Anxiety disorders can have negative emotional and behavioral consequences. They can become crippling at times, preventing you from completing the most basic tasks. Millions of people suffer from anxiety, and some will need medication to control it. Extreme cases may involve panic attacks which cause the sufferer to disassociate. They must remove themselves from any situation that may exacerbate their condition, even to the point of being afraid to leave the house until they feel confident enough to face the world.
Anti-anxiety medication can help control the symptoms, but you may risk swapping one problem for the other. Benzodiazepines (benzos) are the pharmaceutical method of managing anxiety. However, they can be addictive and create their own problems. If you have a benzo addiction coupled with anxiety issues, you may want to look into anxiety and benzodiazepine abuse treatment.
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Dangers of Common Anxiety Medications
Doctors prescribe benzos to treat severe anxiety, epileptic seizures, panic attacks, and withdrawal symptoms from central nervous system depressants, particularly alcohol. They do a lot of good, allowing people to function properly to live productive lives. They can prevent panic attacks and even stop them if the person is already experiencing one. Other anxiety medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which elevate your mood by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) increase both serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Tricyclic antidepressants help to treat mood and physical symptoms. The following are some of the prescribed anxiety medications:
- Valium
- Xanax
- Librium
- Rohypnol
- Ativan
- Klonopin
- Oxazepam Serax
- Clobazam
- Zoloft
- Venlafaxine
While taking these medications for a short time can be beneficial, over time, addiction can form.
Signs of Anxiety Medication Addiction
Each of the anxiety medications has its recognizable side effects. Because there are such a variety of benzos, there are many psychological, physical, and behavioral symptoms. They include the following:
- Mood swings
- Weakness
- Exercising poor judgment
- Blurry vision
- Taking part in risky behavior
- The inability to stop using even if they want to
- Abusing benzos with other substances
- Trying to acquire pills through friends or associates
Over time, benzodiazepines can wreak havoc on a person’s ability to function on a day-to-day basis. For instance, these medications can cause severe cognitive impairment. As a result, they may experience motor incoordination, drowsiness, and an inability to react in a timely manner, which can be deadly in some cases. This inability to react may lead to vehicular crashes, injuring the person using benzodiazepines and anyone else involved. It is therefore essential to find treatment for addiction to anxiety treatment medications.
Reach Out to Ethan Crossing Recovery Today
It is a challenge when the cure for one disorder causes as many complications as the disorder itself. However, the problem with medications is that they have so many side effects that the cure is often worse than the initial problem. Anxiety can be crippling and make even the most seemingly mundane tasks become daunting or overwhelming.
At Ethan Crossing Recovery near Springfield, Ohio, we believe that mental health is one of the most overlooked aspects of addiction treatment. In order to treat it properly, both counseling and medication-assisted therapy should be utilized. But there is the specter of becoming dependent on the medication if the recovery process is not managed appropriately. We offer individual, group, and family therapy with a particular emphasis on family engagement. For instance, our therapeutic options include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- 12-step therapy
- Music therapy
- Yoga therapy
Our dual diagnosis treatment program may be of interest to those suffering from anxiety and prescription drug addiction. Anyone can get help at any point. Ethan Crossing Recovery serves the Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Ohio area. Contact us today.
