Symptoms of anxiety are common feelings. Everyone will experience them at some point in their life. Anxiety is an internal warning system that danger is nearby and prepares us to get out of the situation.
Severe anxiety disorder is different. It can be overwhelming and unmanageable. The symptoms are intense and do not go away without help.
Modern Recovery Services offers guidance and accountability support to help with the treatment of anxiety. Therapy to help understand and manage your symptoms is an important part of treatment. Prescription medication will help calm your symptoms so that you and your therapist can focus on the reasons for your anxiety.
Anxiety Symptoms and Related Medications
Restlessness and Agitation
If you find yourself unable to relax, unable to stay still for more than a moment, or becoming very agitated for no understandable reason you may want to consult a doctor. Mixed with other symptoms, a deeper lying anxiety order could be the cause.
For acute agitation, a newer medication, Igalmi, is on the market. Igalmi is a dissolving film that helps to block Alpha 2 receptors in the brain. This helps lower blood pressure and allows you to relax.
Once in a more relaxed state, you can reach out to your Modern Recovery Services professional via our mobile app and discuss what may have triggered the feelings of agitation. Our goal is to provide you with the immediate support you need to maintain a routine of management for your symptoms.
Phobias
Phobias are not the same as fear. Fear is temporary and can typically be pointed to a rational reason. Fears are a healthy response to dangers. Phobias are intense and irrational. There seems to be no reason for it.
Phobias can have a profound impact on your daily life. A phobia of small spaces, for example, can keep you from ever riding in a car. This can create a huge hurdle if you live in an area where you can not walk to the store or a job.
Your support professional at Modern Recovery Services is available for you 24/7. When you feel yourself in the grips of a phobia, we connect you to a support group of like-minded individuals who can help offer effective ways of working through your phobia.
Celexa is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by helping restore the balance of serotonin in the brain. This may help you have improved feelings of well-being to help you push past your phobia.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a mental and emotional state beyond being simply physically tired. Fatigue can exist on the emotional, mental, and physical levels. This level of depleted energy is a signal of deeper struggles and a cause for concern.
Fatigue and anxiety are linked very closely. Fatigue typically shows up after long-term anxiety has already been present. You may not experience any other signs of anxiety till this point. Fatigue pops up when you are very close to your breaking point.
As fatigue sets in, your anxiety may in turn worsen. It is a vicious cycle. Anxiety gives way to fatigue which in turn breeds more anxiety as you are unable to have the energy to complete daily tasks.
While Methylphenidate is known for treating ADHD, it does have off-label use to treat fatigue. Studies have shown taking Methylphenidate can lower scores on the Piper Fatigue Scale.
Medications that can help bring wakefulness to your brain and help you focus on completing tasks can help overcome the feelings of situational anxiety brought on by fatigue.
Insomnia
Everyone experiences times of being unable to sleep because of worry about circumstances in life. When these periods of being unable to sleep are prolonged and interfere with life, it is considered insomnia.
It is said that between 15% and 20% of adults will experience short-term insomnia. Short-term insomnia is explained as times of being unable to sleep that occurs less than three times a week and for less than three months.
Once your insomnia lasts longer than three months and occurs more than three times a week, it is then considered a chronic condition.
Most short-term insomnia is resolved once the situation in life has passed. During those times, mild sleep aids and other therapeutic techniques can assist in relaxing your mind and body for sleep.
When prolonged, chronic insomnia sets in and you can not pinpoint what is causing it, this could be a sign of unresolved anxiety. Licensed therapists at Modern Recovery Services can help you walk through your sleep issues with our Online Mental Health Services.
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland as the natural light begins to fade. This brings feelings of sleepiness and relaxation. Many over-the-counter variations of melatonin are available to help combat insomnia.
When more natural sleep aids just are not enough, your doctor may prescribe a medication such as Belsomr. Belsomra works by blocking orexin in the brain which plays a role in the wake-sleep cycle.
Panic Attacks
Perhaps one of the most recognized symptoms of an anxiety disorder is panic attacks. If you suffer from a panic attack, you know how scary and debilitating it can be. With no warning you can be facing a pounding heart, sweats, shaking, and/or nausea just to name a few signs.
Someone who is experiencing a panic attack for the first time may even have concerns about a heart attack. A trip to the emergency room is not unusual if you are not used to the symptoms.
Those who experience panic attacks regularly can find themselves changing their life to avoid them from happening. This fear of the next panic attack and avoidance of triggering circumstances can increase your anxiety causing the seemingly never-ending cycles of panic-anxiety-panic.
Talking to your therapist at Modern Recovery Services can be a valuable aid in understanding what is causing your panic attacks and help you face the triggers and to gain control back over your life rather than let those triggers defeat you.
Zoloft, another SSRI, increases the levels of serotonin available to the brain. The increased serotonin can help improve overall mood which can lower the chances of a panic attack.
Categories of Medication for the Treatment of Anxiety
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs work to block the reabsorption of serotonin. By doing this, more serotonin is available to be used to transmit messages between brain neurons. An overall feeling of well-being is increased with better communication of brain neurons.
Available prescription SSRIs
- Lexapro
- Zoloft
- Prozac
- Paxil
- Celexa
- Luvox
- Paxil CR
- Brisdelle
- Sarafem
- Luvox CR
- Prozac Weekly
- Pexeva
- Selfemra
- Rapiflux
Common Side Effects of SSRIs
- Agitation
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Dry Mouth
- Excessive Sweating
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Reduced Sex Drive
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Another class of medications for the treatment of anxiety, SNRIs work similarly to SSRIs by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine. Norepinephrine also helps transmit messages between neurons in the brain.
Available SNRIs
- Pristiq
- Khedezla
- Fetzima
- Cymbalta
- Effexor
- Effexor XR
- Savella
Common Side Effects of SNRIs
- Agitation
- Loss of Appetite
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Lowered Sex Drive
Benzodiazepine
While other medications help improve moods and overall feelings of good, benzodiazepines are depressants. By enhancing the chemical in the brain that sends calming messages to the body, benzodiazepines will counter overstimulation and reduce anxiety.
Available benzodiazepines
- Alprazolam
- Librium
- Dalmane
- Clonazepam
- Lorazepam
- Restoril
Common Side Effects of Benzodiazepines
- Drowsiness
- Light-headedness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Slurred Speech
- Muscle Weakness
- Memory Problems
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Dry Mouth
- Blurred Vision
Because of the variety of potential side effects of many of the top medicines used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, individuals may elect to find alternate treatments to manage less severe symptoms.
Non-prescription Treatments
While prescription medications help manage symptoms of anxiety, full-spectrum treatment involves understanding your anxiety to be able to minimize symptoms and the need for prescription medications.
Lifestyle changes and complementary therapies may be suggested by your doctor and/or Modern Recovery Care Management Group.
Stress Management
High levels of stress over an extended timeframe can lead to mental and physical ailments. The anxiety over getting work done on time, paying bills, raising kids, and making time for family and friends can lead to long-term stress and anxiety.
Stress management may include:
- Identifying the sources of stress in your life
- Learning to say “no”
- Avoid people and situations (as you are able) that cause stressful feelings
- Change your environment
- Drop items on your “to-do” list that are not necessary
- Express your feelings in a healthy way rather than bottling them up
- Adjust your standards
- Work at accepting what you can not change
- Get active – run, walk, dance
Meditation
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. It is a time to develop an internal focus and bring your scattered thoughts together.
Meditation can help with stress reduction, concentration, inner peace, and emotional well-being. It can help manage symptoms of anxiety along with other physical ailments.
- Find a quiet setting
- Sit in a comfortable position
- Start with an open attitude
- Set a time limit and focus your thoughts
Yoga
Yoga is a great way to combat stress through movement and mindfulness of your body and thoughts. Yoga involves focus and controlled motion to stretch and bring awareness to your body. Many people with anxiety find yoga to be a calming activity.
Yoga can help give tools to regulate stress response through recognizing thoughts, feelings, and actions that lead to increased anxiety.
Support for Anxiety Treatment
Modern Recovery Service’s goal is to provide support during life’s transitions. We are a proactive support system designed to help individuals through long-term and short-term transitions. Anxiety is part of any life change.
Whether you need support to learn to manage situational anxiety that pops up in your life or to pair your medical treatment with a full support system, Modern Recovery Services is here for you.
We will work with your medical team, insurance team, friends, and family to provide a full spectrum of support to help you through whatever is weighing you down.
Anxiety does not follow a set schedule nor does it take holidays off. The stress of holiday get-togethers and social obligations can many times increase the symptoms of anxiety. Our 24/7 services ensure that you will always have the support you need when you need it.
Contact us today to get started on the path of treating and managing your anxiety symptoms. Let our team of professionals build your Care Management Team today. Feeling better and maintaining a healthy and enjoyable daily routine is just a click or call away.
Sources:
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- Psycom. Anxiety and Phobia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment. February 2, 2022. Available at Psycom.net.
- PsychCentral. Celexa. March 16, 2016. Available at PhsychCentral.com.
- National Library of Medicine. Fatigue Symptoms in Relation to Neuroticism, Anxiety-depressions, and Musculoskeletal Pain. June 7, 2018. Available at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- PubMed. Effects of Methylphenidate on Fatigue and Depression: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial. January 2012. Available at PubMed.gov.
- Sleep Foundation. Insomnia. October 7, 2022. Available at SleepFoundation.org.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Six Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Stress. February 2, 2022. Available at Harvard Health Publishing.
- Belsomra. What is Belsomra? 2022. Available at Belsomra.com.
- Mayo Clinic. Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder. May 4, 2018. Available at Mayoclinic.org.
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