatment, it can be absolutely necessary in certain situations. For example, I had a friend who has had panic attacks for over 2 years. She has tried every treatment possible to decrease the attacks, but so far they continue. The problem was they were making it hard for her to live her life. She got to the point where she couldn’t drive, hold a job or even socialize with her friends. In her case, medication was a godsend.
With severe anxiety, the fear is always it will lead to depression. The longer anxiety is allowed to persist, the more your system gets used to functioning in that anxious state. So medication can play an important part in the treatment of anxiety. Even if you don’t particularly like to take medication, odds are you won’t take it for too long. In other words, don’t add taking antidepressant medication to your list of worries!
The Real Issue
Posted on May 13, 2009
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Anxiety is one of those emotions that is really covering up another problem in your life. People who have anxiety often have a lot of scary thoughts that make no sense to them. For example, they may have enormous fears they don’t reveal to anyone else. I knew a man who feared swimming pools. He couldn’t hide his fear because our neighborhood had frequent pool parties. He was so afraid of the pool he’d stay inside the house. Finally, he went to a therapist and it turned out his real anxiety was due to suppressed suffocating feelings related to his family life. It seems odd at first glance, but anxiety often operates like a self-defense mechanism.
If you have an unreasonable fear of something you might want to consider that fear is covering up another problem. The fear works to distract your mind. It’s like displaced anxiety. Most of us can figure out what the real problems are in our lives if we open up our minds to the truth. But you have to make a commitment to deal with the honest truth.
The Earlier the Better
Posted on May 6, 2009
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One of the interesting things about phobias and anxiety is they don’t go away on their own. Anxiety is not a sickness that heals itself. For a long time I thought if I just ignored my fear of expressway driving, it would eventually get better. But what happened is I started planning my driving so I didn’t have to get on the expressway. Then one day there was no way to avoid it, and I had a dangerous panic attack while driving.
My advice is that if you suspect you have anxiety, you should either try one of the self help tapes and books or even see a doctor. There are all kinds of way to deal with situational anxiety which is what my driving phobia really is labeled. I started working with a program that taught me how to gradually deal with my anxiety. I’m now at the point where I still feel anxiety, but at least I can drive on the expressway. What I have learned so far is how to prevent the attack from becoming full blown.
St. John’s who…..?
Posted on April 29, 2009
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I have a very mild anxiety condition that doesn’t cause me major problems. But it does make me uncomfortable at times, and I get tired of worrying about everything. I just can’t seem to stop. I started relaxation therapy and am working on my breathing techniques. The theory is I can use relaxation as a way to find some peace of mind. I’m also a firm believer in natural healing treatments, so I began taking St. John’s wort. This is a natural supplement that was used as far back as ancient Greece for several medicinal purposes.
St. John’s wort is sold in health food and grocery stores. Some research has shown it to be an effective antidepressant in cases like mine. It works like a prescription medication does – by increasing the brain chemicals that affect mood. I have found it to be very helpful. If you’re looking for a natural supplement you can try to relieve anxiety, I would suggest you begin with St. John’s wort.
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