Finding The Root Cause
As already covered, its vital to determine the root cause of your fear of flying. Professional help may be needed, but until that root cause is addressed, most medications and supplements will be only a temporary fix at best.
Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss these options. In the meantime, check out other solutions to aviophobia including, exposure therapy, hypnosis, and even virtual reality.
Medication For Anxiety And Depression
There are many medications for anxiety and depression that are available for patients experiencing both disorders.
Danielle Plummer, Pharm.D., says that antidepressants can treat panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and phobias. Dr. Shelton adds that the medications are also somewhat effective for OCD, and less so for PTSD, which are technically not anxiety disorders.
Dr. Plummer says that the treatment depends on which anxiety disorder a patient has. For generalized anxiety disorder , both SSRIs and SNRIs are first in line, she says. She added that the most commonly prescribed medications to treat both depression and anxiety are SSRIs and SNRIs.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a class of medications that have a broad therapeutic range. They can be used to treat some anxiety disorders, depression, or, in some cases, both at the same time. SSRIsblock the reuptake, or reabsorption, of serotonin. As a result, SSRIs increase serotonin in the brain.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are a class of medication that are similar to SSRIs because they too inhibit reuptake and increase the level of serotonin. Unlike SSRIs, they also increase norepinephrine, which is considered a component of our brains stress response.
Focus On Something Less Anxiety
At times, it may be most helpful to simply redirect yourself to focus on something other than your anxiety. You may want to reach out to others, do some work around your home, or engage in an enjoyable activity or hobby. Here are a few ideas of things you can do to thwart off anxiety:
- Do some chores or organizing around the house.
- Engage in a creative activity, such as drawing, painting, or writing.
- Go for a walk or engage in some other form of physical exercise.
- Listen to music.
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Coping Support And Resources
In addition to your prescribed treatment, you may want to join a support group. It can be very helpful to talk with other people who are experiencing symptoms similar to yours. Its good to know that you are not alone. Someone else with similar symptoms can understand what youre going through and offer support and encouragement. Being part of a group can also help you develop new social skills.
Your community will likely have several support groups, either for your specific disorder or for anxiety in general. Check with your medical professionals to learn what resources are available in your area. You might ask your:
- mental health provider
- primary doctor
- county mental health services agency
You can also participate in support groups online. This may be a good way to start if you have social anxiety disorder or feel uncomfortable in a face-to-face group setting.
Treatment of diagnosed anxiety is often multi-disciplinary. This means you may see one or all of the following medical practitioners:
- primary care physician
How To Sleep Better If You Have Anxiety
Getting enough shut-eye every night is vital for both our physical and mental health. When we sleep, our bodies perform a variety of functions, from repairing damaged cells to strengthening our immune systems.17
Sleep is also crucial for our brain as its when it processes all the information weve soaked up during the day and consolidates it into long term memories.18
If you dont get enough sleep every night, youll likely feel lethargic the following day, much more irritable and probably have poorer concentration levels. These can all have a big impact on your everyday life and may make any anxiety youre experiencing seem much worse.
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Give Yourself An Exit Strategy
Sometimes, anxiety is due to feeling out of control. You cant always be in the driver seat of your life, but you can take steps to identify your triggers and cope with circumstances that cause anxiety.
Does the thought of going into a social situation or meeting new people make you want to jump off a bridge? As everyone at a party engages in exciting conversations, maybe you see yourself holding up the wall and counting down the seconds until youre put out of your misery. You drove with friends and cant leave, so you spend the entire night looking like the punchbowl attendant. Its this fear that makes you decline invitations and sleep through the weekends.
But what if you had an exit strategy in place before leaving the house? For example, instead of carpooling with your party animal friends, you could drive yourself. This way, you can leave if your anxiety starts to build and you cant handle another minute of awkward interactions. The more in control you feel, the less anxiety youll have.
What Should I Know About Alprazolam Ir Oral Tablet Vs Xanax And Other Alternatives
Xanax is a brand-name drug that contains alprazolam as its active ingredient. Xanax also comes as a tablet that you swallow.
Since Xanax is the brand-name version of alprazolam, not many differences exist between them. The major difference is that Xanax comes only as oral tablets, but alprazolam comes in a few forms: oral tablets, oral disintegrating tablets, and an oral solution.
If you have questions about Xanax and alprazolam, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Read on to learn about other alternatives of alprazolam.
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Next Steps For Anxiety
Its simply not a quick fix. Its something that you need to work on regularly and learn the skills necessary for reducing the way your stress affects you and preventing your anxiety from becoming unmanageable. It involves long term solutions, but in the end, these solutions can be very effective and reduce any chance of your anxiety coming back.
SUMMARY:
There are no over the counter medications for anxiety since any medication that affects the brain needs to be carefully monitored, and because the medication is not the only treatment a person should take. Luckily, there are many natural treatments and exercises that can help with anxiety in its place.
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Alprazolam Ir Oral Tablet Basics
Alprazolam is classified as a benzodiazepine.
Alprazolam IR oral tablets are taken by mouth. IR stands for immediate release, which means the dose is released all at once into your body.
Note: Alprazolam also comes in other forms: oral solution , extended-release oral tablets, and oral disintegrating tablets . Only alprazolam IR oral tablets are described in this article.
Different forms of alprazolam are available in different strengths. For example, alprazolam XR oral tablets come in a dose of 3 milligrams. Alprazolam IR oral tablets arent available in this dose.
If youd like to learn about alprazolams other forms, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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Interactions That Can Increase Your Risk Of Side Effects
Taking paroxetine with certain drugs raises your risk of side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as, ibuprofen and naproxen as well as aspirin and warfarin. Taking these drugs with paroxetine can increase your risk of bleeding or bruising.
- Triptans such as sumatriptan
- Lithium
- Serotonergic drugs, such as fentanyl, tramadol, and St. Johns wort. Taking these drugs with paroxetine can increase your risk of serotonin syndrome.
- Amphetamines, such as lisdexamfetamine and methamphetamine. Taking these drugs with paroxetine can increase your risk of serotonin syndrome.
- Theophylline. Taking this drug with paroxetine can increase your risk of restlessness, trouble sleeping, and irritability.
- Risperidone. Taking this drug with paroxetine can increase your risk of sleeping difficulty, anxiety, restlessness, and constipation.
- Cimetidine
- Antiarrhythmics, such as flecainide, and propafenone
- Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, and fluphenazine
- Tricyclic antidepressants , such as amitriptyline, imipramine and desipramine
- Quinidine. Taking this drug with paroxetine can increase your risk of tiredness, decreased appetite, sweating, dry mouth, and decreased sexual desire.
How Do I Know If I Have Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The first step is to rule out the possibility that your symptoms are being caused by a medical condition that is not psychiatric. Among the conditions that produce symptoms similar to those of anxiety are hyperthyroidism or other endocrine problems, too much or too little calcium, low blood sugar, and certain heart problems. Certain medicines also can sometimes cause anxiety. A thorough evaluation by your health care provider will determine if any of these conditions are the cause of your symptoms.
If no other medical culprit can be found and the symptoms seem out of proportion to any situation you are facing, you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
In most cases, the first medication you’ll be offered will be a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor .
This type of medication works by increasing the level of a chemical called serotonin in your brain.
Examples of SSRIs you may be prescribed include:
- difficulty achieving orgasm during sex or masturbation
- in men, difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection
These side effects should improve over time, although some such as sexual problems can persist.
If your medication isn’t helping after about 2 months of treatment or it’s causing unpleasant side effects, your GP may prescribe an alternative SSRI.
When you and your GP decide it’s appropriate for you to stop taking your medication, you’ll normally have your dose slowly reduced over the course of a few weeks to reduce the risk of withdrawal effects.
Never stop taking your medication unless your GP specifically advises you to.
Pathological Anxiety Vs Anxiety
Anxiety is an expected part of life, and most people experience its symptoms at some point. Typical feelings of anxiety help an individual to identify and respond to danger. However, if these feelings become disproportionate to the situation, doctors may consider this pathological anxiety.
Anxiety and pathological anxiety may present with the same symptoms. However, the two differ because pathological anxiety is more intense, lasts longer, or occurs more frequently. It can also interfere with a persons general functioning if it becomes chronic.
So, while anxiety as an emotion can be useful and generally does not affect a persons day-to-day lifestyle, pathological anxiety prevents people from
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Can I Have Depression And Anxiety At The Same Time
Depression and anxiety are two different mental health disorders that are often comorbid. Meaning, they occur at the same time.
Depression is a mental disorder that is commonly identified with intense feelings of hopelessness, despair, worthlessness, and overwhelming sadness. Around 10% of Americans experience major depression , according to theCleveland Clinic. While most people will experience feelings of sadness at some point, with depression, these feelings are prolongedlasting two weeks or moreand severe enough to impact daily life.
Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive worry, nervousness, or fear that impacts everyday functioning. Without treatment, anxiety can get worse over time. There are a number of anxiety disorders, with their own set of unique symptoms.
About 2% of people in the U.S. have generalized anxiety disorder . According to Richard Shelton, MD, a psychiatrist and the vice chair of research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, GAD symptoms include persistent fear and worry that is often difficult to control. Other anxiety disorders include:
- Panic disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
Depression and anxiety have the following symptoms in common: feelings of despair like nothing good will ever happen, physical symptoms , and exhaustion.
Treatment Options For Patients With Anxiety
There are two primary treatments for individuals with anxiety:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy , which involves learning how to lower anxiety and face distressing situations.
- Medication management with antidepressants, which works well on its own but even better when coupled with CBT.
During therapy, continue to show your support by:
- Asking your loved one what you can do to help them.
- Asking if you can attend a therapy session to learn some skills to better support them.
- Making time for your own life and interests to sustain your energy.
- Encouraging your loved one to try another therapist if the first one isnt a good fit.
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Dosage For Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Adult dosage
You should take this drug in one dose per day. You should be on the lowest dose that works for you.
- Immediate-release oral tablets :
- The typical starting dose is 20 mg per day.
- If a 20-mg dose is not enough, your doctor will start increasing your dose each week by 10 mg per day.
- The recommended dose to treat generalized anxiety disorder is 2050 mg per day.
Child dosage
It hasnt been confirmed that this drug is safe and effective for use in people younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage
- Immediate-release oral tablets :
- The recommended starting dose is 10 mg once per day.
- The maximum dose is 40 mg per day.
Special dosage considerations
- Immediate-release oral tablets :
- The recommended starting dose is 10 mg per day.
- The maximum dose is 40 mg per day.
For severe liver disease
- Immediate-release oral tablets :
- The recommended starting dose is 10 mg per day.
- The maximum dose is 40 mg per day.
Encouraging Men To Seek Treatment
From a proactive standpoint, men can look to foster emotional resilience by working to communicate and express emotions healthily, manage their stress levels, and improve their self-esteem, said Chambers.
Developing healthy relationships gives more space to express, and focusing on the fundamentals of eating well, sleeping optimally, and moving their bodies can provide the emotional balance to increase self-care and compassion, he continued.
Dr. Danielle Cooper, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, told MNT that working to remove the stigma around mental health could help more men seek treatment.
Given some existing stigma surrounding mental health, some people may be holding on to unhelpful beliefs that asking for help or having anxiety is weak or believe psychotherapy wont be helpful, she noted.
People may benefit from learning that anxiety itself is adaptive and can be helpful, such as to enhance performance or motivate behavior. When anxiety becomes less helpful and more interfering, seeking treatment is important. Anxiety disorders are often maintained, in part, by avoidance. It takes a lot of strength and courage to face fears, not weakness.
Dr. Danielle Cooper
Seeing opening up as a brave step into the strength of being vulnerable is at the heart of projects across the globe, and there is more strength in sharing than we often realize, he concluded.
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